800 m NR Holder Ko Ochiai Heads to Komazawa College

Males’s 800 m nationwide report holder Ko Ochiai, 18, a Third-year at Shiga Gakuen H.S., will go to ekiden powerhouse Komazawa College after his commencement in March. Ochiai gained this yr’s Nationwide Championships 800 m in June, and at July’s Nationwide Excessive Faculty Championships he ran a 1:44.80 NR to win for the second yr in a row. His time there was virtually 1 second beneath the previous report of 1:45.75 set by Sho Kawamoto in 2014 and equalled by Hiroki Minamoto in 2021. In August he turned the primary Japanese athlete to make a World U20 Championships 800 m remaining, successful bronze. Hope are excessive that he’ll proceed to steer Japanese center distance into new territory.

Ochiai’s instant aim is to make the Tokyo World Championships subsequent yr. After getting back from the World U20 Championships he informed reporters, “I need to grow to be somebody who could make the ultimate and go for a medal, not somebody who’s simply focusing on making the group.” Relating to the 1:44.50 qualifying commonplace he confidently mentioned, “The time has gotten quicker, however I am nonetheless focusing on it. I am going to break it and be on the beginning line at Worlds.”

Final yr Komazawa College gained the Hakone Ekiden to finish a sweep of all three 2022-2023 main college ekidens. With 29 wins throughout all three races it’s the winningest college in historical past. “Proper now I need to deal with the 800 m and 1500 m,” Ochiai mentioned. “However I’ve watched the Hakone Ekiden on TV since I used to be little and though it is longer distance I actually respect and admire it.”

Ochiai’s biggest energy is his want to enhance. At Nationals in June he beat earlier NR holder Kawamoto by over a second to win, however having missed the Paris Olympics qualifying commonplace of 1:44.70 he hit the observe along with his hand in frustration proper after ending. After scoring bronze at U20 Worlds he mentioned, “My aim was to win, so solely getting bronze is a bit disappointing. I am completely satisfied to have gotten a medal, however I’ve nonetheless received an extended approach to go earlier than I am actually internationally aggressive.” All the time wanting ahead, Ochiai’s shocking option to go to an extended distance specialty program could have lots of people monitoring his progress.

Ko Ochiai – Born 17 Aug. 2006 in Takashima, Shiga. 18 years previous, 165 cm. Began operating observe at Imazu J.H.S. Entered Shiga Gakuen H.S. in 2022. As a 1st-year he ran the three.0 km Second Stage on the Nationwide Excessive Faculty Ekiden. Gained the Nationwide Excessive Faculty Championships 800 m as a 2nd-year. Gained the April, 2024 U20 Asian Championships his first month as a Third-year. In June he gained the Nationwide Championships. In July he gained the Nationwide Excessive Faculty Championships for the second yr in a row with a 1:44.80 NR. In August he gained bronze on the World U20 Championships. His 1500 m PB is 3:47.56.