http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/etc/news/20121210-OHT1T00284.htm
translated and edited by Brett Larner
Takashi Saito anchors Toyo University to a course record win at the 2012 Hakone Ekiden.
Earlier this week the sixteen-man entry lists for the Jan. 2nd-3rd 89th running of the ten-stage, 217.9 km Hakone Ekiden were released. In pursuit of a title defense, Toyo University cut the team's captain, senior Takashi Saito who last year ran the fastest time on the anchor stage, from its roster of ten starters and six alternates. At a press conference in Tokyo, Toyo head coach Toshiyuki Sakai explained that the team's depth and quality has improved dramatically over the last year to fill the void left by the graduated Ryuji Kashiwabara (Team Fujitsu), saying, "In comparing Saito's fitness to the other athletes he did not measure up."
Toyo is chasing the first fifth-straight Day One win in Hakone history along with a second-straight overall win, an achievement that would…
translated and edited by Brett Larner
Takashi Saito anchors Toyo University to a course record win at the 2012 Hakone Ekiden.
Earlier this week the sixteen-man entry lists for the Jan. 2nd-3rd 89th running of the ten-stage, 217.9 km Hakone Ekiden were released. In pursuit of a title defense, Toyo University cut the team's captain, senior Takashi Saito who last year ran the fastest time on the anchor stage, from its roster of ten starters and six alternates. At a press conference in Tokyo, Toyo head coach Toshiyuki Sakai explained that the team's depth and quality has improved dramatically over the last year to fill the void left by the graduated Ryuji Kashiwabara (Team Fujitsu), saying, "In comparing Saito's fitness to the other athletes he did not measure up."
Toyo is chasing the first fifth-straight Day One win in Hakone history along with a second-straight overall win, an achievement that would…