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Mishima Junior High School Tries to Break Gebrselassie's Marathon World Record in Ekiden

http://www.shimotsuke.co.jp/news/tochigi/region/news/20081208/84215

translated by Brett Larner

Students from Mishima Junior High School in Nasushiobara, Tochigi Prefecture, took part in an ekiden in Nishinasu Exercise Park over the weekend, attempting to break the full marathon world record of 2:03:59 held by Ethiopia's Haile Gebreselassie. The ekiden began last year as part of the school's 60th anniversary festival, making this year the event's second running.

The student body was divided by class year into 21 teams made up of 38 students apiece. Each student ran between 1 and 2 km, with the total distance covered by each team adding up to the full marathon distance of 42.195 km. Each team targeted Gebrselassie's mark.

The winning team, 3rd-year Class 7, fell short of the world record, clocking a time of 2:38:30 but giving everything they had, cheering for classmates with all their hearts. After finishing his stage in 1st place, 2nd-year student Maito Sugo, 14, told reporters, "Everyone's support gave me the strength to take the lead." The class president, 3rd-year student Misaki Morofuji, 15, commented, "We all had an exciting good time, and today's ekiden will be a happy memory for everyone."

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