Waseda and Kokugakuin: “4th-place finish and 3rd-place finish” – The Background of the Split

Waseda University, which was not so highly rated, did very well to finish in 4th place. Although they finished one place higher than Waseda, Kunigakuin University was aiming for the triple crown of university ekiden (Izumo, All-Japan, and Hakone), so this is a regrettable result.

Marathon commentator Tetsuhiko Kim, who competed in the Hakone Ekiden four years in a row when he was at Waseda University, said, “We are very disappointed with the result.

The 101st Hakone Ekiden was held on January 2 and 3. While Aoyama Gakuin University won the overall championship for the eighth time in two consecutive years with a time of 10 hours, 41 minutes, and 19 seconds, breaking the new record (10 hours, 41 minutes, and 25 seconds) set last year by the team itself, there were two schools that had a very different story. The two schools that were divided were Waseda University and Kokugakuin University, which Mr. Kim mentioned at the beginning of this article.

Waseda University, which has not won the Hakone crown since 1999, came in fourth, just one step away from breaking the stronghold of the “top three” (Aogaku University, Komazawa University, and Kokugakuin University) of the championship contenders.

The sports newspapers closely followed the run of Shinsaku Kudo (sophomore, Yachiyo Shoin High School), who brought Waseda University from 6th to 3rd place in the “mountain-climbing” 5th section. His glasses-wearing, intellectual appearance has earned him the nickname “the mountain detective,” a reference to a popular manga.

He ran a great race in the 6th section, which he is not very good at.

However, Mr. Kim has a different view.

Of course, there is no doubt that Kudo’s efforts were significant. However, the driving force behind Waseda University’s breakthrough was the strong performance of Kazufuki Yamazaki (sophomore, Gakufo Ishikawa High School), who ran the first six sections of the return route. Waseda University has always had a problem with the “descent” of mountains, even if they have been able to hold their own on the “ascent,” and they have lost a lot of ground in the 6th section.

In the 6th section, which is Waseda University’s weak point, Yamazaki ran an excellent race, coming in 5th in the section. Yamazaki’s smooth pitch running style is suited for “downhill” running. This season, Waseda University had about three candidates for the “downhill” race. I think the biggest reason for his breakthrough is that he was able to conquer this daunting obstacle.

Behind this is Waseda University’s attitude of not aiming for the Hakone Ekiden but looking ahead.

Yota Ifuku (senior, Rakunan High School), a member of the 8th section, has been participating in full marathons since his school days. The team’s policy of looking to the future, rather than the Hakone Ekiden as the goal, is probably the reason for the depth of the team’s athletes, who have overcome the “descent from the mountains.