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Ritsumeikan Back in Control With First Mt. Fuji Women's Ekiden Win Since 2017


The last big dynasty school in Japanese women's university ekiden racing, Ritsumeikan University put an end to Meijo University's 6-year streak at the Mt. Fuji Women's Ekiden national championships with a course record-breaking win that put them back on top for the first time since 2017.

Running for the National University Select Team, the talented Haruka Ogawa from Rikkyo University led early with a 12:42 CR on the 4.1 km 1st leg. Miu Saito from last year's runner-up Nittai University went to the front on the 2nd leg, but from there on out it was a close race between Nittai and 2023 3rd and 4th-placer Daito Bunka University and Ritsumeikan University. Each team took a turn leading, Ritsumeikan with back-to-back wins on the 3rd and 4th legs by 1st-year duo Momoka Moriyasu and Yumi Yamamoto, and DBU with a great stage win by collegiate 5000 m record holder Sarah Wanjiru.

But Ritsumeikan was just too strong over the last two stages, 6th runner Fuka Fukunaga breaking the CR and anchor Kokoro Nakachi dominating the climb by 35 seconds. Ritsumeikan's time of 2:21:09 for the complete 7-leg, 43.4 km course was 29 seconds under Meijo's old CR from 2020, and combined with its win at October's Morinomiyako Ekiden confirmed it as the new dominant force in college women's running.

Daito Bunka anchor Akie Hirao overtook Nittai for 2nd on the toughest part of the climb in the second half of the 7th leg, bringing DBU in in 2:23:47 for its 15th runner-up finish at the two big ekidens in the last 12 years. Nittai held off Takushoku University for 3rd by 3 seconds, 2:24:02 to 2:24:05. Takushoku benefitted a lot from a good comeback run by collegiate 10000 m record holder Seira Fuwa, who turned in her best performance in 3 years to move them up from 10th to 4th with the 2nd-fastest time on the longest stage. It was good to see her college career end on a good note, even if she's not yet back to where she was before the first of a series of injuries in January, 2022.

Juntendo University was a strong 5th, with Josai University repeating its 6th-place finish from last year and Osaka Gakuin University dropping from 5th in 2023 to 7th this time. Meijo was never in it, 14th after the first leg and squeezing onto the 8-deep podium thanks in big part to a good run on the 10.5 km 6th leg by captain Nanase Tanimoto. Not a single Meijo runner won their stage, a major fall-off from its dominance over the last 7 years. 8th last year, Tohoku Fukushi University was in the top spot off the podium this time at 9th almost a minute and a half behind Meijo.

Mt. Fuji Women's Ekiden

19th National University Women's Invitational Ekiden Championship
Shizuoka, 30 Dec. 2024
24 teams, 7 stages, 43.4 km

Top Individual Stage Results
First Stage (4.1 km) - Haruka Ogawa (National Univ. Select Team) - 12:42 - CR
Second Stage (6.8 km) - Miu Saito (Nittai Univ.) - 20:46
Third Stage (3.3 km) - Momoka Moriyasu (Ritsumeikan Univ.) - 10:13
Fourth Stage (4.4 km) - Yumi Yamamoto (Ritsumeikan Univ.) - 13:54 - CR
Fifth Stage (10.5 km) - Sarah Wanjiru (Daito Bunka Univ.) - 33:45
Sixth Stage (6.0 km) - Fuka Fukunaga (Ritsumeikan Univ.) - 19:12 - CR
Seventh Stage (8.3 km, 169 m climb) - Kokoro Nakachi (Ritsumeikan Univ.) - 29:00

Top Team Results - 8-deep podium
1. Ritsumeikan University - 2:21:09 - CR
2. Daito Bunka University - 2:23:47
3. Nittai University - 2:24:02
4. Takushoku University - 2:24:05
5. Juntendo University - 2:25:09
6. Josai University - 2:25:27
7. Osaka Gakuin University - 2:25:52
8. Meijo University - 2:26:53
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9. Tohoku Fukushi University - 2:28:14
10. Asia University - 2:28:21
11. Tsukuba University - 2:28:26
12. Chuo University - 2:28:48
13. Hyogo University - 2:29:22
14. National University Select Team - 2:29:28
15. Kansai University - 2:29:32
16. Tamagawa University - 2:30:19
17. Toyo University - 2:30:42
18. Teikyo Kagaku University - 2:31:22
19. Chukyo Gakuin University - 2:32:32
20. Osaka Geijutsu University - 2:31:58
21. Kansai Gaikokugo University - 2:32:44
22. Tokyo Nogyo University - 2:34:15
23. Kyoto Sangyo University - 2:34:26
24. Shizuoka Select Team - 2:40:06

© 2024 Brett Larner, all rights reserved

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Stefan said…
Congrats to Ritsumeikan Univ. It was close until the final 2 stages. They really stamped their authority this year. I must say, Yumi Yamamoto who is only 19 years old and a 1st year at Ritsumeiken Univ is someone to watch. At the Morinomiyako Ekiden, she set a course record in the 4.0km 2nd stage and in this Ekiden, she set a course record in the 4.4km 4th stage. On both occassions, she ran with discipline and maturity.

I was heartened to see Seira Fuwa running stronger here and it gives me hope that her best running is ahead of her. I thought Takushoku Univ ran very well as a team and it was a good send off for her and the other 4th years to finish so high up at 4th.

I didn't expect Meijo Univ to win but I also didn't expect them to fall so badly either. Ritsumeikan Univ. course records in this Ekiden and the Morinomiyako Ekiden illustrate their undoubted strength this year but I did note they had a number of 4th year graduating members in their team so who knows what will happen next year? It was good viewing today and thanks for the excellent article and race summary Brett!
December 30, 2024 at 3:00 PM
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