For the first time since 2001, Juntendo University won the annual Hakone Ekiden, the most famous Ekiden in Japan. The 83rd edition of the Hakone Ekiden, contested on the 10 stage course over a total distance of 217.9Km on 2 and 3 January, is televised live in its entirety nationwide from 7 am both days. 20 college teams from Kanto district (area around Tokyo) contest the Ekiden from Tokyo to Hakone and back.
Tokai University took the lead immediately, when Yuki Sato ran away from the competitions early in the first stage. At the end Sato, the fastest 10,000m (28:07.20) runner in Japan last season, recorded the new stage best, 1:01:06 in the 21.4Km first stage. He broke the record set by Yasuyuki Watanabe, 12th in the 1995 World Championships 10,000m, in 1994. Tokai University led the second place Toyo University by 4 minutes and 1 second after the first one.
In the second stage, Kensuke Takezawa, the fastest 5000m (13:22.36) runner in Japan last season, recorded the fastest second stage, 1:07:46 for 23.2Km. Tokai University continued to lead and at the start of the fifth and the final stage on the day one, building a 2 minutes and 19 second margin. Meanwhile, Juntendo University, who was 14th after stage one steadily moved up to 12th after stage two, ninth after stage three and then fifth after the fastest fourth stage by Hidekazu Sato. The fifth stage is famous for the big hill with the elevation gain of 865m. Masato Imai of Juntendo, who recorded the stage five best in the last two years, was superb once again. Starting the fifth stage with a 4 minute and 9 second deficit, Imai steadily made up the distance on the leader. Then with 7Km to go, Imai took over the lead from Tokai University. Juntento University finished the first day in first place, 1 minute 42 seconds ahead of the second place Tokai University.
On the second day, the ekiden was contested over the 109.9Km course from Hakone to Tokyo. Juntendo University who started the day in first place, a minute and 42 seconds ahead of Tokai University continued to lead the race. Juntendo actually extended their lead and won by more than six minutes. It was their 11th victory. Nihon University, who started the day in fifth place steadily moved up in place and passed Tokai University in the tenth and the final stage. Nihon University finished second, while Tokai University finished third.
Ken Nakamura for the IAAF
Final Results
1) Juntendo University 11:05:29
2) Nihon University 11:11:42
3) Tokai University 11:12:07
4) Nihon University of Sports Sciences 11:16:44
5) Toyo University 11:16:59
Day 1
1) Juntendo University 5:33:13
2) Tokai University 5:34:55
3) Nihon Univ of Sports Sciences 5:36:33
4) Waseda University 5:36:57
5) Nihon University 5:37:06
Day 2
1) Juntendo University 5:32:16
2) Nihon University 5:34:36
3) Toyo University 5:37:11
4) Tokai University 5:37:12
5) Chuo University 5:37:42
Best Stages
1 - 21.4Km - 1:01:06 - Yuki Sato - Tokai University - New Stage record
2 - 23.2Km - 1:07:46 - Kensuke Takezawa - Waseda University
3 - 21.5Km - 1:02:50 - Yuichiro Ueno - Chuo University
4 - 18.5Km - 55:30 - Hidekazu Sato - Juntendo University
5 - 23.4Km - 1:18:05 - Masato Imai - Juntendo University - New Stage record
6 - 20.8Km - 59:29 - Sho Sueyoshi - Nihon Univeristy
7 - 21.3Km - 1:04:38 - Tomohiko Sumi - Nihon University of Sciences
8 - 21.5Km - 1:06:28 - Toshinori Kitajima - Toyo Univeristy
9 - 23.2Km - 1:10:06 - Shunsuke Nagato - Juntendo University
10 - 23.1Km - 1:08:59 - Genta Matsuse - Juntendo University - New Stage record