by Brett Larner video highlights courtesy of broadcaster NHK The shadow of the late Samuel Wanjiru still looms large over the National High School Boys Ekiden Championships , his 2004 stage record-setting run powering Sendai Ikuei H.S. to a course record 2:01:32 win that no team since has ever approached. The buzz was in the air this year that defending champion Sera H.S. was ready to do it, its seven starters averaging 14:01.95 for 5000 m , enough to compete at the university level. Before the race captain Shiki Shinsako made it clear, saying, "This team is good enough to break 2:01." For that to happen the race, 7 stages totalling 42.195 km, had to start fast on its longest stage, the 10.0 km First Stage. Luck was with Sera as the talented Takuya Hanyu (Yachiyo Shoin H.S.) was happy to oblige, dropping a 2:47 opening km, 27:50 pace, and pulling the whole field with him. The entire way Hanyu kept things moving, shaking the front end competition down ...
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