LOOK: Eduard Flores breaks personal best at Tokyo speed race debut

Filipino athlete clocks 31:41 in first international 10K, powered by ASICS’ latest METASPEED™ series

Filipino distance runner Eduard Flores delivered a standout performance at the ASICS Tokyo Speed Race, clocking a new personal best of 31:41 in the 10km event—beating his previous record by nine seconds.

Held on the fast, flat roads near the Japan National Stadium, the race attracted 125 elite athletes and resulted in a flurry of record-breaking performances: Three Area Records, 10 National Records, and 48 Personal Bests.

Eduard, making his international debut, opened strong with a blistering 2:57 first loop (1.3km). Maintaining a steady pace of 4:08–4:10 in the following laps, he capped his race with a final 2:51 sprint, defying expectations in cooler Tokyo weather—much different from the heat he trains in back home.

Originally aiming for a sub-31:50 mark, Flores not only achieved but exceeded his goal, a milestone made even more impressive by the high-caliber field and tight course.

All athletes raced in the new METASPEED™ Tokyo Series from ASICS, which includes the METASPEED™ Sky Tokyo, Ray, and Edge shoes—designed with insights from global athletes and the ASICS Institute of Sport Science.

In the 5km race, Filipino content creator Ayn Bernos also achieved a personal best, finishing in 33:26.

Top finishers in the elite races included Jemal Yimer (27:10) and Joy Cheptoyek (30:22) in the 10km, and Harbert Kibet (13:00) and Caroline Nyaga (14:19) in the 5km.

Organized in partnership with World Athletics, the Tokyo Speed Race is a precursor to the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25, igniting excitement among athletes and fans alike.

See full recap of ASICS’ elite race here: