japan running news

Ryo Hashimotoage: 25
sponsor: GMO
graduated from: Oita Nishi H.S., Aoyama Gakuin University

best time inside MGC window:
2:09:29, 5th, 2019 Beppu-Oita Marathon

PB: 2:09:29, 5th, 2019 Beppu-Oita Marathon

other PBs:
5000 m: 13:57.91 (2016) 10000 m: 28:35.37 (2019) half marathon: 1:02:55 (2019)

marathons inside MGC window (Aug. 1 2017 – April 30 2019)
5th, 2019 Beppu-Oita Marathon, 2:09:29 – PB
9th, 2018 Fukuoka International Marathon, 2:11:40

other major results:
7th, 2019 HDC Fukagawa Meet 10000 m B-Race, 28:35.37 – PB
4th, 2019 Sendai International Half Marathon, 1:02:55 – PB
4th, 2018 Year-End Half Marathon, 1:03:31
4th, 2017 Gold Coast Marathon, 2:10:19
20th, 2017 Tokyo Marathon, 2:13:29
1st, 2016 Hofu Marathon, 2:11:20
23rd, 2016 Tokyo Marathon, 2:14:38

Hashimoto is totally unique in the MGC men’s field, someone who went to a Hakone Ekiden champion university but never made its starting roster for Japan’s biggest race. A benchwarmer for four-time Hakone winner Aoyama Gakuin University, …

Tadashi Isshikiage: 25
sponsor: GMO
graduated from: Toyokawa H.S., Aoyama Gakuin University

best time inside MGC window:
2:09:43, 13th, 2018 Tokyo Marathon

PB: 2:09:43, 13th, 2018 Tokyo Marathon

other PBs:
5000 m: 13:39.65 (2017) 10000 m: 28:23.40 (2014) half marathon: 1:02:09 (2015)

marathons inside MGC window (Aug. 1 2017 – April 30 2019)
11th, 2019 Hamburg Marathon, 2:11:23
10th, 2019 Tokyo Marathon, 2:12:21
17th, 2018 Frankfurt Marathon, 2:14:49
13th, 2018 Tokyo Marathon, 2:09:43 – PB
8th, 2017 Hofu Marathon, 2:15:43

other major results:
20th, 2019 Marugame Half Marathon, 1:02:15
2nd, 2018 Year-End Half Marathon, 1:03:00
4th, 2017 National Championships 5000 m, 13:39.65 – PB
DNF, 2017 Lake Biwa Marathon
3rd, 2017 Hakone Ekiden Second Stage (23.1 km), 1:07:56
1st, 2016 Kanagawa Half Marathon, 1:03:03
3rd, 2016 Hakone Ekiden Second Stage (23.1 km), 1:07:35
11th, 2016 Tokyo Marathon, 2:11:45
2nd, 2015 Gwangju World University Games Half Marathon, 1:04:52
1st, 2015 National University Hal…

http://www.hochi.co.jp/sports/etc/20160705-OHT1T50100.html
http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20160705-00000225-sph-spo

translated and edited by Brett Larner

Former teammates at 2012 National High School Ekiden champion Toyokawa H.S. and now two of the biggest stars on the Hakone Ekiden circuit, 2015 National University Half Marathon champion Tadashi Isshiki (Aoyama Gakuin University) and 2015 National University 5000 m champion Hazuma Hattori (Toyo University) are set to follow unconventional paths post-graduation.

At a press conference this week GMO Internet announced that Isshiki will join its new GMO Athletes team after his graduation next spring.  Isshiki finished as the third Japanese man overall and second university finisher in his marathon debut at February's Tokyo Marathon, running 2:11:45 to position himself as a hopeful for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.  Having received recruitment offers from ten different corporate league teams, after careful consideration Isshiki opted to j…

http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20160229-00000191-sph-spo

translated by Brett Larner

On Mar. 1 the major telecommunications company GMO Internet announced the launch of a new GMO Athletes corporate running team in April.  Resigning from his position at Jobu University, Katsuhiko Hanada, 44, will be the team's first head coach, with two-time Hakone Ekiden champion Aoyama Gakuin University head coach Susumu Hara, 48, serving as adviser.  The team's initial lineup includes current Aoyama Gakuin University fourth-years Ryo Hashimoto and Toshinori Watanabe, both of whom made their marathon debuts Sunday at the Tokyo Marathon.

Hanada graduated from Waseda University and ran for the S&B corporate team, running at both the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.  Becoming head coach at Jobu University in 2004, he developed the brand-new Jobu team into Hakone Ekiden regulars.  The GMO team marks the launch of the Hara Project, a concept aimed at developing working runners into…