Next generation 3000 m steeplechase star Ryuji Miura (Juntendo Univ.), 18, has withdrawn from the Dec. 4 National Track and Field Championships to be held at Osaka's Yanmar Stadium Nagai. According to a statement from the university, Miura struck his left leg while practicing his hurdling. In July Miura ran 8:19.37, missing the Japanese national record by a fraction of a second. A win under the Olympic qualifying standard of 8:22.00 at Friday's Nationals would have secured his place on the Tokyo Olympic team.
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...

Comments