LOS ANGELES (Kyodo) Former world bronze medalist Dai Tamesue took his first step on the comeback trail, appearing in a local track meet on Saturday for his first run in two years and eight months.
Tamesue, who turns 33 in May, clocked a pedestrian 48.74 seconds in his signature event, the 400-meter hurdles. He had not competed since the 2008 Beijing Olympics with pain in both knees and his left ankle.
Tamesue, who took third at the worlds in Edmonton and Paris in 2001 and 2005, is shooting for next year's London Olympics.
"I was a little unsure at first, but I was able to finish the race and did the best I could today," Tamesue said. "I can at least start dreaming of being in the Olympic final now."