One of the only non-championship ekidens to happen this season, the Okutama Keikoku Ekiden was held for the 82nd time Sunday on its traditional hilly road course along a river gorge in the mountains west of Tokyo. One of the oldest and most old-fashioned ekidens in Japan, 43 women's teams of three runners each and 152 men's teams of six runners each competed, women covering a total of 11.1 km and men 44.8 km.
In the women's race, running less than 48 hours after racing the 10000 m at Friday's National Championships, Futtsu Select Team anchor Haruka Yamaguchi started 49 seconds back from the lead in 5th. With only 3.8 km to work with she ran a new stage record of 12:34 to move into 1st and open a 40-second margin of victory.
In the men's race, Akihiro Kaneko got New Year Ekiden-bound Comody Iida corporate team off to a good start with a 21:07 record for the 7.4 km First Stage. Comody Iida held the lead start to finish against Hakone Ekiden regulars Takushoku University and Chuo University, third runner Shun Gorotani also breaking his stage's record to help set an overall course record of 2:11:38. Takushoku's A-team was 2nd in 2:13:57 to take the top spot in the university division. With its fifth runner Yuzen Kuroiwa breaking into the top three on his stage, Musashi Ogose H.S. was 6th overall for 1st in the high school division in 2:19:18.
82nd Okutama Keikoku Ekiden
Ome, Tokyo, 06 Dec. 2020
women: 3 stages, 11.1 km, 43 teams
men: 6 stages, 44.8 km, 152 teams
Top Women's Team Results
1. Futtsu Select Team - 38:35
2. Bebe B - 39:15
3. Tokai Shoin - 39:19
4. Bebe A - 39:21
5. Hachioji Fujimori RC D - 39:56
Top Individual Stage Performances
First Stage (3.7 km): Yukari Yasutome (Bebe B) - 12:44
Second Stage (3.6 km): Shiho Okumura (Tokai Shoin) - 11:08
Third Stage (3.8 km): Haruka Yamaguchi (Futtsu) - 12:34 - CR
Top Men's Team Performances
1. Comody Iida - 2:11:38 - CR
2. Takushoku University A - 2:13:57
3. Chuo University - 2:15:49
4. Takushoku University B - 2:17:09
5. Takushoku University C - 2:17:41
6. Musashi Ogose H.S. A - 2:19:18
Top Individual Stage Performances
First Stage (7.4 km): Akihiro Kaneko (Comody Iida) - 21:07 - CR
Second Stage (8.4 km): Bernard Kimani (Comody Iida) - 25:00
Third Stage (6.6 km): Shun Gorotani (Comody Iida) - 19:58 - CR
Fourth Stage (6.6 km): Ryo Doimori (Comody Iida) - 19:22
Fifth Stage (8.4 km): Tsubasa Kudo (Takushoku Univ. A) - 24:29
Sixth Stage (7.4 km): Hirohide Terada (Comody Iida) - 21:38
© 2020 Brett Larner, all rights reserved
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