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Collegiate 5000 m National Record Holder Takezawa: "I'm Almost Back"

http://www.sankei.com/west/news/150524/wst1505240046-n1.html

translated and edited by Brett Larner

Holder of the 13:19.00 collegiate national record for 5000 m, Kensuke Takezawa (Team Sumitomo Denko) won Sunday's Kansai Corporate Track and Field Championships men's 5000 m in 13:59.67 with a surge over the last 300 m.  Having just come off a long season off due to an Achilles tendon injury Takezawa nodded as he said, "I'm almost back.  I've grown since last year."

Starting this spring, Takezawa's former coach at Waseda University, Yasuyuki Watanabe, has joined the Sumitomo Denko team as head coach, reunited the pair.  A member of the 2008 Beijing Olympics team, Takezawa, still just 28,  was optimistic of making a full comeback as he said, "Coach Watanabe understands me better than anybody.  Having him around changes my mentality." 

Translator's note: Two weeks ago Takezawa ran 13:37.89 for 4th at the Golden Games in Nobeoka meet, his best time in over three years.

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