Stay updated with breaking news from Tokyo limits. Get real-time updates on events, politics, business, and more. Visit us for reliable news and exclusive interviews.
Jan 22, 2021 The Japan Association of Athletics Federations announced its award recipients for the 2020 season on Thursday with long-distance track runner Hitomi Niiya capturing the Athlete of the Year accolade. Niiya broke Yoko Shibui’s 18-year-old national record in the women’s 10,000 at December’s national championships for long-distance disciplines at Osaka’s Nagai Stadium. She booked a spot at this summer’s Tokyo Limits with her record time of 30 minutes and 20.44 seconds. The 32-year-old, who came out of a five-year retirement in 2018, set a new national record of 1:06:38 at the Houston Half Marathon in January 2020 as well. “I’m extremely happy and at the same time it’s an award that makes me feel that I need to keep pushing myself, and I wouldn’t have won an award like this without the support of my fans and those who have been associated with me,” Niiya told an online news conference. ....