The 99th "Hakone Ekiden", which competes between universities in the Kanto region, will be held on January 2nd and 3rd.

This year, attention will be paid to what kind of races will be shown by Komazawa University, who is aiming for the triple crown of the university Ekiden, and Aoyama Gakuin University, which is aiming for consecutive victories.

The outbound trip will start at 8:00 am on the 2nd.



NHK will broadcast on Radio 1.



We will keep you up to date with the latest race information.

The 99th Hakone Ekiden will be contested by 21 teams, including the Kanto Student Union, which will participate in the open competition, and will compete in 217.1km of 10 sections in total, 5 sections each for the outbound and return trips over the two days.

The outbound route on the 2nd will be contested over 107.5km in 5 sections from Otemachi, Tokyo to Hakonemachi, Kanagawa Prefecture.

[Highlights of this year]

[Komazawa Univ.]


Komazawa Univ. is expected to lead the battle for victory.

Won the Izumo All Japan University Ekiden in October last year and the All Japan University Ekiden in November.

Aiming for the 5th school in history and the first for Komazawa Univ.

The centerpiece is Ren Tazawa, who won the section prize in the ace section called "Flower 2nd Section" last year.

Coach Hiroaki Ohyagi is confident, saying, ``This year we have a solid team of players, and the quality is solid.

[Aoyama Gakuin University] Aoyama Gakusei University


is aiming for the second consecutive victory in the Hakone Ekiden.

Finished 4th in the Izumo All Japan University Ekiden and 3rd in the All Japan University Ekiden.

Coach Hara Susumu said, "Our players are in good shape, so we want to score a goal with peace, win the second consecutive title, and score a goal with a V sign."

It seems that the point will be whether the fourth graders such as Daiki Kishimoto, who won the section award in the 7th section last year when he was a third grader, can demonstrate his strength.

[Kokugakuin University] Kokugakuin


University ranked second after Komazawa University in both the Izumo All Japan University Ekiden and All Japan University Ekiden.

Their best result so far is 3rd place overall in 2020, and they are aiming for their best result ever and their first victory.

[Rikkyo University] Rikkyo University


, which has returned for the first time in 55 years, is also attracting attention.

Led by Yuichiro Ueno, who was active in the Hakone Ekiden during his time at Chuo University.

He will be aiming for the top 10 seed rights for the first big stage as a leader.

[Course Introduction All 10 sections (217.1km)]

<Outbound 5 sections 107.5km>

▽Section 1 (21.3km) The point of the Otemachi-Tsurumi


match is Rokugo Bridge after 17km, after a long flat and straight course.



▽Second Ward (23.1km)


Aces from Tsurumi and Totsuka appear, and it is also called the "Flower Ward 2."

The course is long, with 'Gonta-zaka' from the middle 13km, and repeated ups and downs in the last 3km.



▽ Section 3 (21.4km) From Totsuka to


the first half of Hiratsuka, there is a gentle downward slope of about 9km.

After 11km, you will reach the most scenic spot in the Hakone Ekiden, with Mt. Fuji in front and Sagami Bay on the left.

Sometimes strong headwinds make players suffer.

▽ 4th ward (20.9km) The shortest



between Hiratsuka and Odawaradaira districts .


Due to the extension of the course from the 93rd tournament, the last 3km was a gentle uphill.



▽ 5th ward (20.8km) From Odawara to Hakone/Lake Ashinoko parking lot,


the highest point at the entrance, about 874m above sea level, is run up at once.

After passing the highest point of 16.2km, it turns around and descends to the Otorii of Hakone Shrine after 19km.

<Return trip 5 sections 109.6km>

▽ 6th ward (20.8km) Hakone/Lake Ashinoko parking lot entrance - Odawara Climb


the first 4km and then descend all at once.

The curves are steep and the speed is fast, so choosing a course is important.



▽Section 7 (21.3km) From Odawara to Hiratsuka


, the course continues with small ups and downs after 9km.

The wind blowing down the mountain makes it cold, and as the sun rises, the sunlight from the front gets stronger, so the temperature changes the most.



▽ Section 8 (21.4km) From Hiratsuka to Totsuka


Shonan New Road, a 9km uphill including ups and downs.



▽ 9th ward (23.1km) Totsuka - Tsurumi


The battle for the championship and the battle for the seed rights may be the stage for a great reversal, and many dramas have been created at the Tsurumi relay station.



▽ 10th ward (23.0km) Tsurumi - Otemachi


Passing through Chuo-dori and Nihonbashi to the finish where your friends are waiting.

[Last year's outbound route?

]

In the ace section "Hana no 2 Ward", Komazawa University's ace Ren Tazawa, who was aiming for consecutive victories, won the second place Aoyama Gakuin University by more than a minute.



However, Aoyama Gakuin University's 1st year student Aoi Ota, who was in the 2nd place in the section, overtook Komazawa University and tied the sash in the lead in the 2nd place in the section. It was the first time in two years that he won the outbound route for the fifth time.



Second place was Teikyo University and third place was Komazawa University.

[Last year's return trip?

]

Aoyama Gakuin University, who won the outbound route, took advantage of the thickness of the layers and developed a stable race.

Daiki Kishimoto, a third-year student in Section 7, won the Section Award.

9th grade third-year player Yuito Nakamura set a new section record and pulled away from 2nd place and below.

Third-year student Hiroatsu Nakakura of the 10th section also set a new section record, and Aoyama Gakuin University achieved a new tournament record of 10 hours, 43 minutes and 42 seconds, winning the overall championship for the first time in two years and the sixth time.

In addition, the record for the return trip was 5 hours 21 minutes 36 seconds, which is also a new record.



Juntendo University, who started the return trip in 5th place, was 2nd, and Komazawa University, who was aiming for consecutive victories, was 3rd.

[Hakone Ekiden overall winner of the last 10 races (outward/return winner)]

▽ 2022 Aoyama Gakuin University (Aoyama Gakuin University / Aoyama Gakuin University)


▽ 2021 Komazawa University (Soka University / Aoyama Gakuin University)


▽ 2020 Aoyama Gakuin University (Aoyama Gakuin University / Tokai University)


▽ 2019 Tokai University (Toyo University)

/ Aoyama Gakuin University)


▽ 2018 Aoyama Gakuin University (Toyo University / Aoyama Gakuin University)


▽ 2017 Aoyama Gakuin University (Aoyama Gakuin University / Aoyama Gakuin University)


▽ 2016 Aoyama Gakuin University (Aoyama Gakuin University / Aoyama Gakuin University)


▽ 2015 Aoyama Gakuin University (Aoyama Gakuin University/Aoyama Gakuin University)


▽2014 Toyo University (Toyo University/Toyo University)


▽2013 Nippon Sport Science University (Nippon Sport University/Komazawa University)