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Tobe Leaves Hospital After Achilles Surgery, Ejima Breaks Ankle, Kiryu to Take Rest of Season Off


On June 16 men's high jump national record holder Naoto Tobe (JAL) announced on his social media that he had torn his Achilles tendon. Tobe posted on Twitter, "Last week I ruptured my Achilles tendon during an official practice session and as a result missed the National Championships. I'm sorry to have made everyone worried. I've had an operation and left the hospital today."

Tobe had been scheduled to compete on the first day of the National Track and Field Championships on June 9 but withdrew at the last second. At last summer's Tokyo Olympics he became the first Japanese athlete in 49 years to make the high jump final. "I don't know how long it's going to take, but I'll definitely be back," he wrote. "I hope that you'll all still give me your support."

The next day, former men's 100 m NR holder Yoshihide Kiryu (Nihon Seimei) announced on his Twitter account that he will take the rest of the season off and not enter any races. "I've made the decision to create some time where I can sit down and really think through what I want to do for the rest of my career as an athlete," he wrote. "I'm going to take a little time off until I feel like racing and doing track and field again. I won't be running any more races this season."

On June 10 Kiryu finished 6th in the men's 100 m final at the National Championships, the selection event for Japan's national team for next month's Oregon World Championships.

On June 18, Masaki Ejima (Fujitsu), winner of the men's pole vault at Nationals last weekend, missed the mat on his first attempt at 5.45 m at the Nittai University Time Trials meet and fractured a bone in his ankle. Ejima tweeted video of the accident and pictures of himself on crutches and in a cast afterward.


Translator's note: Tobe is currently ranked 17th of 32 spots in the men's high jump quota for Oregon. Kiryu is ranked 42nd of 48 spots in the 100 m quota. Ejima is ranked 30th of 32 spots in the pole vault quota. All 3 had yet to hit the standard in their events.

source articles:
translated and edited by Brett Larner

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