Endo and Matsuzaki Break National Records in Boston

Indoor track is pretty much non-existant in Japan, but in the last few years more Japanese athletes have been heading to the States after ekiden season to give it a go and coming back with national records. Two more records fell at Friday's David Hemery Valentine Invitational in Boston.

First up, in his indoor debut 20-year-old Hyuga Endo (Sumitomo Denko) ran 13:27.81 to break the indoor 5000 m national record set five years ago in New York by Suguru Osako by 0.19. Endo was one of Japan's all-time best high schoolers. Now in his second year in the corporate leagues after opting to skip university he is coached by Yasuyuki Watanabe, Osako's former coach at Waseda University. Also in the same race, Hiroki Matsueda (Fujitsu) was 6th in 13:47.64.

Three hours later, Riko Matsuzaki (Sekisui Kagaku) ran 9:00.86 in the women's 3000 m, taking 0.53 off the national record set way back in 1999 by Akiko Kawashima at the Maebashi World Indoor Championships. Matsuzaki is in the midst of a residency with the Nike-sponsored Bowerman Track Club in Oregon. It looks like the change in scene has paid off well.

David Hemery Valentine Invitational

Boston University, U.S.A., 2/8/19
complete results

Women's 3000 m
1. Yolanda Ngarambe (Atlanta Track Club) - 8:53.97
2. Vanessa Fraser (Bowerman Track Club) - 8:54.58
3. Riko Matsuzaki (Sekisui Kagaku) - 9:00.86 - NR
4. Erika Kemp (BAA) - 9:05.83
5. Militsa Mircheva (Florida State Univ.) - 9:07.33

Men's 5000 m
1. Sean McGorty (Bowerman Track Club) - 13:21.35
2. Mark Scott (Bowerman Track Club) - 13:21.97
3. Hyuga Endo (Sumitomo Denko) - 13:27.81 - NR
4. Ryan Hill (Bowerman Track Club) - 13:36.61
5. Matt Hughes (Bowerman Track Club) - 13:39.49
6. Hiroki Matsueda (Fujitsu) - 13:47.64

© 2019 Brett Larner, all rights reserved

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