Waseda wins Izumo university relay for first time in 16 years

Waseda University won the Izumo All-Japan University Select Ekiden, a 45.1-kilometer relay in Izumo run over six stages.

Its time of 2 hours, 5 minutes and 56 seconds set a new event record and gave Waseda its first win in 16 years and its third overall.

First-year runners Hon da Sakurajiro and Niitsuma Haruki each won their stage, helping Waseda take the lead and hold it to the finish.

Kokugakuin University, which had won the previous two races, finished second, 58 seconds behind.

An Ivy League select team placed third, while Aoyama Gakuin University, last season’s Hakone Ekiden champion, finished 11th.

The result marks a major win for Waseda, whose young runners and returning team members have been improving this season.

Aoyama’s coach said the team aims to recover in the All-Japan and Hakone races later in the season.