Gakuho Ishikawa Senior High School from Fukushima set a new record in the boys' national high school ekiden, securing its first victory. Seven runners covered 42.195 kilometers in 2 hours and 36 seconds, beating the 2023 record by 24 seconds. In the girls' race, Nagano Higashi High School claimed its second straight title.
On December 21, 2025, in Kyoto City, Gakuho Ishikawa Senior High School from Fukushima Prefecture set a new record in the boys' division of the national high school ekiden road relay, achieving its first victory. The seven runners completed the marathon distance of 42.195 kilometers in 2 hours and 36 seconds, surpassing the 2023 record set by Saku Chosei High School from Nagano Prefecture by 24 seconds.
Third-year student Yota Mashiko led off with a 28:20 first leg, establishing a sectional record for a Japanese runner. The team held the lead throughout the course. Coach Kazuhiro Matsuda commented, “Mashiko had an excellent run in the first leg, and it gave the team momentum. We widened the lead in the third leg [run by Ryo Kurimura], so we were able to run an ideal race.”
Sendai Ikuei Gakuen High School from Miyagi Prefecture finished second, one second faster than the previous race record. Kurashiki High School from Okayama Prefecture took third place.
In the girls' race, Nagano Higashi High School from Nagano Prefecture won its second consecutive title—its third overall—in 1:06:30 over the five-leg, 21.0975-kilometer half-marathon course. This marked the second-best time in event history, following Saitama Sakae High School's 1:06:26 from 1996. Osaka Kun-Ei Jogakuin Senior High School placed second in 1:07:03, while Ritsumeikan Uji Senior High School was third in 1:07:29.
The event, a prestigious showcase for high school long-distance runners, unfolded along Kyoto's streets, highlighting young athletic talent.
