Everybody now talks about high school sprinting sensation Yoshihide Kiryu, recognizing the 17-year-old is the fastest current man in Japan.
Well, it is perhaps arguable.
Some may consider Ryota Yamagata is the nation's sprinting champ, because, even though Kiryu's has a better personal-best time (10.01 seconds) in the 100 meters, Yamagata appears to be more consistent at a higher level than the teenage athlete, who was invited to the Birmingham Diamond League meet in England in late June, but finished last in his heat (a lukewarm 10.55 seconds).