NEWS (Sports Achievements)
POSTED
2026.01.03
DIVISION
TITLE
[Athletics Club] The Athletics Club (Long-distance Block) set a new tournament record at the 102nd Tokyo-Hakone Round-Trip College Ekiden Race (Hakone Ekiden), becoming the first team in history to win three consecutive championships and achieving their ninth overall victory.
On January 3, 2026 (Saturday), the 102nd Tokyo-Hakone Intercollegiate Ekiden Relay Race (Hakone Ekiden) was held. In the return leg, which consisted of 5 sections totaling 109.6 km, our university's track and field club (long-distance block), under the "Shine Bright!" strategy, finished in a new course record of 10 hours, 37 minutes, and 34 seconds (preliminary time). This set new course records for the outbound, return, and overall races, making us the first university in history to achieve a second consecutive three-peat and our ninth overall victory.
Thank you to everyone who showed such enthusiastic support to the players over the past two days.
Now in its 102nd year, this competition is one of the three major university ekiden races (Hakone Ekiden, All Japan University Ekiden, and Izumo Ekiden), and is the longest ekiden race in collegiate long-distance running, contested over a total of 10 sections (217.1 km) from the Yomiuri Shimbun building in Tokyo to Lake Ashi in Hakone, with 5 sections on the outbound leg (107.5 km) and 5 sections on the return leg (109.6 km). With 21 universities participating in this year's competition, our university's cheering squad and cheerleading club also came to support the team, and students, faculty, staff, and alumni united in their support to cheer for the overall victory in the 102nd Hakone Ekiden.
[Photo ? Monthly Track and Field Magazine]
On the previous day, the team started in 16th place in the first leg of the outbound journey, and steadily improved their position. In the final leg of the outbound journey, the fifth leg, captain Asahi Kuroda (4th year student School of Global Studies and Collaboration) set a new course record, overtaking four runners and achieving a dramatic come-from-behind victory in the first leg.
At Lake Ashi in Hakone, the finish line and starting point for the return leg, strong winds blew and temperatures dropped below freezing, creating harsh conditions. Under the "Shine Bright Strategy" slogan devised by Coach Hara, who is in his 22nd year as head coach, the university's track and field team (long-distance block) won the outbound leg and, based on their outbound leg record, started the return leg with an 18-second lead over second place, aiming for their second consecutive three-peat.
In the 6th leg, Hiroki Ishikawa (1st year, School of Cultural and Creative Studies), running in his first Hakone Ekiden, ran powerfully down the mountain, extending his lead over second place by 29 seconds at the 9.1km mark and 56 seconds at the 13.4km mark, ultimately handing off the baton in first place with a lead of 1 minute and 23 seconds. In the following 7th leg, Aito Sato (2nd year, College of Community Studies), also running in his first Hakone Ekiden, maintained his lead and handed off the baton to Shota Shiode (4th year, Department Department of Education College of Education, Psychology and Human Studies) with a lead of 1 minute and 29 seconds over second place.
In the 8th leg, Shota Shiode, who won the section prize in the 8th leg for the second consecutive year, ran at a pace that set a new section record and took the lead. He left the second-place runner far behind, setting a new section record and winning the section prize, and handed off the baton in first place.
In the 9th leg, Yuichi Sato (4th year, Department of History College of Literature), who received the sash from Shota Shiode, ran at a pace that set a new section record in his first and last Hakone Ekiden, without allowing the second-place runner to catch up. At the 14.7km mark, he further extended his lead over the second-place runner to 2 minutes and 15 seconds, and with a powerful run that was the third fastest in history, he handed off the sash in first place, passing the hopes of a consecutive victory to Sota Orita.
In the final 10th leg, Sota Orita (2nd year, College of Community Studies) ran a powerful race that nearly earned him the section prize, taking the lead alone. He never relinquished the lead from the 6th leg onward, and crossed the finish line in first place, receiving cheers from spectators along the route. He broke the course record set by our university last year, finishing in a new course record of 10 hours, 37 minutes, and 34 seconds (preliminary time). This new course record in the outbound, return, and overall races secured our university's first-ever second consecutive three-peat and ninth overall victory.
Section 6: Hiroki Ishikawa (1st year student, School of Cultural and Creative Studies)
Although my time was close to second place, I just focused on running my own race, so I was able to run freely. I feel very fortunate to be able to run in the Hakone Ekiden as a representative of Aoyama Gakuin University since my first year. I was able to run just as I had envisioned.
Section 7: Aito Sato (2nd year student, College of Community Studies)
Even during practice, I had heard that Ishikawa (who runs the 6th leg) could run at about the same level as Akimu Nomura from the previous tournament, so I thought he would widen the gap with the second-place runner.
Last year, I wasn't able to run in the Hakone Ekiden due to a last-minute change, so I've been training all year with the determination to run this year. I'm really happy to be able to run in this competition.
Section 8: Shota Shiode (4th year student, Department Department of Education College of Education, Psychology and Human Studies)
I had stated to the team that I would set a new section record this time, and I'm relieved that I was entrusted with the 8th section for the third time and was able to achieve a new section record. Having experienced the Hakone Ekiden twice before, I had a good image of it, so I thought that if I could give it my all, I could run in a high position, and I'm glad that I was able to do so.
In the return leg, Aoyama had set course records in sections 6, 9, and 10, but not yet in sections 7 and 8, so I'm glad that we were able to set a record for Aoyama in section 8.
Ward 9 Yuichi Sato (4th year, Department of History College of Literature)
I was able to run comfortably until the 15km mark, but it suddenly got tough from the 18km mark, and the last 5km were very difficult. However, I was able to finish the race thanks to everyone's cheers. I didn't expect to win the section prize, but I'm glad I was able to. For the past year, as the dormitory head, I've been running under strict rules, and I think that has led to this result.
Section 10: Sota Orita (2nd year student, College of Community Studies)
The final stretch was truly the toughest moment, but when I saw my teammates waiting for me at the finish line in Otemachi, I felt a sense of relief and emotion. I was happy to be able to come back in first place. My role as the anchor runner was to bring the baton to Otemachi in first place, knowing that my teammates, who are incredibly strong and whom I trust above all else, would always pass it on in first place from the first to the ninth leg, and I'm glad I was able to fulfill that role. I still have two years ahead of me, so I will work hard for the next year to be able to run in a way that will allow us to achieve four, five, and even six consecutive victories.