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Japanese Olympic Track Results - Aug. 18

by Brett Larner

Men's 400 m - Heats
2008 National Champion Yuzo Kanemaru was eliminated from the 400 m after finishing last in the 4th heat with a 46.39.

Men's 200 m - Heats / Quarter-Final
2008 National Champion Shinji Takahira advanced to the 200 m quarter-finals on time after running a season-best 20.58 to finish 4th in the second heat. National record holder Shingo Suetsugu ran 20.93 for 6th place in the seventh heat, failing to advance. Takahira was consistent in the quarter-final, running 20.63 for 7th in the second heat, but could not advance to the semi-finals.

Men's 110 m Hurdles - Heats
2008 National Champion Masato Naito ran 13.96 in the 4th heat of the 110 m hurdles, finishing last and not advancing to the quarter-finals.

(c) 2008 Brett Larner
all rights reserved

Comments

Roberto said…
Takahira looked pretty good during these Games, but I walways wonder whether or not Japanese sprinters/middle distance runners do ANY work in the weight room.

Sure doesn't look like it, especially the women sprinters.

Suetsugu sould probably open the envelope that was sent to him a few years ago informing him that his career is pretty much over. After his WC medal at 200, moving DOWN to 100 was insane, and he's done nothing since then. Of course, that outlier year raises the specter of performance-enhancing drug use, but ... we'll never know.

Time for Suetsugu to go, and obviously Asahara (and Iwamizu). Will the younger generation be able to lift their game?

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