Hiroyuki Horibata (Japanese: 堀端 宏行; born 28 October 1986) is a Japanese long-distance runner who competes in the…Hiroyuki Horibata (Japanese: 堀端 宏行; born 28 October 1986) is a Japanese long-distance runner who competes in the marathon. He holds a personal best of 2:08:24 hours for the event, set in 2012. He twice represented his country at the World Championships in Athletics, placing seventh in 2011 but failing to finish in 2013. He won his first half marathon in 2007 at the Kanaguri Hai Tamana Half Marathon. His marathon debut followed at the 2008 Tokyo International Marathon, where he was ninth with a time of 2:11:47 hours. He returned the following year but after a slow run of 2:18:27 he switched to track running for a period. He had renewed success over the longer distance at the 2011 Lake Biwa Marathon and he took third in a time of 2:09:25 hours – the first Japanese finisher behind East Africans Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich and Deriba Merga. This brought him his first national selection. A run of 2:10:05 hours for eleventh at the 2012 Lake Biwa Marathon was not enough for Olympic selection, but he finished the year with his first national title in the marathon through a personal best run of 2:08:24 hours at the Fukuoka Marathon. Only Kenya's Joseph Gitau was faster at the race. His 2012 national title win earned him a place at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics, but he had competed sparingly and failed to finish the distance. He competed in the Grand Tour Kyushu ekiden later that year, but largely missed the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
Terumi Asoshina (阿蘇品照美; born 2 August 1982) is a Japanese long-distance runner who specializes in the half marathon.…Terumi Asoshina (阿蘇品照美; born 2 August 1982) is a Japanese long-distance runner who specializes in the half marathon. She finished twelfth at the 2005 World Half Marathon Championships, which was good enough to help Japan finish third in the team competition.
Yuko Kawakami (川上 優子, Kawakami Yūko; born 1 August 1975 in Kumamoto) is a retired Japanese long-distance runner. She…Yuko Kawakami (川上 優子, Kawakami Yūko; born 1 August 1975 in Kumamoto) is a retired Japanese long-distance runner. She finished fifteenth in 5000 metres at the 1997 World Championships. In 10,000 metres she finished seventh at the 1996 Summer Olympics, won the bronze medal at the East Asian Games and the gold medal at the 1998 Asian Games, finished twelfth at the 1999 World Championships and tenth at the 2000 Summer Olympics. She also finished 36th at the 1995 World Cross Country Championships, and fourth with the Japanese team.
Shizo Kanakuri (金栗 四三, Kanaguri Shisō; 20 August 1891 – 13 November 1983) was a Japanese marathon runner celebrated as…Shizo Kanakuri (金栗 四三, Kanaguri Shisō; 20 August 1891 – 13 November 1983) was a Japanese marathon runner celebrated as the "father of marathon" in Japan. He holds the Guinness World Record for the longest time to complete a marathon with a time of 54 years 8 months 6 days 5 hours 32 minutes 20.3 seconds. Kanakuri retired from the men's marathon event at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics without informing the authorities, but Sveriges Television gave him the opportunity to complete his marathon in 1967.