Central University Triumphs at 99th Hakone Ekiden Relay
On January 2nd, Central University triumphed at this year's 99th edition of Japan's iconic Hakone Ekiden relay race with a winning time of 5 hours 23 minutes and 40 seconds - their first win since being reinstated into competition after doping violations by several members of their team back in 2016.
Jan. 03, 2023 4:24AM
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A photo showing runners competing in the 99th Hakone Ekiden relay race with a banner reading “Central University - First Place!” visible in the background.
The 99th edition of the Hakone Ekiden relay, one of Japan’s most iconic long-distance running events, was held on January 2nd. The event featured five stages and a total distance of 217.9 kilometers. After an intense battle between teams from across the country, it was Central University that emerged victorious with a time of 5 hours 23 minutes and 40 seconds. The first stage saw 1st year student Ippei Tachibana from Lueki High School take the lead for Central University with a time of 63 minutes and 2 seconds. In the second stage, 3rd year student Daisuke Yoshizu ran 66 minutes and 22 seconds to secure first place in his district. Shota Nakano also ran an impressive 61 minutes and 51 seconds in the third stage to maintain Central University’s lead over their rivals. In the fourth stage, 1st year student Syun Yoshizu ran 61 minutes and 49 seconds to extend Central University’s lead even further while 2nd year student Yoki Abe ran 70 minutes and 36 seconds in the fifth stage to ensure victory for his team. This is Central University’s first win since they were reinstated into the competition after being disqualified in 2016 due to doping violations by several members of their team. The victory marks an important milestone for both Central University as well as Japanese athletics as a whole as they look towards a brighter future together on the track.