Waseda wins Izumo Ekiden as first-year runner Niizuma earns coach’s praise

Waseda University won the 38th Izumo Ekiden, a major Japanese university relay race, on October 12.

The race is the first of Japan’s three major university ekiden events, followed by the All-Japan University Ekiden and the Hakone Ekiden.

Waseda took four section wins, in sections two, four, five and six.

Coach Katsuhiko Hanada singled out first-year runner Roki Niizuma, who set a section record, as his personal MVP.

Hanada also praised first-year runner Ojiro Honda for helping shape the race early.

He said Waseda had expected to be strong at Izumo, but warned that other universities are closely matched and Waseda will now be the team others try to catch.

The coach said the team would aim to carry its form into the All-Japan Ekiden and then Hakone.