First Japanese male in 30 years since Toshihiko Seko ’80

Waseda alumnus Suguru Osako ’14 came in third place in the 121st Boston Marathon held on April 17, with the time of 02:10:28.

Osako is the first Japanese male in 30 years since Toshihiko Seko ’80, who won in 1987, to stand on the Boston Marathon podium.

Boston Marathon is counted as one of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, and Osako kept up with top runners from all over the world despite this being his first marathon competition.

Osako at 2016 Rio Olympics

In 2011, Osako, as a first year, became one of the athletes to win all three collegiate-level Ekiden: the Izumo Ekiden, All-Japan Collegiate Ekiden Championship, and the Tokyo-Hakone Ekiden. (*Ekiden is a long-distance relay running race.) Moreover, he represented Japan in the 2016 Rio Olympics in the 5000m and 10,000m races.

In the ceremony held for Olympic and Paralympic athletes last October at the Masaru Ibuka Auditorium, he commented that, “Although I came in 17th place in the 10,000m race, I felt a sense of accomplishment. This experience gave me the confidence to compete and aim higher for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.”