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.

Toshihiko Seko
Personal information
NationalityJapanese
Born (1956-07-15) July 15, 1956
Kuwana, Mie, Japan
Sport
SportTrack, long-distance running
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
Men’s athletics
Representing  Japan
Asian Athletics Championships
1979 TokyoMen's 10,000m
Asian Games
1986 SeoulMen's 10,000m

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
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

See also

References
  1. "Toshihiko SEKO - Athlete Profile". IAAF.
  2. "Mosop rips apart World records for 25,000 and 30,000m in Eugene – Samsung Diamond League". June 4, 2011. Retrieved June 4, 2011.
  3. "Seko Clocks A Boston Record". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. AP. April 21, 1981. p. 19. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
  4. Members of the Tokyo 2016 Olympics Advisory Panel - Tokyo Metropolitan Government Archived 2006-10-06 at the Wayback Machine
  5. 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)
  6. Running with the Legends: Training and Racing Insights from 21 Great Runners (book)



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