Toshihiko Seko
Toshihiko Seko (瀬古 利彦, Seko Toshihiko, born July 14, 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 | ||||||||||||||
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Nationality | Japanese | |||||||||||||
Born | Kuwana, Mie, Japan | July 15, 1956|||||||||||||
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, 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
Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
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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
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 |
References
- "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)