Special feature: 35th Izumo Ekiden
4years.Editorial Department Misa Fujii
2023/10/09
(Last update: 2023/10/10)
Komazawa University’s Mebuki Suzuki is raised by her teammates after winning the championship for the second consecutive year (all photos by Misa Fujii)
35th Izumo All-Japan University Selection Relay Race
October 10 @ Shimane/Izumo Taisha – Izumo Dome 6 sections 45.1km
Winner Komazawa University 2 hours 07 minutes 51 seconds ☆ New tournament
2nd place Soka University 2 hours 09 minutes 34 seconds
3rd Josai University 2 time 10 minutes 35 seconds
4th place Kokugakuin University 2 time 11 minutes 07 seconds
5th place Aoyama Gakuin University 2 hours 11 minutes 28 seconds
6th place Waseda University 2 hours 11 minutes 36 seconds
7th place Central University 2 time 12 minutes 17 seconds
8th place Toyo University 2 hours 12 minutes 35 seconds
On October 9th, the 35th Izumo Ekiden (6 sections, 45.1km) was held, which is the first of the three major student ekidens of this year. The university won the championship for the fifth time in a row. The team is off to a good start towards its goal of winning the “second three major student ekiden triple crowns” for the first time in history. It was a perfect victory, never giving up the lead from the 1st race to the final 6 races.
Over 20 seconds difference over rival school in District 1, already on track to dominate
From the 1st ward, Komazawa University is Kotaro Shinohara (3rd year, Tomisato), who won the student half marathon in March, Juntendo University is super rookie Daisho Yoshioka (1st year, Chosei Saku), Waseda University is 3 One of the “Arrow” players, Taishi Ito (3rd year, Chosei Saku), and other promising players lined up. As the pace fluctuated slightly due to the headwind, just before 5km the lead group was led by Hugo Milner, an American Ivy League selection, followed by Shinohara, Ito, and Akimu Nomura (3rd year, Kagoshima Josai) from Aoyama Gakuin University. In person. From here, one by one, the race started to slip away, and at the 6km mark, the battle for the lead had narrowed down to Milner and Shinohara. With around 400m remaining, Shinohara took the sash and made a spurt. He had an 8-second lead over the Ivy League selection team and a 21-second lead over the 3rd place Kokugakuin University, leading to Keita Sato (2nd year, Rakunan) in the 2nd ward.
Shinohara of the 1st ward won the section award, which helped turn the tide.
Sato, who set a section record in Section 2 last year as a rookie, is already running solo. Following him is Asahi Kuroda (second year, Konan Tamano) of Aoyama Gakuin University, who is running for the first time in the three major relay races, moving up to second place, followed by Tomoki Yamaguchi (second year, Gakuho Ishikawa) of Waseda University, and Rui Aoki of Kokugakuin University. (2nd year, Kendai Takasaki), followed by Soka University’s Riki Koike (1st year, Saku Chosei).
Mebuki Suzuki heads to the goal with a refreshing look this year
There was some movement in the battle for second place in the ace section of the Izumo Ekiden, Section 3. Before 4km, Soka University’s international student Leaky Kamina (3rd year, Chome) caught up with Aoyama Gakuin University’s Issei Sato (4th year, Yachiyo Shoin) and Waseda University’s Yoji Ishizuka (3rd year, Waseda Jitsugyo), and the three of them caught up. Form a group. He let go of the two at around 5km. Victor Kimutai (2nd year, Mau) of Josai University, who received the sash in 7th place, also moved up to 3rd place. Komazawa University’s Takuma Yamakawa (2nd year, Kamiina Agriculture), who was ahead, was 57 seconds behind Soka University, followed by Josai University with 1 minute and 7 seconds difference, and entered the latter three sections.
Soka University’s Tatsuaki Yamamori (4th year, Sabae) showed off his brilliant performance in the 4th ward. He was the only fourth-year student on the team to enter, and riding a tailwind, he set a new section record pace until the middle of the race. He narrowed the gap by 12 seconds to Komazawa University’s Soui Ito (2nd year, Izumo Kogyo), who ran in his hometown, and handed it over to Hibiki Yoshida (3rd year, Tokai University Shohiro). In the 5th ward, Komazawa University’s Taiyo Yasuhara (4th year, Shiga Gakuen), who was decided to run due to a change on the day, showed a stable run, and the anchor captain Mebuki Suzuki (4th year) was 39 seconds behind second place Soka University. (2013, Saku Chosei). Last year, Suzuki cut the finishing tape with tears in his eyes, but this year he returned to Izumo Dome where his teammates were waiting with a refreshing look on his face.
This year, he returned to Izumo Dome with a refreshing look on his face.
A story about Dai Komazawa’s coach Atsushi Fujita, who has been leading the team since April.
“Shinohara got off to the best start, so Keita was able to get off to a slightly easier start mentally. Shinohara played a very important role. At the end of the third ward, Yamakawa passed in the lead, and the rear When the gap opened up to a certain extent, I felt like “I wonder if this is what I’m going to do.” Since they overcame me in the 4th ward, Yasuhara was also able to run aggressively. Mebuki moved to the 6th ward with absolute confidence. So I think we were able to win. The kids worked hard and delivered the win. I couldn’t be happier.”
All eyes are on whether this will be the first time in history to win the Triple Crown for the second time.
2023-10-10 06:01:51
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