Sprinter Sets Sights on 100m Record

Tokai University professor Miyakawa Chiaki, 59, who is known as the father of Japanese short distance sprinters and currently coaching the Korean men’s short distance team, called a Korean sprinter a “pioneer.”

Jeon Deok-hyeong, 24, of Chungnam National University, is the one expected to break the Korean men’s 100m record, 10.34 seconds. He is Korea’s hope to break down the wall that has been impregnable for 27 years.

The Korean men’s 100m has not made much progress for 27 years. Korea Naval Academy professor Seo Mal-gu clocked 10.34 at the 1979 Universiad held in Mexico. The Korea Athletics Federation announced a 100 million won prize for the one who breaks Seo’s record.

Coach Miyakawa, who trained the Japanese record-holder (10.00 seconds) Koji Ito, said, “A wall is easy to be pulled down once it starts shaking. Jeon will become a pioneer in Korea’s short distance sprinting.”

Jeon clocked his official best record of 10.51 seconds last year. Last month, he clocked 10.39 at Toyama, Japan. It was not recognized officially because there was a strong back-wind, but showed a possibility for Jeon to make a new record.

Jeon is aiming to make a new record at the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006 in December. Even though he may not win a medal at the Games, he can shorten his record by sprinting with Asia’s ace sprinters. He realized this simple logic when he first met with Miyakawa who came to train Korea’s regular team upon Korea Athletics Federation’s invitation.

Jeon is now trying to shorten his start response time. In addition to the basic training program for 100m and 200m sprinting, he is doing various training activities to improve his start: squatting with a barbell on his shoulder and then standing up quickly on a sign, standing with eyes closed and sprinting on a sign, and so on. He is thinking about his start all the time day and night.

Coach Miyakawa said, “Jeon will sprint only for the men’s 100m at the Daegu International Track and Field Athletics Games on September 28, the 87th National Sports Festival next month, and the Doha 2006, aiming to break the Korean record.”

“Some ask me why I chose sprinting, a sport unrecognized by the public. I feel excited when I clock even 0.01 second early. Do you know how exciting it is to cross the finishing line ahead of other sprinters? I’m on cloud nine when I stand on the starting line.”

The future of Korea’s sprinting is bright with such a dedicated hard-working player as Jeon.

yjongk@donga.com