From Madarao to the World - Tokai University's Hayato Seki

Long-awaited by university ekiden fans, the 2017 ekiden season is underway. The Izumo Ekiden was held Monday, with Tokai University living up to expectations to score the win. The athlete who broke the finish line tape as Tokai's anchor was second-year Hayato Seki. This year Seki has run PBs of 13:35.81 for 5000 m and 28:23.37 for 10000 m, marking his growth into one of the unquestionable stars of the university ekiden scene.

A week earlier, the Madarao Forest Trails race was held on Oct. 1. Flashback to the 2012 edition of the race five years ago. The winner in the 16 km Beginner Class men's race was none other than Seki, then in his third year of junior high school. The picture below is of his win at the 2012 Madarao Forest Trails race. Even though he was only a junior high school student Seki ran brilliantly, opening up a huge lead of well over four minutes over the 2nd-placer.

After that Seki entereed Nagano's ekiden powerhouse Saku Chosei H.S. and has now grown into the star runner at Tokai University at the very summit of the university ekiden world. Madarao Forest Trails producer Hiroki Ishikawa reminded me about Seki's win when I saw him at last week's race.

From Madarao to the world. All eyes will be on Seki this season and in those to come.

source article: https://gamp.ameblo.jp/timingman/entry-12318531214.html
translated by Brett Larner

photo © 2012 計測工房, all rights reserved