IBABS Chapter 69.3 — Japan Invitational 60m Heats & Final

Su Zhe hesitated for a moment before admitting, “The last time I came to Japan was for the Champion Invitational. I was too nervous before the race, which affected my performance. Ye-ge gave me some guidance then, which helped me relieve the pressure. Today during the race, I’m sure I wasn’t nervous due to pressure, but I feel like I still couldn’t fully activate and release my strength this time…”

“This morning, I thought it was because I was holding back in the preliminaries, but in the afternoon’s semi-finals, I intended to put in more effort, but the final result was only 6.68 seconds…”

Given Su Zhe’s 100m times, a 60m result of 6.68 seconds indeed didn’t match up.

After hearing Su Zhe’s concerns, Zhao Zhixuan smiled and shook his head. “Have you forgotten that you’re still in a technical adjustment period? Besides, it’s currently winter training season, which is typically a low point for athletes’ performances. Your current condition is already quite good. Also, in your previous competition cycle, you quickly jumped from provincial games to national championships and world championships. Psychologically, your perception of major competitions is probably still influenced by the grand atmosphere at the Celion Stadium. Indoor competitions aren’t as stimulating as those major events, and you’re the type of athlete who thrives in big competitions. All these factors affect your condition.”

“For athletes, adjusting competition mentality and competitive state has always been the biggest challenge,” Zhao Zhixuan admitted frankly. “If you could maintain your competitive state unchanged, why would coaches rack their brains and use every means to adjust our annual state cycles?”

“Of course,” Zhao Zhixuan paused and then added, “when actually facing a competition, we can’t completely choose our current state. Regardless of what state we’re in, as long as we give it our all and leave no regrets, there’s no problem.”

Seeing Su Zhe’s thoughtful expression, Zhao Zhixuan smiled and ruffled his junior brother’s hair, then shooed him back to his own room.

Zhao Zhixuan’s words gave Su Zhe a sense of clarity. He had thought that after experiencing a series of major competitions, his competitive experience and condition had become quite good. But compared to his seniors with truly rich competitive experience, he still lacked in many areas.

Just like today’s condition. He hadn’t considered that it might be the psychological aftereffects from the intense major competitions he’d recently participated in.

After understanding the root of his problem, Su Zhe felt somewhat relieved. As Zhao Zhixuan said, fluctuations in condition were unavoidable. What he needed to do was to perform his best under his current condition!

At 11:10 the next morning, the finals of the indoor invitational arrived as scheduled.

Although the indoor venue was small, the enthusiasm of the spectators who packed the arena wasn’t lacking.

In the stands, the Chinese “Philosopher” fangirls and Su Zhe’s fan club made up of Japanese girls and otaku were passionately cheering before the race. These otaku were incredibly creative, combining their cheering skills with support chants to create an impressive display in the stands.

In the athletes’ preparation area, Minamiyama Yuki and Kobayashi Kimiko were smiling and sighing, “As expected of the beautiful fairy from China. Not only has he captured Shiraishi-san’s heart, but he won’t spare the public’s hearts either! Such enthusiastic support makes even me envious!”

Compared to Minamiyama Yuki, who appeared gentle and cultured but was actually quite flirtatious when he spoke, Kobayashi Kimiko was much more restrained.

Kobayashi calmly commented, “With Shiraishi-san injured and unable to show his abilities in front of Su, comments like yours would only make him feel worse if he heard them.”

Minamiyama Yuki then smiled gently and said, “Then let’s work hard together to help Shiraishi-san leave the impression that ‘Japanese athletes are really strong’ in Su’s mind!”

When all the athletes appeared on the track, the passionate cheering intensified. Besides Su Zhe’s fan club, Minamiyama Yuki and Kobayashi Kimiko also held extremely high status in the hearts of Japanese track and field enthusiasts. As the otaku and Japanese girls cheered, all the spectators in the venue shouted even more enthusiastically for their supported athletes.

At the commentary desk, Ishida Ippei couldn’t help but praise today’s atmosphere. “The cheers from everyone at the venue have already got my blood boiling! I can’t wait to see the exciting finals coming up! I can’t help feeling regretful that this thrilling race track is only 60 meters long. Whether it’s Minamiyama-kun, Kobayashi-kun, or Su from China… of course, including all the strong competitors in the finals, their intense running postures on the track are all so pleasing to the eye that I wish I could watch them forever!”

As he spoke, on the field, the assistant starter had already signaled for silence.

“Oh! The exciting finals are about to begin! Ladies and gentlemen, let’s all look forward to this guaranteed spectacular race!”

Just as Ishida Ippei finished speaking, all the athletes on the track had already stepped onto their starting blocks and taken their ready positions.

“On your marks!”

“Set.”

“Bang!”

At the instant the gun fired, all eight athletes on the track burst into motion!

Even in tonight’s finals, Su Zhe remained the fastest in reaction time to the starting gun. He had stabilized his reaction time to within 0.15 seconds, and now on the track, he led everyone with a reaction time of 0.132 seconds!

