The Izumo Ekiden marks the beginning of the university men's ekiden season, leading up to the Hakone Ekiden in January. Top teams from the Kanto Region and Ivy League will compete against regional select teams.

Last year's winner, Koku Gakuin University, faces strong competition from Chuo University, the Ivy League, Aoyama Gakuin University, and Soka University. Each team has improved since last year's rankings, aiming for top positions. Read more racing coverage.

Nihon University, Waseda University, and Komazawa University are also in contention, with Waseda expected to perform better this year. Kansai University, the top non-Kanto school, will likely compete against other top non-Kanto teams. Related: Kunei Joshi Gakuin Girls Win Third Straight Kurayoshi Ekiden.

This original Runner World brief is based on reporting from Japan Running News. Visit the source for its complete reporting, context and any later corrections.