Round-the-prefecture Ekiden Day 4: “Even if you’re not good at it, you can overcome it if you work hard.”[02/21 19:57]
On the 21st, the 4th day of the Kagoshima Ekiden, the runners challenged Kamewari Pass, the most difficult part of the event.
The race on the fourth day was held on a 106km course with 10 sections from Kirishima City to Kanoya City. The challenge for the players in Section 1 is Kamewari Pass, the most difficult part of the tournament, with an uphill that stretches for about 8 kilometers.
(Kawasatsu Shuichi Takatsuka) “Anyway, I want to pass the sash to the next runner in the front.”
Kawasatsu’s Shuichi Takatsuka aimed for the section prize for the third year in a row at this difficult place, but he struggled with the severe slope. Masayasu Takao from Aira won this year’s Sakao. Takatsuka finished in 7th place.
(Kawasatsu Shuichi Takatsuka) “This year I broke down about two months ago and was worried about it, but I felt it was harder than usual.
The Soo team entered the hometown on this day. Shuhei Kurama, who ran in the 8th section from Shibushi to Osaki for the first time in this tournament. Kurama teaches mathematics at Shibushi High School, and he has a special feeling for this 8th ward.
(Shuhei Soo Kurama) “I was originally not good at running, but I came with a damn soul. I want to tell my students that if you work hard, you can overcome your weaknesses.”
All the students of the school rushed to support them along the route.
(Student) “He did his best. He was cool.”
I ran 10.9 km with the encouragement of my students.
(Shuhei Kurama) “The students cheered me on and it helped me a lot. It was tough, but I was able to never give up until the end thanks to everyone at Shibushi High School.”
And Kagoshima, who received the sash in 3rd place in the final 10 wards, surpassed Aira and Kimotsuki to become the top. We won the championship for two days in a row.
(Shun Nagumo, Kagoshima) “The cheering along the road gave me strength, and everyone in Kanoya also cheered me on, so I was able to run comfortably.”
In the daily ranking, the 2nd place was Aira, and the 3rd place was Kimotsuki. In the overall ranking, Kagoshima is 1st, Hioki is 2nd, and Aira is 3rd.
On the 22nd, the final day of the race, 11 sections, 113.4 kilometers, will be contested from Nejime in Minami-Osumi-cho to Kagoshima-shi.
◆Daily ranking (4th day)
1st place: Kagoshima
2nd place Aira
3rd place・Liver
4th place: Hioki
5 persons・Water
6th place Soo
7th place: Kawabe
8th place・Transa
9th place: Ibusuki
10th place・Kuma hair
11th place: Oshima
12th place: Isa
◆ Overall ranking
1st place: Kagoshima
2nd place: Hioki
3rd place: Aira
4 persons・Water
5th place: Kawabe
6th place・liver
7th place・Transa
8th place: Ibusuki
Ninth place・Kuma hair
10th place Soo
11th place: Oshima
12th place: Isa
