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World Championships Gold Medalist Taniguchi Takes Over as Head Coach at Tokyo Nogyo University

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2012/04/02/kiji/K20120402002965070.html

translated by Brett Larner

Tokyo Nogyo University announced on Apr. 2 that 1991 Tokyo World Championships men's marathon gold medalist Hiromi Taniguchi, 51, has been named head coach of its track and field program and an associate professor in the university's Department of International Agriculture and Food Studies.  With an eye to improving its placing at the Hakone Ekiden, Taniguchi has been advising the Tokyo Nogyo University ekiden team since last fall.

Taniguchi ran in both the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and 1996 Atlanta Olympics.  After retiring he took a coaching position at Team Asahi Kasei, followed by helping to found the Oki corporate team where he was also head coach.  Most recently he was head coach of the Tokyo Denryoku ekiden team, leaving that position in September, 2010.

Translator's note: Tokyo Nogyo University finished last at this year's Hakone Ekiden after its Day One anchor came down with a cold on race morning following the cutoff for submitting alternates.  Its Day Two squad set the school record for the second half of the race but could not improve the team's position.

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