2023 National High School Ekiden champion Saku Chosei H.S. was out in force Sunday in the 5000 m fast heats at the 317th Nittai University Time Trials meet in Yokohama. 3rd-year Yamato Hamaguchi ran 13:31.62, the 4th-fastest time ever by a Japanese-born high schooler, and 3rd-year Tetsu Sasaki went under 14 minutes for the first time with an excellent 13:40.02.
The race took place as light rain fell. Hamaguchi and Sasaki ran alongside African university and corporate league runners. From the start they were conservative, staying in the pack as the race went along. With splits of 2:42 and 1000 m and 8:11 at 3000 m the high school record of 13:22.99 set 2 years ago by Saku Chosei alum Hiroto Yoshioka was out of reach, but right til the last sprint Hamaguchi stayed in contact with the lead.
Hamaguchi took almost 7 seconds off his 13:38.40 PB from last year, with Sasaki rewriting his 14:03.51 best by nearly 24 seconds. Both beat Yamanashi Gakuin H.S. 2nd-year Felix Muthiani, who ran 13:42.54. And with Sasaki stepping up to sub-14 territory, the all-Japanese Saku Chosei lineup this season now has five runners under 14 minutes for 5000 m with just over a month to go until the National High School Ekiden.
In Heat 30 before them, Ibuki Sugiyama (3rd yr., Kyushu Gakuin H.S.) ran a PB of 13:47.73 to take the top high schooler spot. Other high schoolers under 14 minutes included Ryo Kurimura (2nd yr., Gakuho Ishikawa H.S.) in 13:48.32, Yota Mashiko (2nd yr., Gakuho Ishikawa H.S.) in 13:49.95, and Kazuma Shino (3rd yr., Saku Chosei H.S.) in 13:58.00. Kiyoshi Miura (3rd yr., Sapporo Yamanote H.S.) ran 13:56.97 in Heat 28, with 1st-year Sei Yoshida (Tokai Sapporo H.S.) just missing out on sub-14 in Heat 29 but still clocking an excellent 14:02.45 PB.
Top 10 Japanese-Born H.S. Boys' 5000 m Times
13:22.99 - Hiroto Yoshioka (3rd yr., Saku Chosei H.S.) - 13 Nov. 2022
13:28.78 - Sota Orita (3rd yr., Suma Gakuen H.S.) - 24 Sept. 2023
13:31.19 - Keita Sato (3rd yr., Rakunan H.S.) - 3 Oct. 2021
13:31.62 - Yamato Hamaguchi (3rd yr., Saku Chosei H.S.) - 10 Nov. 2024
13:34.20 - Kaito Iida (3rd yr., Izumi Chuo H.S.) - 25 Nov. 2023
13:34.59 - Shunpei Yamaguchi (3rd yr., Saku Chosei H.S.) - 25 Nov. 2023
13:34.60 - Yota Mashiko (2nd yr., Gakuho Ishikawa H.S.) - 13 Apr. 2024
13:34.74 - Kosuke Ishida (3rd yr., Tokyo Nogyo Daini H.S.) - 27 Sept. 2020
13:35.16 - Tomonori Yamaguchi (3rd yr., Gakuho Ishikawa H.S.) - 14 Nov. 2021
13:36.57 - Taishi Ito (3rd yr., Saku Chosei H.S.) - 15 Nov. 2020
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translated and edited by Brett Larner
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