# Toyo University wins 103rd Hakone Ekiden qualifying race

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/toyo-university-hakone-ekiden-qualification
> Updated: 2026-10-16T01:00:00.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2.

Toyo University secured first place in the 103rd Tokyo-Hakone Inter-University Ekiden Qualifying Race held on October 17. This victory marks the university’s return to the main Hakone Ekiden event after a 21-year absence and follows a period of losing its seed status.

Competing against 45 universities for 10 qualification slots, Toyo University led a field that included second-place finisher Chuo Gakuin University and third-place Tokai University. Other universities that secured spots for the January 2027 competition include Senshu University, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Daito Bunka University, Kanagawa University, Nippon Sport Science University, and Hosei University. Hosei University claimed the final 10th spot, narrowly advancing after missing out the previous year.

While Toyo University took the top team position, Yamanashi Gakuin University’s Brian Kipiego finished first overall with a time of 1:00:48, contributing to his team’s sixth-place finish. The half-marathon race, which ran from JGSDF Tachikawa Camp to Showa Kinen Park, was noted for having a slower early pace due to strong winds.

In addition to the qualifying successes, Rikkyo University failed to qualify, finishing 13th and ending a four-year consecutive appearance streak. Hosei University’s coaching staff noted the need for further improvement to remain competitive in the main event despite their 10th-place qualification. The event was broadcast live on TVer from 8:25 to 10:25, with catch-up streaming available through January 2027.

## Claims

- TVer will live stream the 103rd Tokyo-Hakone Intercollegiate University Ekiden Qualifying Race. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The live stream is scheduled for October 17, 2026, from 8:25 to 10:25. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Catch-up streaming will be available from October 17, 2026, at 21:00 until January 31, 2027. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- 45 universities will compete for 10 spots in the main Hakone Ekiden event. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The race is a half marathon covering 21.0975km. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The team record is determined by the combined time of the top 10 runners from each school. (corroborated by 3 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-16: Hakone Ekiden qualifying race results and TVer broadcast

Forty-five universities competed in the 103rd Hakone Ekiden qualifying race, with Hosei University securing a spot while Rikkyo University failed to qualify. TVer provided live coverage.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tver-to-live-stream-103rd-hakone-ekiden-qualifying-race

### 2026-10-10: Toyo University wins men's 4x100m relay with new meet record

Toyo University set a new meet record of 38.45 seconds to win the men's 4x100m relay at the Relay Festival 2026 in Tokyo.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/toyo-university-wins-mens-4x100m-relay-with-new-meet-record

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Cite as: Toyo University wins 103rd Hakone Ekiden qualifying race. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/toyo-university-hakone-ekiden-qualification