K. Ken Nakamura for IAAF
3 April 2001 - Koji Murofushi has been steadily improving on his Japanese national record in the hammer throw since 1998. On April 1, he took the record to 82.23m.
It was the fourteenth national record for Murofushi, whose first national mark - 76.65m - was recorded on April 26, 1998 in the Gunma Relays. In 1998, he broke the national hammer throw record six times.
After bettering the record once in 1999, Murofushi improved the national record five more times in 2000.
Before Sunday’s competition, his national hammer throw record stood at 81.08m, which he recorded at the Super meet in Yokohama on September 9, 2000. On his first attempt in Umemura stadium in the campus of Chukyo University in Toyota, Murofushi improved his national hammer throw record by over a meter to 82.21m. It was the largest single improvement of the national record in his career.
He was not through with the record setting for the day, however. He continued to throw well, surpassing 80m mark in every subsequent throw except for his fourth throw.
Finally in his last attempt, he further improved the record to 82.23m.
With this throw Murofushi becomes the twentieth best hammer thrower in history.
One might think that Murofushi may have peaked too early in the season. However, in 1998 Murofushi has set national records in April, October and December. In 2000, he set national records in May, July and September.
This may only be the beginning of another record breaking season for Murofushi.
