Skip to main content

1000 Colleagues See Kobayashi Off for Berlin

http://mainichi.jp/area/aichi/news/20090801ddlk23050277000c.html

translated by Brett Larner

Over the weekend the Toyota Jidoshoki company gave its employees in Kariya, Aichi Prefecture the opportunity to wish its star runner Yuriko Kobayashi (20) well as she prepares to depart for Berlin to run in women's 5000 m at this year's World Championships. Over 1000 workers filled the banquet hall during their lunchbreak for the chance to see Kobayashi before her run. Women's track team advisor Masafumi Kato commented, "We are extremely happy that Ms. Kobayashi has made the national team again after running in last summer's Beijing Olympics. I'd like to ask you all to lend your voices in cheering her on to be among the top finishers."

After receiving a bouquet of flowers from the company, Kobayashi told her supporters, "I want to put myself into position to be near the top. Thanks to all of you I will gain strength and do my best."

Kobayashi graduated from Kobe's Suma Gakuen High School and is in her third year at Okayama University.* She is the national record holder for 1500 m and holds the all-time third-best time for a Japanese woman at 5000 m. In February she began experiencing pelvis and heel pain and took a break from training until May. In June she finished 3rd in the 5000 m at the National Track and Field Championships, clinching her spot on the World Championships team. She is scheduled to depart for Berlin on Aug. 14.

*Translator's note: Kobayashi, arguably Japan's most promising young woman, caused controversy among Rikuren officials when she enrolled in university after joining the professional Toyota Jidoshokki team. After keeping her in limbo for a year, Rikuren banned Kobayashi from competing in official jitsugyodan events until after her graduation, saying that they did not want to create a precedent of companies attracting top talent by offering to pay for a student's education.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Most-Read This Week

Federation Tells World Championships Marathoner Horibata To Go On Diet

http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/etc/news/20110307-OHT1T00258.htm translated by Brett Larner Having made the 2011 World Championships marathon team by running a PB of 2:09:25 to come in 3rd overall and as the top Japanese finisher at the Mar. 6 Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon, Hiroyuki Horibata (24, Team Asahi Kasei), talked to the media at Osaka Airport on Mar. 7. Following Sunday's race Rikuren director Keisuke Sawaki , 67, told Horibata, "Let's cut things down a bit until the World Championships," directing him to go on a diet. The 189 cm Horibata weighs 72 kg [~6'3", 160 lbs]. When he joined Team Asahi Kasei in 2005 at age 18 he weighed 65 kg, and this weight is still generally listed on his profile at races and in the media. "For some reason it never changes," he said with a grin. His coach Takeshi Soh , 58, commented, "If he was hungrier for glory his world would change completely," slapping the 'heavyweight division runner...
Post a Comment
Read more

Nagoya Asian Games Test Event Canceled After Insulation Falls From Venue Ceiling

A section of insulation material fell from the ceiling of Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena, the official venue for squash competition at September's Nagoya Asian Games. There were no injuries, but the city suspended use of the arena until its safety could be guaranteed, resulting in the cancelation of the Asian Games squash test event which was scheduled to have begun on May 14. It is not yet clear whether the arena will be usable for the Asian Games as planned. According to city officials, arena staff found that the insulation material had fallen onto a work walkway 13 m above the ground on the night of May 11. The fallen material was 3.6 m long, 50 cm wide and 2.5 km thick, and was found to be waterlogged. The cause of the accident is unknown, but it is possible that it was caused by rainwater leaking in from the roof. The same insulation material is installed across the entire ceiling, and the city plans to check for the extent of the possible flooding. Asked whether the arena will be re...
Post a Comment
Read more

Everything You Need to Know About the 2026 Hakone Ekiden

The Hakone Ekiden is the world's biggest road race, 2 days of road relay action with Japan's 20 best university teams racing 10 half marathon-scale legs from central Tokyo to the mountains east of Mount Fuji and back. The level just keeps going higher and higher , hitting the point this year where there are teams with 10-runner averages of 13:33.10 for 5000 m, 27:55.98 for 10000 m, and 1:01:20 for the half marathon. It's never been better, and with great weather in the forecast it's safe to say this could be one of the best races in Hakone's 102-year history, especially on Day One. If you've seen it then you know NTV's live broadcast is the best sports broadcast in the world, with the pre-race show kicking off at 7:00 a.m. Japan time on the 2nd and 3rd and the race starting at 8:00 a.m. sharp. If you've got a VPN you should be able to watch it on TVer starting at 7:50 a.m. on the 2nd , and again at 7:50 a.m. on the 3rd . There's even a 2-hour high...
3 comments
Read more