December 21, 2024 — The 37th All Japan High School Girls’ Ekiden Championship was held in Kyoto City. Despite the cold rain covering the streets of Miyako Road, the Ritsumeikan Uji High School Track and Field Club carried the baton with the hopes of their teammates close to heart. With unwavering determination until the very last step, they crossed the finish line in an impressive 3rd place with a time of 1:07:29.

On this day, Sakura Sunda, a graduate of the Ritsumeikan Uji Track and Field Club who once ran the same Miyako Road, served as the lead motorbike escort as part of the Kyoto Prefectural Police traffic unit. Her presence as a former athlete now leading the race embodied a powerful connection across time and gave the current athletes immense courage and pride. The road truly became a “stage where spirit is passed on.”

Even under the harsh rain, the athletes believed in one another and pushed forward without ever letting go of the baton, even in the most difficult moments. In the 5th leg (5 km), Miyu Kobayashi gave an outstanding performance, finishing in 15 minutes and 50 seconds to win the individual section title. Her run was the result of all her hard work and dedication.

Countless cheers from the roadside and through screens uplifted each runner. The athletes, who demonstrated that “If you don’t give up, your dreams will come true,” gave us tremendous courage and inspiration with their performance.

Thank you all for your warm and heartfelt support!