Yuka Suzuki (鈴木 優花, Suzuki Yuka; born 14 September 1999 in Daisen, Akita) is a Japanese long-distance runner. In 2019…Yuka Suzuki (鈴木 優花, Suzuki Yuka; born 14 September 1999 in Daisen, Akita) is a Japanese long-distance runner. In 2019, she won the gold medals in the women's half marathon at the Summer Universiade held in Naples, Italy. The youngest participant dominated the Marathon Grand Championship in October 2023, guaranteeing her selection for Olympic Games in Paris, in a personal best time of 2:24:09 which she then subsequently beat in 2024 Paris Olympics by 7 seconds despite the hilly course. She is good at running uphills.
Takayuki Matsumiya (Japanese: 松宮隆行; born 21 February 1980 in Akita) is a Japanese long-distance runner who specializes…Takayuki Matsumiya (Japanese: 松宮隆行; born 21 February 1980 in Akita) is a Japanese long-distance runner who specializes in marathon races. He holds the Asian record and Japanese record over 25 km and 30 km. He has a twin brother, Yuko, who is also a top-level marathon runner. He made his debut over the marathon distance at the Nobeoka Marathon, which he finished in a time of 2:18:48. He also made his global championship debut that year, competing at the 2001 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships and taking 53rd place overall. He was eleventh at the 2005 World Half Marathon Championships, which was good enough to help Japan finish third in the team competition. He won the Kagawa Marugame Half Marathon in 2006, breaking a run of wins by Kenyan runners. He improved his marathon best at the Lake Biwa Marathon the month after, taking second place to José Ríos with a run of 2:10:20. In February 2007 he broke the 30 kilometres road running world record in Kumamoto. The time was 1:28:00 hours – a mark which stood for over two years, eventually being beaten by Haile Gebrselassie in September 2009, en route to his marathon world record run in Berlin. Matsumiya competed at the 2007 Rotterdam Marathon and was pleased despite being defeated by Joshua Chelanga as the Japanese set a personal best of 2:10:04 to finish in the runner-up spot. He represented Japan in the 5000 metres at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics but did not manage to progress into the event final. He made his Olympic debut at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and ran in both the 5000 m and 10,000 metres. He was knocked out in the qualifiers over the shorter distance and placed 31st in the 10,000 m. He aimed to qualify for the marathon at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics in Daegu. He missed the necessary time at a hot Fukuoka Marathon, but his run of 2:10:54 still got him third place on the podium. He returned to the marathon distance in 2012 and ran a personal best of 2:09:28 hours to claim seventh place at the Tokyo Marathon.
Ryoko Eda (née Kitajima, Japanese: 北島 良子, romanized: Kitajima Ryoko; born 12 June 1976) is a Japanese marathon runner.…Ryoko Eda (née Kitajima, Japanese: 北島 良子, romanized: Kitajima Ryoko; born 12 June 1976) is a Japanese marathon runner. Her personal best time is 2:24:54 hours, achieved at the 2005 Nagoya Marathon.
Junko Asari (浅利 純子, Asari Junko; married name Takahashi (高橋); born 22 September 1969 in Kazuno, Akita) is a retired…Junko Asari (浅利 純子, Asari Junko; married name Takahashi (高橋); born 22 September 1969 in Kazuno, Akita) is a retired Japanese marathon runner. She won the gold medal at the 1993 World Championships in a time of 2:30:03 hours. In addition she won the Tokyo International Women's Marathon in 1995 and 1998 and the Osaka Ladies Marathon in 1993. Her personal best time was 2:26:10, from January 1994 in Osaka. She finished 17th at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Yuichi Takahashi (高橋 勇市, Takahashi Yūichi) is a Paralympian athlete from Japan competing mainly in category T11…Yuichi Takahashi (高橋 勇市, Takahashi Yūichi) is a Paralympian athlete from Japan competing mainly in category T11 long-distance events. Yuichi took part in the 5000m, 10000m and marathon in the 2004 Summer Paralympics winning the T11 marathon. In the 2008 Summer Paralympics he attempted to defend this title but only managed to finish 16th.
Tsukasa Endo (遠藤 司, Endō Tsukasa; born 9 November 1961) is a Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in the men's…Tsukasa Endo (遠藤 司, Endō Tsukasa; born 9 November 1961) is a Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in the men's 10,000 metres at the 1988 Summer Olympics.
Keizo Yamada (山田 敬蔵, Yamada Keizō; January 30, 1927 – April 2, 2020) was a long-distance runner from Japan, who won the…Keizo Yamada (山田 敬蔵, Yamada Keizō; January 30, 1927 – April 2, 2020) was a long-distance runner from Japan, who won the 1956 edition of the Fukuoka Marathon, clocking 2:25:15 on December 9, 1956. He represented his native country at the 1952 Summer Olympics, finishing in 26th place (2:38:11) and won the 1953 Boston Marathon. He retired on July 18, 2009. He was born in Odate, Akita.
