The "National High School Ekiden" will be held on the 25th, in which high school runners connect their sashes in winter in Kyoto.
In the men's race, which runs the same distance as a marathon with seven men, Kurashiki High School in Okayama and Sakuchosei High School in Nagano are expected to compete for the championship at a high level.
The race is scheduled to start at 12:30pm.
We will keep you up to date with the latest information on the race.
Race Highlights
The All-Japan High School Ekiden will start and finish at "Takebishi Stadium Kyoto" in Kyoto City, and 47 teams that won the prefectural qualifiers for both men and women will participate.
In the men's race, which runs the same distance as a marathon with seven men, Kurashiki High School in Okayama and Sakuchosei High School in Nagano are expected to compete for the championship at a high level.
[Kurashiki (Okayama)]
Kurashiki, aiming for their third championship in four years, posted the top time in the qualifying rounds.
There are strong players such as captain Minamizaka Yuta, who was appointed to the 4th place last year, and second-year international student Samuel Kibatty, who has a proven track record in international competitions.
[Saku Chosei (Nagano)]
On the other hand, Saku Chosei, who is aiming for his third win in five years, had ace player Hiroto Yoshioka break the Japanese high school record in the 5,000 meters last month.
Last year, he ran second in the 1st section, but this year he was entrusted with the 3rd section, where he will compete with the international students, respecting Yoshioka's desire to compete with the international students.
He is expected to be a force to be reckoned with on the team.
[Chasing Nishiwaki Kogyo (Hyogo)] Nishiwaki Kogyo
of Hyogo has the strength to match these two schools.
Last year's ace, Yukiho Nagashima, who showed an aggressive run from the beginning in the 1st section, will run again in the 1st section.
In the 5000m this year, he is gaining strength, recording the second fastest time among Japanese athletes participating in this tournament, and creating a flow for the team's first victory in 20 years by running more than last year when it stalled. or attention.
NHK broadcast schedule
The race will start at 10:20 am for women and 12:30 pm for men, and will be broadcast on NHK General TV, Radio 1, and NHK Plus, as well as breaking news on a special website.
Course features and qualifying times
Connect the same distance as the marathon with 7 people.
Section 1 is the longest at 10km, while Sections 2 and 5 are the shortest at 3km.
In the 3rd ward, Japanese athletes and exchange students from overseas will compete.
<Top 5 teams in qualifying>
1st place Kurashiki (Okayama) 2:03:14
2nd Nishiwaki Kou (Hyogo)
2:03:31 3rd Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi) 2:03:54
4th Sakucho Hijiri (Nagano) 2 hours 4 minutes 10 seconds
5th Kumamoto Engineering 2 hours 4 minutes 55 seconds
(* Conditions such as course are different. Gifu, which was held at a different distance from the main race, is excluded.)
[Course introduction]
District 1 (10km)
A 10km section, which is almost a quarter of the entire course.
After 3km and 5km, the trail continues uphill, and the latter 3km is downhill.
From here, many runners who run the marathon at the Olympics have been produced, and the name "Flower District 1" has been established.
[Section record] 27 minutes 48 seconds
Julius Gitahi [Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi)] 46 times (1995)
District 2 (3km)
A section of 3 km.
Speed up on downhills.
[Section record] 7 minutes 55 seconds
Seiji Sato [Saku Chosei (Nagano)] 49 times (1998)
District 3 (8.1075km)
An important section on the 8.1075km race.
After the uphill and downhill, after passing the final 6km, you will pass an overpass.
When you come to the ups and downs of this bridge, whether you have a margin or not will decide the game.
[Section record] 22 minutes 39 seconds
Cosmas Mwangi [Sera (Hiroshima)] 71 times (2020)
District 4 (8.0875km)
A section of 8.0875 km that runs in the 3rd district in reverse.
Down overall.
[Section record] 22 minutes 32 seconds
Bitan Karoki [Sera (Hiroshima)] 59 times (2008) / John Mwaniki [Sera (Hiroshima)] 69 times (2018)
District 5 (3 km)
A section of 3 km.
Contrary to the outward route, Section 2, this is an uphill course.
[Section record] 8 minutes 22 seconds
Toshio Asai [Koide (Niigata)] 23 times (1972)
District 6 (5 km)
5km section.
The 6th section, where the battle for ranking is fierce, has many curves and ups and downs.
It is important to keep up with corners in the shortest possible time without going around the curve.
In the second half, the point is whether or not you can face the descent with a little leeway.
[Section record] 14 minutes 06 seconds
Muchiri Dilang [Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi)] 70 times (2019)
District 7 (5km)
The final section, 7th ward, 5km, goes down Nishioji, Gojo-dori, and returns to Takebishi Stadium Kyoto.
Which team will be the first to show up on the field?
[Section record] 13 minutes 58 seconds
Yusuke Moriguchi [Nishiwaki engineering (Hyogo)] 49 times (1998) / Shuto Yamada [Kurashiki (Okayama)] 71 times (2020)
[National High School Ekiden Women]
[Click here for the NHK special site]
We will inform you in detail about the introduction of all participating teams and the race report.