Famous Runners

I talk about famous people of ekiden. For instance, Ryuji Kashiwabara, Toshihiko Seko and Yuki Sato are. They play active part in Hakone ekiden. A lot of Japanese see Hakone ekiden, so they are famous. They already graduated from university. Ryuji Kashiwabara and Yuki Sato are running now but Toshihiko Seko is not running now. I am going to talk about their past and present.

              Ryuji Kashiwabara was Toyo University student and he has run Hakone ekiden four times. He ran Hakone ekiden every time as fifth runner. Fifth runner runs mountain and almost course is up slope. And he is the fastest runner of all fifth runners of Hakone ekiden. When he was in the first grade, he received tasuki in ninth place. Runner who ran in first place is far from him. But he got ahead of first runner and his running record was new record of fifth runner. Then he was called “god of mountain climbing.” When he was in the second grade and third grade, he ran like the first grade. When he was fourth grade, he received tasuki in first place. He ran faster than the first grade, so he goaled by an overwhelming margin. I think that his running record of fifth runner in Hakone ekiden will not break for the time being.

              Next, Toshihiko Seko was Waseda University student and he is a commentator of ekiden and marathon. And he will be a manager of DeNA track and field club this year. He started track and field in high school. He was middle distance runner at first. He run 800 meters and 1500 meters and he won the interscholastic athletic meet. When he ran high school ekiden as first runner (10 kilometers), he ran the faster than all first runners. Then a lot of people knew that he can run long distance. And he went on to Waseda University. He ran Hakone ekiden four time and he started marathon in the first grade. He was an ace of Waseda University. After he graduated, he took part in Olympic twice. He was hoped for winning the championship, but he couldn’t win the championship. But he was said the greatest marathon runner. He was manager of Waseda Universe After retiring. Now, he quit manager of Waseda Universe and he is commentator. Commentator of Hakone Ekiden was Toshihiko Seko this year.

             Finally, Yuki Sato was Sakutyosei high school student. This school is powerful. He established high school 10000 meters record. He ran high school ekiden as fourth runner and his school finished second. He went on to Tokai University. He ran Hakone ekiden and International ekiden and so on. He had first runner record of Hakone ekiden, third runner record of Hakone ekiden and seventh runner record of Hakone ekiden. After he graduated Toyo University, he entered Nisshin Food Company. He took part in Olympic in London. He ran 5000 meters and 10000 meters. But his record was not good. I think he wiil be great runner in future.

              You may see Yuki Sato and Ryuji Kashiwabara. When you see them, let’s cheer them.