Universities to Watch from the Kanto Intercollegiate 2nd Division

In reality, there is no correlation between being in the 1st Division and being strong, or the 2nd Division and being weak, at the Kanto Intercollegiate Championships. This is because, unlike universities such as Nihon University or Juntendo University, which have departments for all track and field events including sprints, throws, and jumps, many universities like Komazawa University focus on specific disciplines.

Incidentally, Komazawa University ended up winning the Kanto Intercollegiate 2nd Division because their track race results were simply too good, leading to an inexplicable promotion to the 1st Division the following year. So, let's take a look at the universities from the 2nd Division that we can expect to see great things from!

List of Kanto Intercollegiate 2nd Division Medalists

1500 meters

1 Ryuga Aoki (3) Rikkyo Univ. 3:44.92
2 Haru Ogawara (2) Aoyama Gakuin Univ. 3:45.40
3 Shuto Iguchi (2) Tokyo International Univ. 3:46.98
4 Ibuki Sugiyama (1) Aoyama Gakuin Univ. 3:47.96
5 Yura Umehara (2) Tokyo University of Agriculture 3:49.05
6 Riki Sugihara (3) Jobu Univ. 3:49.83
7 Naoya Otsuka (4) Rikkyo Univ. 3:50.64
8 Keito Kumai (3) Aoyama Gakuin Univ. 3:52.37

5000 meters

1 Stephen Muchini (3) Soka Univ. 13:32.59
2 Denis Kipruto (3) Japan Pharmaceutical Univ. 13:35.50
3 Brian Kiptoo Bushu Akittu (2) Reitaku Univ. 13:40.92
4 Raphael Longisa (3) Takushoku Univ. 13:43.99
5 Tsuneaki Nonaka (3) Kokugakuin Univ. 13:52.93
6 Sota Orita (2) Aoyama Gakuin Univ. 13:57.12
7 Nelson Mandela Nbiti (4) J. F. Oberlin Univ. 13:57.67
8 Riki Koike (3) Soka Univ. 13:57.73

10000 meters

1 Stephen Muchini (3) Soka Univ. 28:14.30
2 Nelson Mandela Nbiti (4) J. F. Oberlin Univ. 28:16.10
3 David Shungeya Neyei (4) Reitaku Univ. 28:17.45
4 Riku Ajima (2) Aoyama Gakuin Univ. 28:19.81
5 Zen Kuroda (2) Aoyama Gakuin Univ. 28:24.38
6 Stephen Lemayan (3) Surugadai Univ. 28:28.24
7 Teru Tsujihara (3) Kokugakuin Univ. 28:31.42
8 Riki Koike (3) Soka Univ. 28:35.98

3000 meter steeplechase

1 Solomon Mutuku (2) Soka Univ. 8:38.89
2 Hinata Kuroki (4) Soka Univ. 8:44.25
3 Kai Ogata (4) Kanto Gakuin Univ. 8:45.52
4 Hayata Harada (3) Rikkyo Univ. 8:57.18
5 Sota Muta (1) Komazawa Univ. 8:57.25
6 Yuto Hikuma (3) Saitama Univ. 9:05.78
7 Shigeharu Takahashi (4) Heisei International Univ. 9:06.63
8 Shunta Komatsu (1) Takushoku Univ. 9:08.58

Half marathon

1 Yudai Kiyama (4) Komazawa Univ. 1:01:43
2 Yuma Nozawa (4) Soka Univ. 1:01:49
3 Shoki Yamaguchi (2) Soka Univ. 1:01:51
4 Takuma Yamakawa (4) Komazawa Univ. 1:01:56
5 Goki Takayama (4) Kokugakuin Univ. 1:01:57
6 Shota Shiode (4) Aoyama Gakuin Univ. 1:02:05
7 Yudai Asakawa (3) Teikyo Univ. 1:02:13
8 Sota Taniguchi (3) Teikyo Univ. 1:02:46

Aoyama Gakuin University showed rock-solid strength again this year, achieving top placements in events other than the 3000m steeplechase. Meanwhile, Soka University also put up a fight in track and half-marathon events, securing top rankings. Along with Kokugakuin University and Teikyo University, which is known for its strength in road races, the Hakone Ekiden regulars successfully delivered solid results.

On the other hand, for Komazawa University, Sota Muta placed 5th in the 3000m steeplechase as a freshman. Kiyama won the event, redeeming the team's reputation. It is a bit concerning that the mid-tier runners didn't show much growth, partly because the main athletes were competing in different races, but...

Meanwhile, Rikkyo University, which finished 12th overall in the Hakone Ekiden, is also interesting. Having achieved results in the 1500m and 3000m SC, the question is how they will translate these performances into the Ekiden season.

Secret Player to Watch

Tsuneaki Nonaka

He is a player who should naturally be considered a candidate for the next ace for Kokugakuin, as they begin to write a new story following the graduation of their great ace, Kiyosumi Hirabayashi.

Although he didn't have many opportunities to compete in his first year, he grew rapidly in his second year. He competed in all three major Ekiden races, winning stage awards at the Izumo and All-Japan Ekidens, and achieved a respectable 6th place finish in the first stage of the Hakone Ekiden.

He is one of the athletes I look forward to seeing grow over the course of this summer, as he is someone who should be leading the team alongside his classmate Hikaru Tsujihara.

Well then, I will be digging deeper into this, including the Kanto qualifiers for the All-Japan University Ekiden.