The 98th Tokyo-Hakone Round-Trip College Ekiden Race
(Hakone Ekiden) Aoyama Gakuin University takes an impressive overall victory for the first time in two years!
Overall result: 10 hours 43 minutes 42 seconds 1st place
The 98th Tokyo-Hakone Round-Trip College Ekiden Race (Hakone Ekiden) was held again this year over two days, January 2nd (Sun) and 3rd (Mon), 2022. Last year, our track and field team (long distance block) regrettably won the return leg and finished in 4th place overall, but this year they got their revenge and won the overall race for the first time in two years, their 6th time. From the 3rd section, they ran alone in the lead and finished with a new tournament record of 10 hours 43 minutes 42 seconds overall. They won by a large margin of 10 minutes 51 seconds over the second place, and also set new section records for the 9th and 10th sections and the return leg, making this a historic achievement. This year's strategy was called "Powerful Operation." The players, who Coach Hara Susumu himself called "the best team in the history of Aoyama Gakuin University," achieved a perfect victory.
In addition, in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, our university's cheering squad and brass band and baton twirling club streamed online support, delivering enthusiastic cheers to the athletes as they ran at full speed to everyone who was staying at home and cheering them on.
This time, we will introduce comments from Track and Field Club Director Yoshihide Uchiyama, Coach Susumu Hara, and each athlete looking back on the Hakone Ekiden.
Thoughts about this year and hopes for next year
"All members of the track and field team" ran together until the end,
Overall victory with a new tournament record
Director of the Track and Field Club (Professor at the School of International Politics and Economics)
Yoshihide Uchiyama
We kept our focus until the end, setting new section records, especially in sections 9 and 10, and new tournament records, to achieve the overall victory. The runners who participated unanimously said that they could not run carelessly, thinking about the runners who could not participate. This year's team was a deep one, capable of producing results no matter which runner participated. All 10 runners ran as hard as they could, not wanting to apologize to the runners who wanted to run but could not, and I feel that the runners taught us the meaning of fighting as a team. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who supported us on TV and elsewhere during the two-day race. Thank you very much.
"Anyone can win" - A deep team that comes together to take overall victory
Track and Field Team (Long Distance Block) Director (Professor, Faculty of Global Studies)
Susumu Hara
Thanks to our powerful strategy, we were able to win the overall championship at the 98th Hakone Ekiden. Thank you very much for your support from the television. In the history of the competition, which has lasted about 100 years, our school has improved the overall result of Tokyo Higher Normal School, which won the first Hakone Ekiden, by about 4 hours and 22 minutes, and set a new competition record of 10 hours, 43 minutes and 42 seconds.
Over the past year, we have been working on developing the team, focusing on strengthening the player base. Each individual has been following the Aoyama Gakuin University Method, facing their own issues and goals, and has transformed into a self-reliant team. This is the strength of the Aoyama Gakuin University Track and Field Club. As for the strategy on the day, ace athletes Kishimoto and Sato were placed on the return leg as they showed signs of concern just before the race, and Ota, who runs the 3rd section and Wakabayashi, who runs the mountain climbing section 5, who are the poster children of the Aoyama Gakuin University Method, were placed on the outbound leg. The other athletes also ran well, and as I ran alongside them in the management vehicle, I thought, "Wow, they're so cool!" Thank you everyone for your support. We returned safely to Otemachi. The powerful operation was a great success!
"Attack without hesitation" - a determined run that led to the overall victory
Captain (4th section runner)
Takayuki Iida (4th year, Faculty of Cultural Policy Studies)
I served as captain for a year, but in major competitions other than the Ekiden, I felt responsible for the team's failure to achieve good results, partly due to my own poor performance. In the midst of that frustration, my coach gave me advice to "attack when in doubt," so I made sure to never forget that in Hakone, and in the race I raced hard, giving it my all and leading to the overall victory for everyone. Over the past four years, we've had our share of wins and losses, but by continuing to work hard, I think we've grown a lot, both competitively and, more than anything, as people. I'm really happy that we were able to finish the Hakone Ekiden with smiles on our faces.
Using his aggressiveness as a weapon, he set the tone with his high-paced running.
1st Section Runner
Yuto Shiki (2nd year, School of Education and Human Sciences)
I was nervous because I knew the first section would be a tough race, but I think I was able to run aggressively, which is one of my strengths. During the actual race, I was able to run at a faster pace than my personal best for the 10,000 meters. Following the All-Japan University Ekiden, I am very proud to have been able to run the first section, which I feel very attached to, and I would like to run in the first section again next year and do a good job to set the tone for Aoyama Gakuin. The current second-year students are very talented, so I hope to be able to lead the team together with my classmate Sato Issei.
Using his frustration as a springboard, he grew into an "ace" in both name and reality
2nd Section Runners
Kotaro Kondo (3rd year, School of Business Administration)
Over the past year, I have been wondering if I am worthy of the title of ace. However, I was very disappointed to hear outside voices saying "Aoyama Gakuin does not have any outstanding athletes this year," and last year's loss made me want to win even more. As a result, I was able to practice with a greater sense of responsibility, which led to good results in the 5,000m and 10,000m, and I think that's why I'm now able to compete as an ace. I was able to win thanks to the people who supported me even in the tough times and my teammates.
An important section for a first-year student.
The hard work I put in helped me gain confidence
Section 3 runners
Aoi Ota (1st year, School of Community and Human Sciences)
I think it's rare for a first-year student to be in charge of such an important section as the third section, but I was able to prepare without getting upset because I was only thinking about doing my best in every section. Believing in what I've done so far and clearing even small goals one by one has given me confidence. My first Hakone Ekiden was more fun than I expected, and I couldn't help but smile after I made a spurt. Next year, I'm aiming to win both the outbound and return legs for a consecutive victory.
Next year, he aims to win the section prize and set a new section record, becoming a true "mountain god."
5th Section Runner
Hiroki Wakabayashi (1st year student at the School of Global Studies)
My coach gave me the nickname "Young God." I'm a little embarrassed by that term, but as my name suggests, I want to get closer to the "God of Mountains" one step at a time. This year, my plan for mountain climbing was to get a good grasp of my own rhythm in the first 3km, and then use that rhythm to climb the rest of the way. Section 5 was tougher than I expected, but the excitement of finishing in first place was even greater. I'd like to challenge Section 5 again next year, aiming to win the section prize, which I missed this year, and set a new section record.
I have always admired the Hakone Ekiden since I was in junior high school. The past 10 years have flown by in an instant.
Section 6 runners
Yuki Takahashi (4th year, School of International Politics and Economics)
Last year, I was able to achieve third place in the same 6th section, so this year I was aiming to win the section prize, but I was disappointed that my body did not move and my results dropped. However, during the race, my coach gave me a push, and in the second half, I was able to give it my all, thinking, "I want to earn even one second for the juniors who will run the remaining sections." The Hakone Ekiden has been a dream stage since I was in junior high school, and the past 10 years have flown by in a flash. I will be a working adult from next year, so I would like to make full use of what I have learned and take on new challenges.
Aiming to be the strongest grade in the final grade
Section 7 runners
Hiroki Kishimoto (3rd year, School of Social and Information Studies)
I resumed training after recovering from a stress fracture one month before the race, and although I was barely able to adjust, I am grateful that Coach Hara trusted me as a "long-distance relay man" and let me run the seventh section. Since the beginning of our enrollment, we, the current third-year students, have been discussing "making the strongest year ever." I think we have gained a certain level of ability by this tournament, so we will further improve our strength in the remaining year of our final year, create a new team color, and win with even more overwhelming power than this year.
Hakone is "a place that is both the goal and the start"
Section 8 runners
Kazuyo Sato (2nd year student, Faculty of Cultural Policy Studies)
This time, due to an injury and a fever just before the race, I almost gave up, thinking, "I probably won't make it in time to run in the Hakone Ekiden." However, thanks to the encouragement of my coach, teammates, and family, and the treatment from my trainer, I was able to participate, and when I handed the sash to Nakamura in the 9th section in first place, I was able to run so well that I was able to tell him, "It was fun, so please enjoy yourself." I think the Hakone Ekiden is the place where a new part of my athletics life begins once I finish the race.
This year's Hakone Ekiden: Pride on the line
Section 9 runners
Yuto Nakamura (3rd year, Faculty of Cultural Policy Studies)
From the beginning, I was aiming for a new section record, so I'm glad that I was able to improve my record by a large margin. Just as Sato, who ran in the 8th section, told me during the sash relay, this Hakone Ekiden was, in one word, "fun." I think that the result was due to both that fun and the strong feeling of "I'm definitely going to win this year!", not forgetting the disappointment of last year. The current 16 third-year students are very strong, so I would like to win among them and report a victory again next year.
Even in the lead, he stuck to his "attack" approach and won by a large margin
10th Section Runner
Keiatsu Nakakura (3rd year, Faculty of Social Information Studies)
When I received the sash in first place, the gap with second place was quite large, but the captain encouraged me to "aim for the tournament record," and I was also aiming for a new section record, so I didn't go on the defensive and went all out. Last year, when I ran the 10th section, I lost in the final stages and ended up in 4th place, but I worked hard with that regret in mind, and I was also greatly inspired by my teammates, so I think that this year I was able to achieve the record I was aiming for and contribute to the overall victory.
Aoyama Gakuin TV "Aoyama Gakuin Ekiden Times"
Hakone Ekiden 2022 Celebration! Overall Victory Report Meeting
Congratulations! Overall victory in the Hakone Ekiden!! This is the Hakone Ekiden victory report meeting held at the Aoyama Campus after the tournament on Monday, January 3, 2022. The powerful operation was a great success!
Hakone Ekiden 2022 Interview immediately after the event
Congratulations! Hakone Ekiden Overall Victory!! Aoyama Gakuin's Powerful Ekiden Strategy! This interview was conducted immediately after the tournament on Monday, January 3, 2022!
[Outbound (Otemachi to Hakone/Lake Ashi, 107.5km)] 5 hours 22 minutes 6 seconds 1st place
[Return trip (Hakone, Lake Ashi to Otemachi, 109.6km)] 5 hours 21 minutes 36 seconds 1st place
Outbound
Otemachi to Hakonemachi
(Sunday, January 2, 2022)
Photo: Yomiuri Shimbun
1 hour 1 minute 25 seconds
1 hour 7 minutes 9 seconds
1 hour 1 minute 0 seconds
1 hour 1 minute 46 seconds
1 hour 10 minutes 46 seconds
Return journey
Hakone-machi to Ote-machi
(Monday, January 3, 2022)
Photo: Yomiuri Shimbun
59 minutes 3 seconds
1 hour 2 minutes 39 seconds Section Award
1 hour 4 minutes 49 seconds
1 hour 7 minutes 15 seconds new section record
1 hour 7 minutes 50 seconds New section record
Second place in two university relay races!
Chichibunomiya Cup
The 53rd All Japan Inter-University Ekiden Championships Overall result: 5 hours 13 minutes 6 seconds 2nd place
The 53rd Chichibunomiya Cup All-Japan Inter-University Ekiden Championship was held on Sunday, November 7, 2021, and our university came in second place with a record of 5 hours, 13 minutes and 6 seconds, earning a seed for the next tournament for the ninth consecutive year.
The tournament is one of the three major university ekiden races (Izumo Ekiden, All Japan University Ekiden, and Hakone Ekiden), and is a race that connects 106.8 km in eight sections from Atsuta Shrine in Nagoya to Ise Shrine in Mie. A total of 27 teams participated in this tournament, including seeded schools that won prizes last year and teams that won selection tournaments in eight regions across the country.
The athletes started the race aiming for their third victory. From the early stages, with the first section in 4th place and the second section in 10th place, the race was closely fought with evenly matched abilities. In the third section, Kishimoto Daiki ran the best Japanese lap and came in 8th, Takahashi Yuki won the section prize in 6th place, Sato Issei won the section prize in 5th place and came in 3rd, and Kondo Kotaro ran the 7th section and came in 2nd, passing the sash to captain Iida Takayuki in 2nd place. In the final 8th section, they narrowly missed out on the win by 8 seconds, the smallest gap in history, but they came in 2nd and earned a seed for the next tournament for the 9th consecutive year.
Photo: Courtesy of The Asahi Shimbun Company
[Atsuta Shrine West Gate to Ise Shrine Uji Bridge, 106.8km] 5 hours 13 minutes 6 seconds 2nd place
27 minutes 10 seconds
32 minutes 58 seconds
33 minutes 55 seconds
34 minutes 8 seconds Section winner
35 minutes 57 seconds Section winner
39 minutes 2 seconds
50 minutes 54 seconds
59 minutes 2 seconds
33rd Izumo All Japan University Selection Ekiden Race Overall Results 2 hours 14 minutes 7 seconds 2nd place
On Sunday, October 10, 2021, the 33rd Izumo All-Japan University Selection Ekiden Race was held for the first time in two years, and our university finished in second place with a time of 2 hours, 14 minutes and 7 seconds.
The tournament is one of the three major university relay races (Hakone Ekiden, All Japan University Ekiden, and Izumo Ekiden), and is a 45.1km race that connects six sections from the front of Izumo Taisha Shrine to the front of the Izumo Dome. Twenty teams selected by each district student federation of the Japan Student Athletics Union participated in this tournament.
Under the "Musubi Strategy" set out by Coach Hara Susumu, on a clear, midsummer day with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, Kondo Kotaro won the first section, and in the final sixth section, Yokota Shungo received the sash in fourth place. In the final stages, in a fierce battle with Toyo University, he caught up with Kokugakuin University, which was running in front of him, and overtook them with a third-place run in the section, crossing the finish line in second place.
In the extremely hot weather and with a strong headwind, the athletes ran hard, always trying to stay in the top positions in their quest for their fifth victory, but unfortunately they ended up in second place.
Photo by Bunka Kobo Co., Ltd.
[Izumo Taisha Shrine main torii gate (Sedame) to Izumo Dome, 45.1km] 2 hours 14 minutes 7 seconds 2nd place
23 minutes 41 seconds Section winner
16 minutes 29 seconds
24 minutes 44 seconds
19 minutes 20 seconds
19 minutes 40 seconds
30 minutes 13 seconds
