🎽[Hakone Ekiden]Aoki Ota of Aogaku University will also participate in the Tokyo Marathon. Coach Susumu Hara: “Should I aim for the win at Bessatsu University or aim for the record in Tokyo?” 🎽

Coach Susumu Hara (56) is also considering adjusting Ota’s lofty goals even higher. He said, “I could consider aiming for 2 hours, 5 minutes, and 50 seconds in Tokyo, where times are easy to achieve.” The Tokyo Marathon in March is one of the selection events for the Paris Olympics, and if athletes who have previously participated in the selection race break the set record (2 hours, 5 minutes, 50 seconds), they will be selected to represent the team. (If there is no player, Suguru Osako, who is 3rd in MGC, will represent him). Ota is not eligible for selection because he has not participated in the selection race so far, but if he were to break the set record, it would be an even bigger shock than Hakone Road. The coach explained, “Should I aim to win at Bessatsu University or aim for a record in Tokyo? I will discuss this with him while monitoring his physical condition.” The decisions of Ota and director Hara will be attracting attention. Seigaku University won the round trip in the 100th Hakone Ekiden (2nd and 3rd), setting a new overall record (10 hours, 41 minutes, 25 seconds) and winning the title for the seventh time in two years. Aoi Ota (3rd year), who won the section award for the fastest time ever, is considering the Beppu-Oita Mainichi (February 4th) as well as the high-speed Tokyo Marathon (March 3rd) as candidates for his first marathon. I found out on the 4th that it was.