japan running news

On Mar. 28, Imabari Shipbuilding announced a restructuring of its women's track and field team based in the city of Marugame. Head coach Tsuyoshi Takita , 54, will retire at the end of March. Former Shikoku Denryoku head coach Shinobu Murakoshi , 60, will take over his position. A native of Imabari, Ehime, Murakoshi took over as head coach of Shikoku Denryoku in 1992 after a stint coaching at Best Denki. At Shikoku Denryoku he helped develop 2004 Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon winner Hiroaki Takeda and women's marathoner Y uko Manabe . With experience coaching men and women, from 2004 to 2008 he specialized women's running. Of his appointment Murakoshi commented, "From here in Marugame I want to develop athletes who can represent not just Kagawa or Shikoku but indeed all of Japan." source article: http://www.shikoku-np.co.jp/sports/local/20180329000170 translated by Brett Larner

http://www.hokkaido-np.co.jp/news/sports/453005.html translated by Brett Larner At a Mar. 27 press conference in Sapporo the Hokuren women's distance team announced changes to its lineup for the 2013-14 season.   Tsuyoshi Takita , 49, head coach since 2010, will resign from his position to be replaced by current assistant coach Takashi Ota , 36.  Ota spoke to reporters of his ambitions for the team, saying, "I want to cultivate athletes who will make the national team." Ota is a Hokkaido native from Shiraoi, Iburi.  After graduating from Tomakomai Minami H.S. he attended Sapporo Gakuin University before going on to a pro career with the NEC team.  In 2003 he transferred to the Konica Minolta team where he had great success at the half marathon and on the ekiden circuit.  He became assistant coach at Hokuren in 2011 following his retirement from competition. Of his immediate goals for the team Ota said, "We will aim to clear the 2:20:10 qualifying standar...