Aoyama Gakuin University claimed its third consecutive title in the 102nd Tokyo-Hakone Intercollegiate Ekiden, finishing the 217.1-kilometer race in a record 10 hours, 37 minutes, and 34 seconds. The team extended its lead on the second day to win by 2 minutes and 33 seconds.
The Tokyo-Hakone Intercollegiate Ekiden is a prestigious university relay race covering 10 legs and 217.1 kilometers from Tokyo to Hakone. In its 102nd edition on January 3, 2026, Aoyama Gakuin University emerged victorious, securing its ninth overall title and third in a row.
The team finished the first day in 5 hours, 18 minutes, and 8 seconds, leading Waseda University by 18 seconds. On the second day, Aoyama Gakuin maintained and extended its advantage, crossing the finish line in a record-breaking 10 hours, 37 minutes, and 34 seconds—surpassing the previous mark of 10 hours, 41 minutes, and 19 seconds set by the same team last year.
Coach Susumu Hara remarked after the race, “I’ve always told my students, ‘if you put the mental, technical and physical together, you can achieve anything,’” adding, “And they lived up to that.”
Kokugakuin University took second place in 10 hours, 40 minutes, and 7 seconds, also beating the old record. Juntendo University climbed from sixth to third with a time of 10 hours, 43 minutes, and 55 seconds, while Waseda dropped from second to fourth at 10 hours, 44 minutes, and 29 seconds.
The fight for the 10th position, which grants automatic entry to next year's race, was fierce. Runners from Chuo Gakuin University and Nihon University ran neck-and-neck on the final leg, but Nihon pulled ahead four kilometers from the finish. Teikyo University surged from 17th after the first day to ninth overall, earning its spot. This event remains a cornerstone of Japanese collegiate athletics, drawing widespread attention annually.
