“Toshiya Hanaoka: Tokai University’s Rising Star in the 102nd Kanto Student Athletics Inter-School Championship”

• ＃The 102nd Kanto Student Athletics Inter-School Championship

• ＃Tokai University

In the men’s division 10000m final on May 11, the first day of the Kanto Intercollegiate, Tokai University’s Toshiya Hanaoka (2nd year, Uedanishi) marked a personal best of 28 minutes 15.65 seconds, becoming the top Japanese player. I came in 2nd place. Last year, his rookie year, he was unable to participate due to an injury, but he emerged in the second half of the ekiden season. Aiming to stand shoulder to shoulder with Shotaro Ishihara (4th year, Kurashiki) whom he admires, Ekiden dreams of a sash relay with Ishihara.

Over 4000m, perfect for Mutuk

The temperature was 14 degrees Celsius, and the race was held in the rain. Immediately after the start, James Mutuku (2nd year, Ngoni), an exchange student from Kenya at Yamanashi Gakuin University, pulled the group vertically. Yuto Kajitani (3rd year, Shiga Gakuen) and Hanaoka of Tokai Univ. Yachiyo Shoin in 1999), Haruki Abe from Chuo University (3rd year, Saikyo), and Rei Matsunaga from Hosei University (4th year, Matsudo Sendai) followed.

After 4000m, Hanaoka came out in front of Kajitani and closely followed Mutuku. It is said that Hanaoka had his own ideas about this. “It was tough from around 4000m, but I somehow understood during the race that if I kept up with the pace a little bit, it would slow down.” By increasing his pace, he said, “I wanted to shorten the distance I ran alone.” It was 2 minutes 48 seconds from 2000m to 3000m, but the next 1000m was 2 minutes 51 seconds. Even though the pace was high from beginning to end, there were small ups and downs.

With 5 laps remaining and 8000m short, Hanaoka was let go by Mutuku. “Actually, I wanted to keep up with him, but I was also lacking in strength.” She threw off her hat on the last lap, waved her arms hard to the finish, and finished second in the rain. She said, “I still don’t have much experience running on a big stage, but I’m glad I was able to follow the international students and finish in second place.” However, referring to the Kanto intercollegiate two years ago, when her senior Ishihara had a close competition with international students, she looked back, saying, “I don’t think I’ve reached that level yet.”

I want to return to a team that eats into the top

Hanaoka entered Tokai University as a promising rookie, marking 13:48.29 in the 5000m in high school. However, in the first half of last year, the injury was prolonged, and the Kanto intercollegiate was watched from the audience. She had a feeling at that time. She said, “I couldn’t compete in the 10,000m as Tokai University. I felt that I was a little weak, and I wanted to leave a good result if I did.” Athletics is basically an individual event, but teams compete against each other. However, in last year’s men’s 10,000m, the team’s highest individual ranking was 16th, and even rookie Hanaoka himself felt embarrassed.

At the Japan Intercollegiate Championships in September, he finished 6th in the 5000m. As he began to demonstrate his true strength, the All Japan Collegiate Ekiden was selected as the 1st ward by Director Ryokakusoku. He made his college ekiden debut in 7th place in the section, and this year’s Hakone Ekiden was entrusted with the 3rd section and finished 6th in the section.

It looks like a great first year, but the person himself seems to have a slightly different perception. “Before Hakone, I got in contact with a player during practice and hurt my leg. I may not have actually run, but an upperclassman told me, ‘You should run,’ so I started running in the 3rd ward. I ran”. Summing up the first year, “I was able to leave only a stable record,” and this year, “I can’t compete with just a stable result. I want to build up the power to leave an impactful result like the Japanese top this time.” ” and vows to make further progress.

Juniors are also able to do it, and self-awareness is beginning to grow. “When the All Japan Collegiate Ekiden and the Hakone Ekiden lost their seed rights, I thought, ‘This is a team that depends on Mr. Ishihara.’ I want to get back to a team that can sink in.”

All Japan Collegiate Ekiden Tournament at the same location and distance

Hanaoka respects Ishihara. That’s why he feels he shouldn’t let the ace alone carry the team. It is the place of the usual point practice that proves it. “I will do my best to keep up with Mr. Ishihara when he picks up his pace. I feel that, so I want to challenge Mr. Ishihara again.”

My goals for the track season are to break 13 minutes and 30 seconds for the 5000m and 27 minutes for the 10000m. And for the Ekiden from autumn, “I want to connect with Mr. Ishihara in the sash. I want to run behind or in front of Mr. Ishihara.” In particular, the Hakone Ekiden has a desire to “revenge in the 3rd ward.”

As a major premise, first you have to break through the qualifying round. This year’s All Japan University Ekiden Kanto District Trials will be held on June 17th at the same Sagamihara Gion Stadium (Kanagawa) as the Kanto Intercollegiate. The reason why I decided to run the 10,000m instead of the 5,000m this time was because I wanted to run once in the same place and distance as the qualifying event. I would like him to show offensive driving like the one he showed today at the qualifying event, which is just one month away.