by Brett Larner
Komazawa University solidified its hold on the Japanese university ekiden world with a third straight victory at the All-Japan University Men's Ekiden on Nov. 2, outrunning rival Waseda University and holding off Yamanashi Gakuin University's double Kenyan challenge to take the win. Komazawa took the lead from Waseda on the seventh of the ekiden's eight stages and edged away by a second or two per kilometer for the rest of the race.
Yamanashi Gakuin, in striking position after a stage record final run by Kenyan senior Mekubo Mogusu on the fourth leg, was expected to win if its anchor, first year Cosmas Ondiba, was within 3 minutes of the lead, but despite being only 2:05 back at the start of his run Ondiba was unable to overtake either Waseda's or Komazawa's anchors.
Komazawa third year Takuya Fukatsu brought the defending champions home to win again in 5:16:16. Komazawa finished 2nd at the 2008 Izumo Ekiden behind Nihon University, which was a distant…
Komazawa University solidified its hold on the Japanese university ekiden world with a third straight victory at the All-Japan University Men's Ekiden on Nov. 2, outrunning rival Waseda University and holding off Yamanashi Gakuin University's double Kenyan challenge to take the win. Komazawa took the lead from Waseda on the seventh of the ekiden's eight stages and edged away by a second or two per kilometer for the rest of the race.
Yamanashi Gakuin, in striking position after a stage record final run by Kenyan senior Mekubo Mogusu on the fourth leg, was expected to win if its anchor, first year Cosmas Ondiba, was within 3 minutes of the lead, but despite being only 2:05 back at the start of his run Ondiba was unable to overtake either Waseda's or Komazawa's anchors.
Komazawa third year Takuya Fukatsu brought the defending champions home to win again in 5:16:16. Komazawa finished 2nd at the 2008 Izumo Ekiden behind Nihon University, which was a distant…