The 1st National Mixed-Gender University Invitational Ekiden took place Sunday in Nagai Park, Osaka. The first combined women's and men's team competition on the university ekiden circuit and featuring a six-stage, 20.0 km course, the new event aims to improve development for collegiate middle and long-distance running.
Juntendo University was the new event's first champion, taking the win in 1:01:53. Kyoto Sangyo University was 36 seconds back in 2nd, with Nittai University 3rd another 15 seconds behind. Osaka University was the top finisher among public schools, 9th overall in 1:04:42.
The race's format saw men passing the tasuki to women and the women on to men. In their first experience of a mixed ekiden Juntendo's Hakone Ekiden team members Sodai Shimizu and Tatsuya Iyoda showed their strength despite the rain, the 4th-year Shimizu handling the 3.0 km opening leg and 2nd-year Iyoda the 5.0 km Third Stage. The team's captain, Shimizu smiled as he said, "I thought it was a lot of fun. All the races we did were really high-pressure, so running one like this was fun."
Shimizu led on the First Stage but took a wrong turn near the end, losing ground to rival teams. "I knew I'd be angry with myself if I didn't close it back up a bit," he said, ultimately handing off in 5th in 8:29. Iyoda won the Third Stage to put Juntendo in the top position, and stage wins from fourth and fifth runners Ayaka Nishikawa and Yudai Noguchi kept them there.
Not just at Juntendo but at most other universities as well, the women's and men's teams generally don't train together due to the difference in their running capabilities. Head coach Shunsuke Nagato commented, "They're normally share the track, so by racing together it gives them the opportunity to former a closer bond." 4th-year anchor Yumiko Shiraishi was thrilled by the experience, saying, "I was really excited to get to run with some of the guys who had run Hakone."
1st National Mixed-Gender University Invitational Ekiden
Nagai Park, Osaka, 21 Mar. 2021
six stages, 20,0 km, 20 teams
Top Individual Stage Results
First Stage (3.0 km, men) - Kaichi Izumi (Kyoto Sangyo Univ.) - 8:23
Second Stage (2.0 km, women) - Yukika Miyauchi (Nittai Univ.) - 6:13
Third Stage (5.0 km, men) - Tatsuya Iyoda (Juntendo Univ.) - 14:04
Fourth Stage (3.0 km, women) - Ayaka Nishikawa (Juntendo Univ.) - 9:44
Fifth Stage (2.0 km, men) - Yudai Noguchi (Juntendo Univ.) - 5:27
Sixth Stage (5.0 km, women) - Haruko Hosaka (Nittai Univ.) - 16:56
Top Team Results
1. Juntendo University - 1:01:53
2. Kyoto Sangyo University - 1:02:29
3. Nittai University - 1:02:44
4. Ritsumeikan University - 1:03:01
5. Josai University - 1:03:02
6. Chuo University - 1:03:13
7. Kansai University - 1:03:49
8. Tsukuba University - 1:04:15
9. Osaka University - 1:04:42
10. Bukkyo University - 1:04:45
translated and edited by Brett Larner
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