Suga fetes Kiryu for breaking 10-second barrier in 100m

September 11, 2017

TOKYO- Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga on Monday congratulated Yoshihide Kiryu, who became the first Japanese sprinter to run 100 meters in less than 10 seconds by setting a new national record of 9.98 seconds.

"That was a fantastic accomplishment," Suga told a press conference, referring to Kiryu's new mark, set on Saturday.

The top government spokesman added that he hopes more Japanese sprinters will follow Kiryu, a college student, in breaking the 10-second barrier.

The 10-second barrier has been a high wall for Japanese sprinters, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wrote in a Facebook posting.

"I offer my heartfelt congratulations on Kiryu for breaking strongly through the wall," Abe continued, expressing hopes that Kiryu will do well in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The previous Japanese record was 10.00 seconds, set by Koji Ito in December 1998. Jiji Press