Aoyama Gakuin University 1st-year Haruki Furukawa won the 21st running of the Setagaya 246 Half Marathon Sunday at Komazawa Park Stadium in Setagaya, Tokyo. Along with the Ageo City Half Marathon later in the month, Setagaya 246 is a key event for coaches thinking about their final lineups for the Jan. 2-3 Hakone Ekiden. Furukawa graduated from Iwate's Moriokadai H.S., where he showed his potential with a strong 18th-place finish on the opening leg of the National High School Ekiden his as a 1st year, then taking 7th in the National High School Championships 5000 m in 13:58.62 his 3rd year. After entering AGU Furukawa improved his 5000 m PB to 13:50.55 at April's Nittai Time Trials meet, then represented AGU in May's Kanto Region University Half Marathon Championships D2 5000 m. Furukawa and fellow 1st-year teammate Haruhi Niimi came onto the track together at the end of the race, with Niimi taking a close 2nd in 1:02:52 after Furukawa kicked in for the win. AGU runners...
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