Just as Zhao Zhixuan had said, regardless of his condition, in this final he only needed to perform his best without regrets.

At the sound of the gun, Su Zhe’s right leg exploded with power, pushing off with strong, powerful strides. He released his strength more fiercely, trying to achieve his best rhythm from the very start.

After pushing off from the starting blocks, he smoothly transitioned from starting to acceleration at top speed. During acceleration, he exerted his maximum strength, converting his pushing force into forward momentum, continuously increasing his acceleration.

Beside Su Zhe, Minamiyama Yuki and Kobayashi Kimiko sensed the difference in Su Zhe’s aura this time. After keenly noticing this, they too began to unleash their full potential.

Minamiyama Yuki shed the gentle demeanor he usually wore, beginning to chase after Su Zhe with his powerful explosiveness and superior acceleration ability.

Kobayashi Kimiko’s speed was also impressive. He likewise controlled his explosive power, instinctively building up energy for the 60m sprint from the beginning of the track.

Besides these three, the remaining competitors were also formidable. Some might no longer be able to compete with Su Zhe on a 100m track, but on the 60m battlefield, where physical and speed endurance consumption was far less than in the 100 meters, these naturalized athletes including Norman, even if their reaction times weren’t as good as Su Zhe and the others, had explosive power that couldn’t be underestimated!

At the commentary desk, Ishida Ippei was in an excited state. “Oh! Today’s snow leopard boy, his piercing gaze is as sharp and unstoppable as a snow leopard’s, his aura is like a snow leopard on the hunt, beautiful yet full of power!”

“Minamiyama-kun! Minamiyama-kun has put away his smile. When this version of Minamiyama-kun appears, it means he has entered his king mode!”

On the track, Minamiyama Yuki had overtaken Su Zhe, but Su Zhe remained close behind him, with the possibility of overtaking at any moment. Kobayashi Kimiko’s speed was slightly slower, and behind him, Norman and Mohsan were not far behind either!

In this indoor invitational final that was merely meant as a practice match, these athletes on the 60m track had brought out competitive conditions no less intense than mid-season!

Su Zhe’s eyes were firmly fixed on the finish line ahead. He cast aside distracting thoughts and entered a state of complete focus. He controlled his technical movements with his whole heart and mind, ensuring that each arm swing and stride maintained perfect form. While maintaining his optimal state, he strode forward with all his might.

Minamiyama Yuki now wore a stern expression as he ran forward with all his strength. He lived up to his status as Japan’s national record holder in both 100 meters and 60 meters. With his agile strides and superior early explosiveness and acceleration, he possessed the strength to maintain his first-place position.

Su Zhe wasn’t concerned about Minamiyama Yuki’s strength. He focused solely on the track in front of him. After reaching his maximum speed, he firmly maintained his high-speed state and began trying to mobilize his late-stage acceleration power in advance.

As the track approached the 50m mark, Su Zhe leaned forward, entering the final sprint. Combining the explosive power he had accumulated since the start with his pushing force, his figure rushed forward like a cheetah.

“They’ve crossed the line!!!” Ishida Ippei shouted excitedly. “In the end, our Minamiyama-kun was the first to cross the line, but Su’s crossing posture was also full of sharp beauty. Undoubtedly, his greatest advantage remains in the final 30 meters of acceleration in the 100 meters, but from today’s sprint, Su may also gradually master the technique of bringing forward his late-stage acceleration ability!”

Ishida Ippei said passionately, “For Minamiyama-kun… no, for all our athletes, from the moment Su appeared, China added another new name to its threats! Whether on the 100m track, the 60m track, or the 110m hurdles track… this track fairy with the beautiful face and figure is extending his dangerous stride, waiting to claim victories that might have belonged to Japanese athletes!”

Still couldn’t take first place!

Su Zhe gritted his teeth, with a slightly disappointed feeling, and with the remaining momentum after crossing the finish line, he rushed toward the foam wall at the edge of the track.

After being blocked by the foam wall, Su Zhe who had collided with it and stopped still felt slightly dizzy. His late-stage acceleration ability wasn’t quite suitable for the 60m track. This overpowering sprint force and momentum caused him to hit the foam wall too hard after crossing the finish line, producing an uncomfortable dizziness.

I still need to find a way to improve the use and control of my own strength.

While feeling somewhat dizzy and disappointed, Su Zhe sighed inwardly.

Author’s Note:
Today’s Trash Time
Cai Cai: 0.0, Zai, why are you still feeling down…
Boss Shao: …??? Is there anything worth being happy about today? Like, did you bring Shiraishi back?
Cai Cai: Uh, well, aren’t we in the Japan storyline now…
Boss Shao: =_=… Hmm, so when will we get to my romance storyline?
Cai Cai: (Looking at the sky) It’ll… it’ll happen… (Silently covers face and sneaks away)