Toshihiko Seko

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.

Toshihiko Seko

Personal information
Nationality	Japanese
Born	(1956-07-15) July 15, 1956 (age 68) 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 Men's athletics Representing  Japan Asian Games 1986 Seoul 10,000 m Asian Championships 1979 Tokyo 10,000 m

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

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

• List of winners of the Boston Marathon

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)

External links

• Toshihiko Seko at World Athletics
• Toshihiko Seko at Olympics.com
• Toshihiko Seko at Olympedia