Japanese junior star Hijiri Aomi is the latest addition to the Racers Track Club catalogue of overseas athletes as he commenced training with the “Capital of Excellence” recently.

Aomi, who is in his final year at KEIO Senior High School in Japan, made his post at the club official last week when he went through his paces under the watchful eye of Coach Jermaine Shand at The University of the West Indies (UWI)/Usain Bolt Track.

The club’s highly decorated Head Coach Glen Mills, as well as Japan’s ambassador to Jamaica, Masanori Nakano, were also present at the sessions.

In recent years Japan has developed a growing reputation as a serious contenders in track and field, particularly in the sprints, as was evident at the recent IAAF World Championships in London.

All three Japanese participants in the men’s 100 metres — Aska Cambridge, Shuhei Tada and Abdul Hakim Sani Brown — advanced to the semi-final round. Tada was later joined by Shota Iizuka, Yoshihide Kiryu and Kenji Fujimitsu in claiming the bronze medal in the 4×100 metres relay.

When asked to comment on the prospects of Aomi joining the ranks of Japanese stars such as Cambridge, Tada and Sani Brown, Coach Shand assumed his usual non-committal persona.

He noted that the transition from junior to senior athletics is difficult and unpredictable, but nevertheless offered the insight that Aomi had so far displayed the enthusiasm and willingness to learn, which are essential ingredients for success.

Aomi will return to Japan at the end of this week to complete his high school education before rejoining the club in the autumn.