■Athletics Japan Championships Day 1 Men’s 400m Hurdles Preliminaries (27th, Denka Big Swan Stadium, Niigata City)

The Japan Championships, which also serves as the selection for the Paris Olympics, have begun. In the men’s 400m hurdles, student champion Toyoda Kane (21, Keio University), who has already cleared the participation standard (48.70 seconds), safely advanced to the finals with a time of 48.62 seconds, the top overall. Kazuki Kurokawa (23, Sumitomo Electric Industries), the 2020 and 2021 champion who also cleared the participation standard, was absent due to a pulled muscle in the back of his right thigh.

Toyoda, whose father is French, has previously said, “I feel a closeness to Paris, and the Paris Olympics is an event I have to aim for,” so he is more motivated than most.

Toyoda, who appeared in the first qualifying group, took advantage of his blessed physique of 195.8 cm tall and jumped over one hurdle after another from the start. He picked up speed at the third hurdle and finished in first place in 48.62 seconds. If he wins the final tomorrow, the 28th, he will get his first Olympic ticket. Toyoda has also entered the men’s 110m hurdles, and is just 0.02 seconds away from the participation standard. He aims to compete in the Paris Olympics as a dual athlete in both the 110m and 400m hurdles.

After the race, Toyoda reflected on the qualifying round, saying, “First of all, I think I’m doing what I’ve been practicing, and I think I’m running well.” If he wins the final, he will be selected as a representative for the Paris Olympics. “First of all, I want to win tomorrow, and do my best to improve my personal best,” he said enthusiastically.

Kaito Tsutsue (25, ST-WAKO), who exceeded the participation standard, also appeared in group 2 and passed the qualifying round with a time of 49.40 seconds.