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East Japan and Tohoku Fukushi Win 77th Towada Hachimantai Ekiden


Two classic midsummer ekidens happened during the Paris Olympics, the 77th Towada Hachimantai Ekiden in Akita and the 49th Mount Fuji Ekiden in Shizuoka. We didn't have time to cover them then, but better late than never.

The Towada Hachimantai Ekiden was held Aug. 7 on a 5-leg, 71.4 km course from Lake Towada on the Akita/Aomori border to Hachimantai in Kazuno, Akita. For the third time in the race's history, the East Japan Corporate Select Team took the top spot in the men's race, winning in 3:49:05. East Japan was 4th after the 1st leg, with 2nd runner Shota Sugimoto moving them up to 2nd. They fell to 5th on the next leg, but after that a stage win by Neo Namiki and a new stage CR by Yuito Yamamoto on the final two stages put them out front.

Yamamoto graduated from Josai University in March. At Josai he won the uphill Fifth Stage at both last year's and this year's Hakone Ekidens, with his new CR there this year earning him the MVP award at Hakone's 100th running. The Comodi Iida team was 2nd in 3:51:14, with Komori Corporation 3rd in 3:51:50.

In the 5-leg, 28.3 km women's race, Tohoku Fukushi University won in 1:41:00.

77th Towada Hachimantai Ekiden

Akita, 7 August 2024
men: 5 stages, 71.4 km, 13 teams
women: 5 stages, 28.3 km, 3 teams

Women's Team Results
1. Tohoku Fukushi University B - 1:41:00

Men's Team Results
1. East Japan Corporate Select Team - 3:49:05
2. Comodi Iida - 3:51:14
3. Komori Corp. - 3:51:50
4. Fujisan no Meisui - 3:53:04
5. Hokuriku Corporate Select Team - 3:55:26
6. Fukushima T&F Assoc. - 4:08:57

Men's Individual Stage Results
First Stage (13.0 km) - Tatsuya Tsunashima (Hokuriku) - 40:28
Second Stage (13.0 km) - James Bunuka (Hokuriku) - 37:14
Third Stage (15.7 km) - Antipas Kibet (Komori Corp.) - 46:20
Fourth Stage (15.9 km) - Neo Namiki (East Japan) - 49:45
Fifth Stage (13.8 km, uphill) - Yuito Yamamoto (East Japan) - 49:52

source article:
translated and edited by Brett Larner

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