#Japan #Okayama #Okayama University #Ekiden #Akazawa Kyo-ya

Okayama University Runners Shine in Izumo Ekiden Relay for Second Consecutive Year

On November 4, 2025, the Okayama University Track and Field Team participated in the 37th Izumo All-Japan University Ekiden Relay, held in Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture. Represented by Kyo-ya Akazawa (4th-year, Faculty of Engineering) and Hayate Kido (3rd-year, Faculty of Engineering), they competed as part of the Chugoku Shikoku Block Selection Team.

This prestigious race, which covers a total of 45.1 kilometers over six segments, began at the iconic Izumo Taisha Shrine and concluded at Izumo Dome, featuring 22 teams from various universities. After a commendable first appearance last year, Okayama University was unable to send a team this time; however, Akazawa and Kido successfully managed to compete individually for the second consecutive time.

On the race day, team members joined to cheer for their peers. Akazawa, who ran the critical 3rd section known for its intensity, finished in 13th place for his segment, while Kido, who tackled the 5th section, secured 12th place. In reflecting on their performances, Akazawa expressed gratitude for being able to participate in the race after missing the opportunity last year. He stated, “I was motivated by the regret of not being able to run the 3rd section in my debut last year. I appreciate the chance I had this time, and I was uplifted by the continuous support from the spectators, which enabled me to give my best effort. I won’t settle for this result; I plan to strive for even better outcomes in the upcoming All-Japan University Ekiden.”

Kido shared his feelings about the race, saying, “Thanks to the continuous encouragement, I was able to run my best until the end. I won’t be swayed by the results; instead, I’ll focus on training for the future. I will bring back what I learned from participating in the Block Selection to aim for victory in the Chugoku Shikoku Ekiden at the end of November.”

Additionally, Akazawa has also been selected for the Japan University Selection Team competing in the 57th All-Japan University Ekiden Championship taking place on November 2.

The Chugoku Shikoku block team finished 18th overall with a stunning time of 2:21:00.

About Okayama University Athletics Team

For more information about the Okayama University Track and Field Team, you can visit their official site here.

Additional Information

• - Okayama University Athletics Team recently received the Sport Promotion Encouragement Award for the fifth time.
• - The team is eagerly preparing for the Chugoku Shikoku Ekiden, following strong performances in various previous competitions.
• - Okayama University continues to support sustainable development goals (SDGs) and is recognized for its contributions both locally and globally.

Let’s support our talented runners as they continue to represent Okayama University with pride and dedication!