Ryuji Miura, who finished 7th in the Tokyo Olympics for the men's 3000m steeplechase and was the first Japanese athlete to win a prize, participated in the university student tournament held in Saitama Prefecture and achieved his second straight victory.
Juntendo University's second-year student, 19-year-old Miura, who holds a Japanese record for the 3000-meter steeplechase on land, finished 7th at the Tokyo Olympics and was the first Japanese athlete to win the prize in this event.
On the 19th, we participated in the Japan Student vs. School Championship, a university student competition held in Kumagaya City, Saitama Prefecture, as the first race after the Olympic Games.
It was a race that was not in good shape due to the influence of repeated practice for the relay race, but when Miura jumped out immediately after the start, the difference with the following was greatly widened and he never gave up the lead. Finished at the top.
Although the time did not reach his own Japanese record for more than 20 seconds, he won the tournament for the second time in a row at 8 minutes 32 seconds 47 seconds.
In addition, among the men who participated in the Olympics, Shunsuke Izumiya, who advanced to the semifinals for the first time in 57 years as a Japanese player in the 110 meters hurdles, won the championship with a good time of 13 seconds 29, and Yamauchi who advanced to the semifinals in the 400 meters hurdles. Daimu won the championship in 49.28.
Among the female athletes, Ami Saito, who participated in the 400m relay, participated in the 200m and won the championship in 23.76 seconds.
Miura "I want to improve my level steadily"
Ryuji Miura looked back on the last 3000m steeplechase race of the season and said, "I was able to win the race while trying to steadily get the ranking. I moved to road practice for the Ekiden season. The sharpness was different from the peak time, but I think I was able to run the minimum I can do now. "
In addition, looking back on this season when he made a leap forward, such as winning the first prize for a Japanese athlete at the Olympics, he said, "I was happy with the results at the Olympics, but I'm completely digested as I'm done. Now that the goals have been clarified, I'm thinking about what kind of preparations I should make. I'd like to take a closer look at the next three years and improve my level steadily. "
Izumitani "I want to raise the average time"
Shunsuke Izumiya looked back on the 110-meter hurdles race, which was the last of the season, and said, "I was tired and anxious when I woke up in the morning, but I'm glad I got a better time than I expected."
Izumitani also participated in the long jump and 400m relay at this tournament, and said with a relief, "I have a feeling that I'm finally done because my legs and hips are stretched and my body is the limit." ..
On the other hand, looking back on this season, which set a Japanese record with the 110-meter hurdles, "It was a successful season. However, the level of hurdles in the world is rising, so I want to raise my average time. 13 seconds I want to be able to always set the time for one car and be ranked high on the world stage, "he said with enthusiasm for the future.