A native of Uwajishima, Ehime, a new chapter is starting in the life of men's marathon national record holder Kengo Suzuki, 30. On Oct. 8 he announced that he is quitting the Fujitsu corporate team to which he has belonged for 8 years to go independent. His new main sponsor will be a major food product manufacturer, who will support him in his shot at making the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics team.
Suzuki ran the National High School Ekiden as a 3rd-year at Uwajishima Higashi H.S.. His 3rd year at Kanagawa University he won the 93rd Hakone Ekiden's most competitive leg, the Second Stage, making him determined to pursue a future as a marathoner. He joined Fujitsu after graduating in 2018, and in January, 2021 played a key role in the team winning its first New Year Ekiden national title in 12 years. A month later he ran 2:04:56 to win the Biwako Mainichi Marathon, a national record that still stands. In recent years he has suffered from a series of injuries, causing his star to lose some of its lustre.
Corporate league runners are generally expected to find a way to balance individual goals like the marathon with the demands of the ekiden. But, says Suzuki, "I've never had good balance." Fujitsu head coach and director of men's marathoning Tadashi Fukushima suggested that Suzuki train at Kanagawa University and focus on marathons, but, Suzuki says, "I don't think it would be quite the right option for me to do that and still be employed by Fujitsu." As a result, he decided to leave the company.
Along with his shoe sponsor Nike, Suzuki will be sponsored by a major Tokyo-based food products manufacturer with which he has had a relationship since college. He will be based in Yokohama.
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translated by Brett Larner
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