Japanese Men's Marathon Team Briefing

Japan's male marathon runners and their coaches held their first press
briefing yesterday in front of a large number of predominantly Japanese
reporters and photographers.

Much of the attention focussed on medal contender Atsushi FUJITA and head
coach Sigeru SO. The demand for the attention of these two men and the fact
that 90% of the attendant press were Japanese, is indicative of the event's
enormous popularity in Japan.

Japan's most well-known male representative, FUJITA , the Asian record
holder at 2:06:51, admitted he carries the hopes of his nation.

"The Japanese people have been trying to put pressure on me to win but I am
not taking too much notice and I am trying not to let it effect me. My
training during the last few months has been perfect. I have had some minor
injuries, just muscle soreness mainly, but they are not worrying me too
much now"

After Naoko TAKAHASHI won gold in the women's event in Sydney last year
additional pressure was placed on the Japanese men,  who haven't won a
major championship gold medal since Hiromi TANAGUCHI claimed victory in the
1991 world championships. Koichi Morishita did, however, take the silver in
the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.  Coach SO highlighted the importance of the
men's race here in Edmonton.

"In Seville we won silver, this year we want to come first in the men's
marathon," SO explained, adding that none of last year's olympians are
here.
..
"The athletes from the Olympics were not available for training but the
athletes here are stronger than those in Sydney. There are many people in
Japan who can run well but we can't bring all of them.The best members for
the marathon are here now."

Another advantage for the Japanese team is the relatively flat course at
these championships. After stating that there were two rises near the
bridges which would make the course difficult, SO compared the course
favourably to Sydney.

"In Japan most marathon courses are flat so we are happy."

FUJITA was more confident.

"The course is easy, there are not too many hills. I am only worried about
the wind and the elevation in Edmonton. In response to the latter, FUJITA
recently spent time training at 900m altitude in Japan. While FUJITA is new
to Edmonton, Nishida TAKAHASHI and Shigeru ABURAYA, already got a taste of
the course when they ran in the Edmonton Marathon earlier this year.

Both SO and  FUJITA agreed 2 hours 10 minutes would win the race but were
reticent on who would win.

News Team kb