Saburo Yokomizo

Saburo Yokomizo was a Japanese middle-distance runner who competed in the 3,000 metres steeplechase and the 5,000 metres, becoming the national high school all-athletics champion in the latter. After attending Yokohama High School, Yokomizo enrolled at Chou University in Tokyo in 1958 where he joined the track team. Two years later he won his first senior national title with victory in the 5,000 metres, before doing the double in the steeplechase and 5,000 the following year. These results earned Yokomizo a place on the Japanese team for the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta where he won silver in both distances. Yokomizo then continued to focus on the steeplechase, with high hopes placed upon him for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. At the Games, however, he could only manage to come ninth in his heat and was eliminated. After his retirement Yokomizo spent most of his life working as a coach at various organisations, including Chou University.

Personal Best: 3000S – 8:46.0 (1964).