Special feature: 36th Izumo Ekiden
4 years. The Editorial Department
2024/10/14
(Last update: 2024/10/14)
Kokugakuin University anchor Kiyosumi Hirabayashi cut the winning ribbon (photo by Misa Fujii)
36th Izumo All-Japan University Selection Relay Race
October 14th @ Shimane/Izumo Taisha – Izumo dome 6 sections 45.1km
Kokugakuin University winner 2 hours 09 minutes 24 seconds
2nd place Komazawa University 2 hours 10 minutes 04 seconds
3rd place Aoyama Gakuin University 2 hours 10 minutes 24 seconds
4th place Soka University 2 hours 11 minutes 47 seconds
5th place Ivy League selection 2 hours 12 minutes 18 seconds
6th place Waseda University 2 hours 12 minutes 23 seconds
7 place Josai University 2 hours 12 minutes 34 seconds
8th place Teikyo University 2 hours 13 minutes 35 seconds
On October 14, the 36th Izumo Ekiden (6 sections, 45.1km), the first of three major student ekiden races this year, was held, and Kokugakuin University won for the second time in five years. They won the anchor game against Komazawa University, aiming for their third consecutive victory. The team’s goal is to win the Hakone Ekiden overall, and the three major Ekiden races are a season in which the team promises to win every race. We got off to a good start.
Soka University’s Hibiki Yoshida rises to the top in Ward 2
The first part started in strong sunlight and a warm temperature of 28.4 degrees at the start, and the first 1km was completed at a slow pace of 3 minutes 04 seconds. The large group of 21 athletes continued until just before 4km. American Ivy League selection Kieran Tuntivate was the first to switch the race in the lead group of about 16 people. Rui Aoki (3rd year) from Kokugakuin University and Masaya Tsurukawa (4th year) from Aoyama Gakuin University followed, and the battle for the lead narrowed to three in the final 1km. Tsurukawa won the spurt battle. Second place, Kokugakuin University, had a difference of 8 seconds.
In the 2nd ward, Hibiki Yoshida (4th year) of Soka University, who volunteered for this department and received the sash in 10th place, moved up to second place after 2km. Akimu Nomura (4th year) of Aoyama Gakuin University, who started 26 seconds ahead, also took the lead at about 4 km. In the end, he had a 20 second lead.
In the 3rd ward, Shoki Yamaguchi (1st year) from Soka University, who entered the day as a substitute, leads the pack, followed by the 2nd place group consisting of 5 teams: Ivy League selection, Daito University Bunka, Aoyama Gakuin. The University, Komazawa University, and Kokugakuin University were founded. After 4km, Asahi Kuroda (3rd year) of Aoyama Gakuin University, Takuma Yamakawa (3rd year) of Komazawa University, and Teru Tsujihara (2nd year) of Kokugakuin University of Soka University attacked and caught him. From here, Kokugakuin University fell apart and became a dead heat between Kuroda and Yamakawa. In the end, Kuroda won by 4 seconds. Victor Kimutai (3rd year) from Josai University ran a fast race, overtaking seven others.
Aoyama Gakuin University’s Asahi Kuroda, Komazawa University’s Takuma Yamakawa, and Kokugakuin University’s Teru Tsujihara compete for the 3rd ward final (Photo by Akio Kashiyama)
Kokugakuin University is leading the 5th ward for the first time in this race
The first 4 wards of the second half. Behind Shunya Udagawa (3rd year) of Aoyama Gakuin University, who cut the final tape for the overall victory at the 100th Hakone Ekiden at the beginning of the year, was Komazawa University’s Soui Ito (3rd year), who is focused on the third Izumo in a row. win After 4km, Ito got in front of Udagawa and pulled away. They are in the 5th ward with a 5 second lead over Aoyama Gakuin University, and 9 seconds behind Kokugakuin University. With all three teams at will in the last six wards, the battle was not clear until the end.
In the 5th ward, Hiroki Wakabayashi (4th year) of Aoyama Gakuin University moved to the front, followed by Kosuke Shimako of Komazawa University (2nd year). Around the 5km mark, Ryusho Uehara (3rd year) of Kokugakuin University overtook them, marking the first time Kokugakuin University was in the lead. Kiyosumi Hirabayashi (4th year) from Kokugakuin University was the first to start as an anchor. Kotaro Shinohara of Komazawa University (4th year) came next with a difference of 4 seconds, followed by Aoyama Gakuin University of Aoyama Gakuin University, who had a difficult run with a difference of 24 seconds from Soo Ota (4th year).
The final 6th section runs parallel to Hirabayashi and Shinohara for the first 1km. Hirabayashi made a move just before the 5km mark and eventually cut the final tape with a 40 second lead.
Hirabayashi faces his teammates after winning the championship (Photo by Misa Fujii)
The Story of Kokugakuin University Captain Kiyosumi Hirabayashi
“(Hidekazu Hijikata, the anchor from last time’s victory) asked me ONLINE, “How do you like it?” and I answered, “I can go this time.” That’s what I’ve been dreaming of. I am also going to compete with Komazawa for the race. best in the next two games.”