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Kyoto Sangyo Qualifies for National University Men's Ekiden for 50th Time


The Kansai Region qualifying race for November's 58th National University Men's Ekiden was held June 7 at Yanmar Field Nagai in Osaka. Kyoto Sangyo University won overall, with Osaka Keizai University, Kwansei Gakuin University and Ritsumeikan University taking the other 3 qualifying spots. 1st the last 2 years, Kansai University placed 5th and missed out on making the main event.

12 teams ran in the qualifying race, each fielding teams of 8 split evenly across 4 heats of 10000 m. Their cumulative times determined the team score, with the 4 fastest teams earning spots. The National University Men's Ekiden happens Nov. 1 on an 8-stage, 106.8 km course from Atsuta Jingu in Aichi to Ise Jingu in Mie.

Winner Kyoto Sangyo missed out on qualifying last year, but its win this year had special significance as it earned the team its 50th appearance at Nationals. 2nd-year Tsukito Minami brought momentum to the team's performance in the 2nd 10000 m heat. Osaka Keizai 3rd-year Renta Iwasaka and Kwansei Gakuin 4th-year Keima Yamashita led the way, but Minami was determined to make top 5 and stayed with them. Although he came up short of his target time, Minami took 3rd. "I think that got us moving in the right direction," he said post-race. Riding that momentum, his teammates in the 3rd and 4th heats brought the win home.

Complete team results:

1. Kyoto Sangyo University - 4:04:03.11
2. Osaka Keizai University - 4:04:06.89
3. Kwansei Gakuin University - 4:05:12.97
4. Ritsumeikan University - 4:05:14.21
-----
5. Kansai University - 4:05:56.18
6. Ryukoku University - 4:12:58.21
7. Setsunan University - 4:15:45.51
8. Doshisha University - 4:18:40.14
9. Osaka University - 4:19:46.32
10. Osaka Koritsu University - 4:21:18.14
11. Kobe University - 4:23:47.99
12. Kyoto University - 4:24:38.69

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