The Sato triplets all ran track and field in elementary school in Nagaoka, but when they went to junior high school they all opted to play basketball instead. Their sister, also a twin, was the manager of the track and field team at Chuetsu H.S. and gave them tips on training like hill repeats and running on undulating roads in their neighborhood, and while focusing on basketball they coached themselves to become better runners.
Five years later they are now in their final year of high school. Yuto Sato runs for Chuetsu H.S., while Hiroto Sato and Oto Sato opted for Nippon Bunri H.S.. It was the first, and last, time for them to all face each other in the same race at the prefectural level. All three live in school dorms, their family watching their growth from a distance now that they are separated.
Their father Masato Sato said, "I hope they really enjoy running. It doesn't matter how they place as long as they're happy with how they run." Their sister Mayu Sato smiled, "Our other sister couldn't be here today, so I'll be cheering double duty so that they all have a good one!" Their mother Fukiko Sato thought back on how her sons have grown, saying, "I know there were times it was hard and they wanted to quit, but I honestly feel like all three of them have stayed true to themselves and grown to be stronger people."
In the early stages of the race Yuto was up front, while teammates Hiroto and Oto hung back mid-pack. Post-race Hiroto reflected, "I was happy we were all in the same race at this level for the first time, but it was still a race and I was pretty anxious about who was going to win or lose." Mid-race Yuto paid for his early heroics and found himself behind his brothers from the rival high school. All three were losing ground on the leader, but with a lap and a half to go Yuto kicked to re-pass his brothers. In the end they all finished one after another.
Chuetsu's Yuto was first among the three in 14:49.70 for 6th. Close behind, Nippon Bunri's Oto was 7th and Hiroto 8th, all of them making the eight-deep podium. Post-race Yuto, who looked back over his shoulder repeatedly in the home straight, said, "To be honest, I thought they had me in the home straight and kept looking back to see if they were coming. But I had enough a lead on them to keep it together until the finish line." Oto commented, "I'm a bit disappointed about my placing, but I'm glad we all finished together."
Even when they're giving it everything, the brothers are always thinking about each other. Nippon Bunri H.S. head coach Yuki Kamazawa, who has watched the twins' progress over the last three years, commented, "Them finishing together was meant to be. It's important for them to be competitive at the national level next, and I hope they do well in the national-level races."
Looking back on their growth from being self-coached to making the prefectural podium, Oto said, "When we got to high school we said to each other that if we were going to do this we'd work together to become the best in Niigata." Hiroto agreed, saying, "The three of us could encourage each other, point out what we were doing wrong, and talk about anything we needed to."
Of the three Yuto was the only one to qualify for the Hokushinetsu Regional Meet, and he says he'll be running for his brothers too, both of them his training partners and rivals. "Since I'm the only one who gets to go to Hokushinetsu I'm determined to make it all the way to Nationals," he said. "They wanted to make it too, so I want to run a race I can feel proud of." Having shown tremendous growth over the last few years, the Sato's future growth will have fans watching.
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translated by Brett Larner
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