Yanagita Hiroki – Rising son
Yanagita is from Gunma, a sleepy prefecture to the north of Tokyo. His parents were in track and field, and he followed suit when he was in elementary school – but more as a long jumper than a sprinter.
The awakening, ironically, began for Yanagita during the global pandemic. As meets were cancelled, he began running more to stay in shape which gradually made him faster and faster.
After placing third at the 2022 national championships (10.19), Yanagita made his World Championships debut that year in the 4x100m relay but was disqualified in the heats.
The following season led to better results. He was runner-up at the nationals (10.13) then won his first Asian championship in Bangkok, where he recorded his PB of 10.02.
Yanagita got as far as the semi-finals at the World championships in 2023, when he also helped Japan finish fifth in the 4x100m. At Paris 2024, his first Olympic Games, he ran the heats in the relay but was not picked for the final (Japan wound up fifth).
Yanagita has been on a roll this year, winning the Golden Grand Prix and then defending his Asian title in Gumi, Republic of Korea. He perhaps faces his sternest test yet at these Japanese championships starting on Thursday (4 July), and seems to be fully aware of the mounting challenges lying before him.
His goal is to reach the 100m final at the National Stadium in September – something only Abdul Hakim Sani Brown has done for Japan at the World championships – but first things first.
“You can bet the house everyone will bring it this summer,” Yanagita said. “I have to keep working and start with making the team for Worlds.”