On January 19, 2025, the National High School Ekiden Championships took place at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, marking the 30th occurrence of this closely contested event. Teams from various prefectures gathered to showcase their athletic prowess over seven segments totaling 48 kilometers, with competitors ranging from middle school runners to seasoned athletes.
This year, Nagano Prefecture emerged as the standout champion, achieving not only victory but also setting a new course record. The team averaged impressive segments, concluding the race with a stunning time of 2 hours, 16 minutes, and 55 seconds, which broke the previous record by five seconds. This victory marked Nagano's fourth consecutive win at the Ekiden Championships, solidifying their dominance with an unprecedented total of 11 championships.
The event began under cloudy skies with ideal running conditions. The first segment featured intense competition, with Hyogo's new star, Ryoki Niizuma, taking charge early on. Following closely behind were runners from Fukushima, Miyagi, and the eventual champions from Nagano. Niizuma’s quick pace allowed him to maintain the lead, passing the first checkpoint well recorded and energizing his teammates.
After the first transition, the runners entered the second leg, where the standout performance came from Fujisaki High School's Shoin Anagawa of Kanagawa Prefecture. He surged forward, pulling his team from fifth to second place as they traversed the winding streets of Hiroshima.
The race's competitiveness heightened during the third segment. Running for Fukushima, Haru Tanaka made aggressive moves to secure his team's position at the front, engaging with others before comfortably completing his portion. Meanwhile, Nagano’s Daiki Hamaguchi worked tirelessly to keep pacing close with the leaders, reaffirming Nagano’s potential for another victory.
More excitement followed during the fourth segment. The pace quickened as the teams jockeyed for position, with Fukuoka's Ryohei Yamaguchi giving chase to Tanaka, ensuring the leading team maintained their positions without losing significant ground. It was at this point the tactic for Nagano proved effective; rather than playing catch-up, their front-runners had strategic foresight, allowing their next runners to build on the established lead.
Segment five showcased the determination of Nagano’s Tetsu Sasaki, who started with significant momentum, overtaking competitors with precision and speed. He completed the distance with the segment record, adding to Nagano's edge over others by extending the lead to over one minute.
The sixth leg was characterized by strategy. Nagano, now comfortably leading, focused on maintaining their pace, ensuring as minimal transition disturbance as possible. Despite pressure from Saitama, who consistently pushed for fast times, Nagano’s strategy proved foolproof, reinforcing their advantage.
Finally, as the seventh section kicked off with anchorman Daishi Ito from Waseda University, he displayed remarkable endurance and strategic running. With each kilometer, he maintained the significant lead, making it virtually impossible for the challengers from Chiba and Saitama to catch up. The excited crowd rallied behind him, chanting as he approached the finish.
Ito completed his part effortlessly, crossing the finish line with Nagano cementing their victory at 2:16:55. The jubilation from the Nagano team was palpable as they celebrated their historic win, appealing to the emotional connections within the sport and the perseverance it requires to excel at such high levels.
Chiba achieved its best-ever finish, securing second place with 2:17:39, followed by Fukushima, rounding out the podium at 2:18:02. Other competitors also put up resilient attempts, with Hiroshima and Saitama trailing closely behind.
Results and notable performances were celebrated, positioning Nagano not just as champions for the day but as icons within the high school athletic community, reinforcing the values of teamwork and dedication. All eyes will now turn to the next championship as anticipation builds for continued excellence and potential record-breaking future performances.