"My Goal is to Make the National Team in the Marathon" - Kansai Region University Distance Star Kentaro Hirai
http://www.kobe-np.co.jp/news/sports/201407/0007125999.shtml translated by Brett Larner The biggest attraction in Kansai university athletics long distance these days is without a doubt Kyoto University junior Kentaro Hirai . A graduate of Hotoku Gakuen H.S., Hirai won this spring's Kansai University Track and Field Championships 10000 m and finished 2nd in both the 5000 m and half marathon. Running as Kyoto's best runner at last month's National University Ekiden Championships Kansai Region Qualifier, he finished 1st overall to lead Kyoto University to qualify for Nationals for the first time in 41 years, showing the strong and inspiring impact he is having on his teammates. Hirai envisions a place for himself on a Japanese national team in the marathon. We talked to this 21-year-old about his current situation and about his vision for the future. You had a very strong first half of this season. The Kansai Regionals meet lists people who score 20 or mor...