Toshihiko Seko (瀬古 利彦, Seko Toshihiko, born July 15, 1956 in Kuwana, Mie) is a Japanese former long-distance runner. He was a world-class marathon competitor in the 1980s. He represented his native country at the 1984 and the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationality | Japanese | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | July 15, 1956 Kuwana, Mie, Japan | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Country |  Japan | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Men's athletics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 5000 metres, 10,000 metres, half marathon, marathon | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | 3000m: 7:56.47[1] 5000m: 13:24.29[1] 10,000m: 27:42.17[1] Marathon: 2:08:27[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Seko's notable marathon wins include Fukuoka Marathon (1978–1980, 1983), Boston Marathon (1981, 1987), London Marathon (1986) and Chicago Marathon (1986).
On March 22, 1981, Seko set world records at 25,000 m (1:13:55.8) and 30,000 m (1:29:18.8). The records stood for 30 years until they were broken by Moses Mosop in June 2011.[2] On April 20, 1981, Seko shaved one second off Bill Rodgers's course record at the Boston Marathon.[3]
As of 2005[update], Seko is a coach at the S & B Foods Track Team and a member of the Tokyo 2016 Olympics Advisory Panel.[4]
He serves on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education from December 21, 2007.[5]
He was devoted to the sport above other interests and once remarked "The marathon is my only girlfriend. I give her everything I have."[6]
International competitions
edit| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Representing Japan
| |||||
| 1979 | Asian Championships | Tokyo, Japan | 1st | 10,000 m | 28:59.2a |
| 1984 | Olympic Games | Los Angeles, United States | 14th | Marathon | 2:14:13 |
| 1986 | Asian Games | Seoul, South Korea | 3rd | 10,000 m | 29:31.90 |
| 1988 | Olympic Games | Seoul, South Korea | 9th | Marathon | 2:13:41 |
Marathons
edit| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Fukuoka Marathon | Fukuoka, Japan | 5th | Marathon | 2:15:00 |
| 1978 | Fukuoka Marathon | Fukuoka, Japan | 1st | Marathon | 2:10:21 |
| 1979 | Fukuoka Marathon | Fukuoka, Japan | 1st | Marathon | 2:10:35 |
| 1979 | Boston Marathon | Boston, United States | 2nd | Marathon | 2:10:12 |
| 1980 | Fukuoka Marathon | Fukuoka, Japan | 1st | Marathon | 2:09:45 |
| 1981 | Boston Marathon | Boston, United States | 1st | Marathon | 2:09:26 |
| 1983 | Tokyo Marathon | Tokyo, Japan | 1st | Marathon | 2:08:38 |
| Fukuoka Marathon | Fukuoka, Japan | 1st | Marathon | 2:08:52 | |
| 1986 | London Marathon | London, United Kingdom | 1st | Marathon | 2:10:02 |
| Chicago Marathon | Chicago, United States | 1st | Marathon | 2:08:27 | |
| 1987 | Boston Marathon | Boston, United States | 1st | Marathon | 2:11:50 |
| 1988 | Lake Biwa Marathon | Ōtsu, Japan | 1st | Marathon | 2:12:41 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "Toshihiko SEKO - Athlete Profile". IAAF.
- ^ "Mosop rips apart World records for 25,000 and 30,000m in Eugene – Samsung Diamond League". June 4, 2011. Retrieved June 4, 2011.
- ^ "Seko Clocks A Boston Record". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. AP. April 21, 1981. p. 19. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
- ^ Members of the Tokyo 2016 Olympics Advisory Panel – Tokyo Metropolitan Government Archived 2006-10-06 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ 東京都教育委員会委員の任命に係る議会の同意について Archived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education's official website(in Japanese)
- ^ Running with the Legends: Training and Racing Insights from 21 Great Runners (book)
External links
edit
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