The national men’s Ekiden race between prefectures was held in Hiroshima for the first time in three years, and Niigata ranked 23rd.
University students who played an active part in the Hakone Ekiden showed their strength.
In the national men’s ekiden, runners across generations, from junior high school students to working adults, started and finished in front of Peace Park in Hiroshima City.
Niigata had a tough race, placing 41st in the 1st section, but they tenaciously held their sashes, and with the help of junior high school students, they moved up the rankings, and entered the final 7th section in 32nd place.
Josai University’s Yuito Yamamoto, who set a new section record in the 5th section of the Hakone Ekiden, mountain climbing, ran in the 7th section, the longest of 13 kilometers.
Yamamoto showed his strength on the 22nd and finished 9th place with the time of 4th place in the section.
Niigata was 23rd, with a time of 2:21:43.
