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

Pressure like I’ve never experienced before.

On the other hand, KOKUGAKUIN Univ.

Although they finished in third place, one place above Waseda University, one of the “top three” was not satisfied with the result, as they were not able to win the championship until the very end.

The reason why we failed to win the championship can be summed up in one word: the pressure we have never experienced before. Although Kokugakuin University had never won Hakone, they had won Izumo and All-Japan twice in a row, so expectations for the Triple Crown were very high. The athletes must have felt the pressure of the media, who do not usually show up in large numbers, showing up at the training grounds.

The runners in the 2nd section, Kiyosumi Hirabayashi (senior, Mikata High School) and Ryusho Uehara (junior, Kitayama High School) in the 9th section were clearly not running as they should have, even though they were capable of upsetting Aogaku University and Komazawa University. I got the impression that their bodies were not able to keep up with their impatience. I think I was only able to give about 70% of what I had in my first experience on a big stage with a lot of tension and attention.

However, Mr. Kim says that this experience will be a great source of food for the next year and beyond.

The underclassmen, especially those in their first and second years, will be able to run with confidence next year, no matter what the situation is, after experiencing the pressure they were under this time. It was a good opportunity for them to develop the mental strength not to be defeated by the pressure. I hope that next time they will achieve their long-cherished dream of winning the Triple Crown and become true university champions.

Waseda University and Kokugakuin University were evenly matched this time, but no one can predict what will happen a year from now. The youngsters will grow far beyond our expectations.