Gaining attention nationwide for soloing the lead on the Hakone Ekiden's 1st leg until its very final meters, Ikuei University 4th-year Hayate Nitta returned to his hometown of Yamaga, Kumamoto. A graduate of Chiharadai H.S., Nitta paid a visit to Yamaga City Hall to tell mayor Junichi Hayata and other city officials about his success. Nitta was captain of the Kanto Region Student Alliance select team at Hakone this year, a team made up of top individuals from universities that did not qualify for Hakone as a team.
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Nitta broke away from the pack early in the 1st leg and led by over a minute and a half at one point. "I locked into my rhythm early on and it felt good, so I just enjoyed the sounds of the crowd and ran with it," he said. Nitta brought the tasuki that he and the the other team members actually used in the Hakone Ekiden and let mayor Hayata try it on.
In high school Nitta never made it to the starting lineup at a national-level ekiden. Throughout university he dedicated himself to his training for four years and finally made his one and only Hakone appearance with a brave and unforgettable run. Nitta will now retire from the sport and begin working for a company in Gunma. "My goal for the coming year is to keep growing, and I hope that I can take even just the first step toward growth in new directions," he said.
translated by Brett Larner
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