Chuo Gakuin Captain Hiro Konda Wins Tachikawa Half in 1:02:11

The Tachikawa City Half Marathon took place Sunday, Mar. 9 in Showa Kinen Park, Tokyo. Chuo Gakuin University‘s new 2025-26 season captain Hiro Konda ran 1:02:11 to take the overall win. 2nd last year, Kondo showed the growth of his strength. “We all ran with the image of the Hakone Ekiden Yosenkai* in our minds,” he said. “Every second, every meter mattered, so I was totally focused on winning.” Yuta Asakawa of Teikyo University was 2nd in 1:02:29, with Yusei Tomita of Nihon University 3rd in 1:02:47.

With the win the priority over time, Konda’s plan was to take the lead in middle of the race once they hit the hillier part of the course. But feeling that the pace was too slow while he looked for a place to make a move, Konda picked it up on a downhill with about 3 km to go. “Just like I expected, I started to pull away, so I pushed it from there,” he said.

The Tachikawa City Half had hosted the National University Men’s Half Marathon Championships since 2003, but this year the collegiate championships relocated to February’s Kagawa Marugame International Half Marathon. “There wasn’t much strong competition this time,” said Konda. “Coach Kawasaki gave me directions before the race, and I just aimed to take 1st.”

Konda takes over as captain from its star runner Reishi Yoshida, who graduates this month. “I have to be the most reliable person on the team,” Konda said. “I’m especially careful about my lifestyle and my attitude toward training. I showed the younger guys on the team what it’s like to go out front today. Hopefully that’ll inspire them to step up and want to do their best too.”

Of the new team for next year Konda said that things are gearing up smoothly. “Everyone has a feeling of urgency. They’re coming up with creative ways to improve their training on their own and to work on the areas where they’re lacking.” Chuo Gakuin’s goal for the season is to make top 3 at the Yosenkai and earn a qualifying spot at the 2026 Hakone Ekiden. “I want us to be able to smile at the end of the season and feel no regrets,” Konda said. “We’ll do our best to make that goal a reality.”

*The Hakone Ekiden Yosenkai is a half marathon held in October on almost the same course as the Tachikawa City Half and determines which schools qualify for that season’s Hakone Ekiden.