Ryota Yamagata, right, competes in the qualifying round of the 100-meter sprint event in the all-Japan track and field championship on June 24. (Ryo Ikeda)
Nearly two decades of scientific studies have helped Japanese runners shave tiny fractions of a second off their times and finally break the 10-second barrier in the 100-meter sprint.
The analyses on velocity and technique combined with the tireless efforts by the sprinters and their coaches have led to three national records in the event over the past four years.
For 19 years, Koji Ito’s time of 10.00 seconds in 1998 stood as the Japanese record for the 100.
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