Waseda University wins Izumo Ekiden for first time in 16 years

Waseda University secured its third Izumo Ekiden victory and its first in 16 years, setting a new course record with a time of 2:05:56. The win was driven by strong performances from first-year runners Ojiro Honda, who won the second section, and Ryoki Niizuma, who set a new section record in the fourth section.

Shinsaku Kudo, the senior anchor known as the ‘Mountain Detective,’ successfully maintained the team's lead during the final 10.2km stretch to secure the championship. While celebrating the victory, Waseda head coach Katsuhiko Hanada noted that the team still needs to improve its depth to prepare for the upcoming All-Japan University Ekiden and the Hakone Ekiden.

Kokugakuin University finished in second place, also setting a course record with a time of 2:06:54. Despite the runner-up finish, Kokugakuin's coach Yasuhiro Maeda praised Waseda's strength, noting that the team's dominance in the middle sections made it difficult for competitors to close the gap.