The 5th annual National Mixed-Gender University Ekiden took place Sunday in Osaka's Nagai Park. Its 6-leg course totaling 20 km, the race broke down into individual legs of 3 km, 2 km, 5 km, 3 km, 2 km and 5 km, with men and women from competing universities alternating on each leg. Nittai University returned to the top position, breaking the overall CR with its winning time of 58:27.
Nittai's Hiroto Takamura led off in only 6th, but second runner Kazuyo Iida had a good run to move up into 2nd, putting third runner Ryota Tominaga into position to take the lead. Once out front Nittai's remaining 3 runners Risa Yamazaki, Takanori Wakesu and Yuiri Ogata held onto 1st the rest of the way to the win.
Daito Bunka University was 2nd in 59:17 in its debut at the event, with last year's winner Juntendo University taking 3rd this time in 59:53.
5th National Mixed-Gender University Ekiden
Nagai Park, Osaka, 16 Sept. 2025
21 teams, 6 legs, 20.0 km
Top Individual Stage Results
First Stage (men, 3.0 km)
1. Yudai Katakawa (Asia Univ.) - 8:02 - CR
2. Yuki Murao (Juntendo Univ.) - 8:05 (CR)
3. Kio Furuhashi (Surugadai Univ.) - 8:06 (CR)
Second Stage (women, 2.0 km)
1. Airi Tajima (Juntendo Univ.) - 6:04 - CR
2. Yura Tanaka (Tsukuba Univ.) - 6:06 (CR)
3. Kazuyo Iida (Nittai Univ.) - 6:11 (CR)
Third Stage (men, 5.0 km)
1. Ryota Tominaga (Nittai Univ.) - 13:45 - CR
2. Kaito Kojima (Kyoto Sangyo Univ.) - 14:11
3. Yugo Nishidai (Daito Bunka Univ.) - 14:12
Fourth Stage (women, 3.0 km)
1. Sarah Wanjiru (Daito Bunka Univ.) - 9:02 - CR
2. Risa Yamazaki (Nittai Univ.) - 9:21 (CR)
3. Miu Suzuki (Tsukuba Univ.) - 9:30
Fifth Stage (men, 2.0 km)
1. Takanori Wakesu (Nittai Univ.) - 5:20 - CR
1. Rio Osawa (Daito Bunka Univ.) - 5:20 - CR
1. Takumi Shiobara (Juntendo Univ.) - 5:20 - CR
Sixth Stage (women, 5.0 km)
1. Yuiri Ogata (Nittai Univ.) - 15:42 - CR
2. Ayaka Maeda (Kansai Univ.) - 15:55 (CR)
2. Haruka Ogawa (Rikkyo Univ.) - 15:55 (CR)
Team Results
1. Nittai University - 58:27 - CR
2. Daito Bunka University - 59:17 (CR)
3. Juntendo University - 59:53 (CR)
4. Surugadai University - 1:00:17
5. Tsukuba University - 1:00:26
6. Kansai University - 1:00:38
7. Rikkyo University - 1:00:43
8. Kyoto Sangyo University - 1:00:54
9. Josai University - 1:00:58
10. Chuo University - 1:01:02
11. Ritsumeikan University - 1:01:14
12. Asia University - 1:01:18
13. Takushoku University - 1:01:53
14. Toyo University - 1:01:58
15. Kantaiheiyo University - 1:03:09
OP - Kansai Region Select Team - 1:03:49
16. Bukkyo University - 1:04:03
17. Waseda University - 1:04:13
18. Setsunan University - 1:04:15
19. Doshisha University - 1:05:30
20. Meiji Kokusai Iryo University - 1:06:10
source article:
translated by Brett Larner
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