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Japanese Olympic Distance Running Preview - Men`s 3000m Steeplechase

by Brett Larner

Men`s 3000 m SC

Yoshitaka Iwamizu
Born: June 20, 1979, Aichi Prefecture
Team Affiliation: Fujitsu
Olympic Event PB: 8:18.93, 2003 – NR
Season Highlights:
-6th place, Memorial Leon Buyle 3000m: 7:55.90, 7/26/08
-12th place, DN Galan 3000m SC: 8:34.05, 7/22/08
-National Champion, 3000m SC: 8:29.75, 6/29/08
-Top Japanese finisher, World XC Championships, 4/5/08
Career Highlights:
-NR, 3000m SC: 8:18.93, 2003
-Asian Champion, 3000m SC, 2005
-National Champion, 3000m SC, 2001-2005, 2007-2008
-Athens Olympics, 3000m SC, 2004
-World T&F Championships, 3000m SC, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007
-World XC Championships, 2004, 2006, 2008

Like Minori Hayakari in the women`s steeplechase, Yoshitaka Iwamizu is the undisputed master of the Japanese men`s 3000m SC world. The national record holder and former Asian champion, Iwamizu has competed in the last four World Championships, the Athens Olympics, and has won the National Championships every year but one since 2001. Although he won the National Championships again this past June his times this season have been far from his record and significantly slower than last year. As a result Iwamizu is very unlikely to be a competitive factor in Beijing.

© 2008 Brett Larner
all rights reserved
photo from Rikuren archive
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