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Sakaguchi and Taketomi Named Assistant Marathon Directors

http://mainichi.jp/enta/sports/general/track/news/20081227k0000m050111000c.html

Rikuren has announced that as part of its plan to strengthen Japan's distance running it has appointed Team Chugoku Denryoku head coach Yasushi Sakaguchi to lead the men's marathon subcommittee and Team Tenmaya head coach Yutaka Taketomi to the top position in the women's marathon subcommittee. Sakaguchi coached both men who ran the Beijing Olympics marathon, while Taketomi has had runners in the last three Olympic marathons. Both new committee heads will report to Long Distance and Road Racing Director Keisuke Sawaki.

Translator's note: Yasushi Sakaguchi coached Olympic marathoners Shigeru Aburaya (5th, Athens 2004), Tsuyoshi Ogata (13th, Beijing 2008) and Atsushi Sato (76th, Beijing 2008). Sakaguchi's runners have been mainstays of recent World Championships marathon teams, with Aburaya 5th in Edmonton 2001 and 5th in Paris 2003, Ogata 12th in Paris 2003, taking the bronze medal in Helsinki 2005 and 5th in Osaka 2007, and Sato 10th in Paris 2003.

Yutaka Taketomi coached Olympic marathon women Eri Yamaguchi (7th, Sydney 2000), Naoko Sakamoto (7th, Athens 2004) and Yurika Nakamura (13th, Beijing 2008) along with Beijing team alternate Tomo Morimoto. Sakamoto also placed 4th in the 2003 World Championships marathon in Paris.
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