reported in Nikkei Newspaper, 1/9/08
translated by Brett Larner
The governing body of Japan’s professional jitsugyodan running system ruled on Jan. 8 that women’s 1500 m national record holder Yuriko Kobayashi (19, Team Toyota Jidoshokki) is not eligible to compete as a jitsugyodan runner on the basis of her enrollment at a college in Okayama. Kobayashi was recruited by Toyota after graduating last spring from Suma Gakuen High School in Hyogo Prefecture, one of Japan’s top running high schools. Kobayashi subsequently decided that she wanted to continue her education and was granted the freedom to both study and train by Toyota’s management. She has been commuting between school and training by shinkansen (bullet train), but with yesterday’s ruling she will no longer be able to compete in jitsugyodan events such as ekidens. Kobayashi explained her rationale for her decisions by saying, “I chose this course of action because I wanted both to train at the highest level and to get an education. Now it feels like the way forward for me is being blocked.”
Officials explained that while this is an isolated case, they wish to avoid setting a precedent which would allow jitsugyodan teams to recruit top high school talent by promising to pay for their university education. Team Toyota Jidoshokki coach Yoshio Koide expressed his dismay over the ruling, commenting, “Runners need both physical ability and intelligence to become world class. I want her to be allowed to compete as soon as possible.”
translated by Brett Larner
The governing body of Japan’s professional jitsugyodan running system ruled on Jan. 8 that women’s 1500 m national record holder Yuriko Kobayashi (19, Team Toyota Jidoshokki) is not eligible to compete as a jitsugyodan runner on the basis of her enrollment at a college in Okayama. Kobayashi was recruited by Toyota after graduating last spring from Suma Gakuen High School in Hyogo Prefecture, one of Japan’s top running high schools. Kobayashi subsequently decided that she wanted to continue her education and was granted the freedom to both study and train by Toyota’s management. She has been commuting between school and training by shinkansen (bullet train), but with yesterday’s ruling she will no longer be able to compete in jitsugyodan events such as ekidens. Kobayashi explained her rationale for her decisions by saying, “I chose this course of action because I wanted both to train at the highest level and to get an education. Now it feels like the way forward for me is being blocked.”
Officials explained that while this is an isolated case, they wish to avoid setting a precedent which would allow jitsugyodan teams to recruit top high school talent by promising to pay for their university education. Team Toyota Jidoshokki coach Yoshio Koide expressed his dismay over the ruling, commenting, “Runners need both physical ability and intelligence to become world class. I want her to be allowed to compete as soon as possible.”
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