Skip to main content

Juntendo Wins 2nd-Straight National Mixed Team University Ekiden


The 2nd annual National Mixed Team University Ekiden took place Sunday the 20th in Osaka on a six-stage, 20 km course around Nagai Park. Counting two Hakone Ekiden runners in its lineup, Juntendo University finished in the top spot again in 1:01:19, 34 seconds faster than its winning time last year. Chuo University was 2nd in 1:01:30, with Kansai University 3rd in 1:01:50.

Juntendo Hakone runner Kazuki Ishii was 5th on the 3.0 km opening leg, just 6 seconds behind leader Kazuto Iizawa (Tokai Univ.). Second runner Shion Ono ran the fastest time on her leg to put Juntendo into 1st. Having played a key role in Juntendo's 2nd-place finish at Hakone in January where he was 3rd on the competitive Third Stage, 3rd-year Tatsuya Iyoda won the 5 km Third Stage for the second year in a row, running a strong 14:18 to add a big chunk to Juntendo's lead. Anchor Mao Kogure was almost caught by Chuo's Ayuka Kazama, but with 600 m to go she kicked hard to bring Juntendo in to the win.

"This is the only chance to run on an ekiden team with both men and women," Iyoda said. "I hope that winning at this ekiden will give everyone at our school a little extra motivation." Juntendo head coach Shunsuke Nagato commented, "Having gotten a taste of the win here today, I hope that it will inspire them to keep pursuing the win."

2nd National Mixed Team University Ekiden

Nagai Park, Osaka, 20 Feb. 2022
23 teams, 6 stages, 20.0 km

Top Individual Stage Performances
First Stage (3.0 km, men) - Kazuto Iizawa (Tokai Univ.) - 8:12 - CR
Second Stage (2.0 km, women) - Shion Ono (Juntendo Univ.) - 6:15
Third Stage (5.0 km, men) - Tatsuya Iyoda (Juntendo Univ.) - 14:18
Fourth Stage (3.0 km, women) - Risa Yamazaki (Nittai Univ.) - 9:29 - CR
Fifth Stage (2.0 km, men) - Yasuhiro Katsuki (Toyo Univ.) - 5:21 - CR
Sixth Stage (5.0 km, women) - Rinka Hida (Ritsumeikan Univ.) - 16:31 - CR

Top Team Results
1. Juntendo University - 1:01:19 - CR
2. Chuo University - 1:01:30 (CR)
3. Kansai University - 1:01:50 (CR)
4. Nittai University - 1:01:58
5. Ritsumeikan University - 1:02:03
6. Toyo University - 1:02:10
7. Takushoku University - 1:02:14
8. Tsukuba University - 1:02:54
9. Josai University - 1:03:04
10. Kansai Region Select Team - 1:04:05

source articles:
translated and edited by Brett Larner

Buy Me A Coffee

Comments

Most-Read This Week

Everything You Need to Know About the 2026 Hakone Ekiden

The Hakone Ekiden is the world's biggest road race, 2 days of road relay action with Japan's 20 best university teams racing 10 half marathon-scale legs from central Tokyo to the mountains east of Mount Fuji and back. The level just keeps going higher and higher , hitting the point this year where there are teams with 10-runner averages of 13:33.10 for 5000 m, 27:55.98 for 10000 m, and 1:01:20 for the half marathon. It's never been better, and with great weather in the forecast it's safe to say this could be one of the best races in Hakone's 102-year history, especially on Day One. If you've seen it then you know NTV's live broadcast is the best sports broadcast in the world, with the pre-race show kicking off at 7:00 a.m. Japan time on the 2nd and 3rd and the race starting at 8:00 a.m. sharp. If you've got a VPN you should be able to watch it on TVer starting at 7:50 a.m. on the 2nd , and again at 7:50 a.m. on the 3rd . There's even a 2-hour high...

Mashiko Breaks U20 5000 m NR - Weekend Track Roundup

Saturday's Kanakuri Memorial Meet in Kumamoto was the weekend's main event in Japanese track, but there were good results at the Nittai University Time Trials meet in Yokohama too. Emmanuel Maru (Toyota Boshoku) led the men's 5000 m A-heat at Kanakuri in 13:14.06, with Tomonori Yamaguchi (SGH) clocking the fastest Japanese time in 13:16.38 in his first race as a corporate leaguer. Waseda University duo Rui Suzuki and Yota Mashiko went 6-7 in 13:20.64 and 13:22.87, the 18-year-old Mashiko shaving 0.04 off the U20 NR. In 8th, Yamato Yoshii (Toyota) ran a PB of 13:23.92. 3000 mSC NR holder Ryuji Miura (Subaru) continued to struggle after a weak indoor season, finishing 18th of 20 finishers in 13:45.10. 19-year-old Festus Kimorwo (Kurosaki Harima) was under 13:20 in the B-heat too, winning in a 13:19.59 PB. 2 more collegiate men broke 13:30, Daichi Fujita (Chuo Univ.) 8th in 13:28.93 and Riki Koike (Soka Univ.) 9th in 13:29.09. The top 6 in the men's 800 m A-hea...