After running the 2nd-fastest time ever by a Japanese man, 2:05:12, to finish 6th at the Sept. 29 Berlin Marathon, Yohei Ikeda (26, Kao) made an appearance at city hall in his hometown of Shimada, Shizuoka on Oct. 3. Ikeda told Mayor Kinuyo Someya, 70, "I'm disappointed that I missed my goal of breaking the Japanese national record by 16 seconds. But the work I put in paid off. This was a race that's going to lead to something more."
Ikeda was a member of the baseball team when he was a student at Shimada Ichi J.H.S. before switching full-time to the track team at Shimada H.S. Starting his second year at Nittai University he was a regular on Nittai's Hakone Ekiden team. After graduating he joined the Kao corporate team, running 2:06:53 in his marathon debut at the 2023 Osaka Marathon. Berlin was his third shot at the marathon distance, and he succeeded in improving his PB by 1:41.
Local residents flocked to join city officials in greeting the new local hero of the marathon at the doors to City Hall. Mayor Someya enthusiastically commented, "I think you're going to start seeing the name 'Yohei Ikeda' everywhere. I'll be cheering for you from the bottom of my heart and look forward to seeing you succeed even further."
Ikeda's time made him the second Japanese man to clear the 2:06:30 qualifying standard for next September's Tokyo World Championships, a serious boost to his chances of making the national team. "Today reminds me of how many people there out there supporting me and making this all possible," he said. "I hope I can deliver the results you're all hoping for and that it will bring energy to my hometown. That all starts with making the Worlds team next year."
source article:
translated by Brett Larner
Comments