EN_GB 
JA Teams, Year 3
The FT Nikkei UK Ekiden has two categories of runners, ‘Racers’ and ‘Runners’. ‘Racers’, the more competitive team, feature top runners from universities across the UK. ‘Runners’ include corporate-sponsored and community teams.
The Racers
- Loughborough University – second place in Year 2 (2025)
- St Mary’s University – third place in Year 2 (2025)
- University of Leeds
- University of Exeter
- University of Birmingham
- Cambridge University
- University College London (UCL)
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Oxford – first place in Year 1 (2024)
- Cardiff University
- Newcastle University
- University of Bath
- Durham University
- King’s College
- University of Bristol
The Runners
- Financial Times / NIKKEI Team 1
- Financial Times / NIKKEI Team 2
- Financial Times / NIKKEI Team 3
- ASICS Team 1
- ASICS Team 2
- ABeam
- Arcus Investment
- Daiwa Capital Markets Europe
- Japan Airlines
- Kikkoman
- Marsh
- Science in Sport
- Suntory Global Spirits
- Ueshima Coffee Company
Get to know the Racing teams
UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS
By Rhys Hardman
Leeds University is a team that prides itself on collective strength, trust, and belief rather than individual glory, which is why the UK Ekiden suits us so well. Last year’s fourth-place finish showed we belong among the very best universities in the country and left us hungry to push on and compete for medals.
Despite graduating half the team, Leeds’ depth is a real strength: we’re cutting a large, high-quality squad down to a final 10, with fierce competition for places and BUCS XC set to be a key decider.
We already have outstanding athletes confirmed, including Harry Hewitt, who ran the fastest leg at the 2024 Junior Men’s National XC Relays and a 3:45 1500m as a first-year; Moli Lyons, a 2023 GBR international who placed 31st at the European Cross Country Championships; and Sarah Coutts, a British senior indoor finalist with multiple BUCS top-10 finishes and a member of a National Cross Country winning team while studying in France.
Backed by exceptionally strong alumni connections and support from past and present athletes, we believe Leeds can line up united, carry the tasuki with pride, and perform at the sharp end of the race.
UCL (University College London)
By Akira
Taking part in the UK Ekiden was certainly the biggest highlight of last year, alongside BUCS XC, and we were proud to finish above and have good competition with some of the biggest names in the UK university long-distance scene.
Our goal this year will be to equal or improve our finishing position from last year, with our new rapid teammates, as well as ones who have raced last year but improved since then. Also, we are excited to see which ASICS athletes will be in attendance at the event!
As the team captain, I am from both Japan and the UK, and watching Hakone ekiden has been part of my New Year’s routine even before I realised it. I know how big the race means to the athletes back in Japan, and I’m sure UK Ekiden will continue to grow in its competitiveness over the years!
UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM
By Stanley Clarke
The University of Birmingham Athletics & XC Club is excited to compete at this year’s UK Ekiden, and we’re keen to put together a strong team for the race. After competing over the past two years, we’re targeting our best finish to date and building on what we’ve learned.
Events like this are exactly what the sport needs, and bringing university athletes into the mix only adds to the atmosphere and competition. See you in June along the banks of the Thames. Up the BUAC.
UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH
By Liam and Caitlyn
Taking part in the Ekiden relays means a great deal to our team. It’s not just about speed or strength, but about coming together to create a space where every member can contribute, thrive, and feel part of something bigger.
The relay format captures what we love most about running: shared effort, mutual support, and the chance to create memories that go far beyond times or distances. Being part of Ekiden is more than just competing; it’s about embracing the collective journey, strengthening our team bonds, and celebrating the joy of running alongside hundreds of like-minded people on race day.
UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
By Charlie and Jamie
Taking part in the UK Ekiden 2025 was a genuinely special experience for our team, and we are looking forward to the event becoming part of our racing calendar for many years to come. For many of our athletes, this is an invaluable opportunity to be treated like an elite athlete. With the atmosphere of the event, to the competition and the wide range of networking opportunities – the experience was incredibly motivating and meaningful for everyone involved.
The mixed relay element has been one of the biggest positives, strengthening our sense of unity as a team in a unique opportunity that sees every team member be equally important. With Exeter being a non-funded university team, the UK Ekiden gives us an exciting opportunity to test ourselves against some of the best teams in the country, as well as giving our athletes the chance to learn from high-ranking employees for those thinking beyond life at university.
We’re incredibly grateful to be involved and are really looking forward to fight for our place on the podium in June!
NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY
By Guy Greene
We’re hugely excited for the chance to mix it with the very best, as Newcastle University Athletics and Cross Country has been on a clear upward trajectory over the past five years and sees the Ekiden as the perfect stage to announce ourselves among the country’s top endurance programmes.
This will be our first year competing in the UK Ekiden, and we’re proud to represent the North East’s rich endurance running heritage while writing a fresh chapter for the club. Our squad is a strong and committed group of around 50 athletes who train together weekly, with recent momentum including an 8th-place men’s team finish and promotion in our local cross country league.
Key athletes set to feature include Chris Choulson, one of the North East’s standout prospects after winning the North Eastern XC Championships and running 29:35 for 10km, Luke Davis, whose consistent progression points toward a low-14-minute 5k this summer, Ben Hodgson, and Ava Leadbetter, who leads our women’s team after a sensational 19th at the BUCS XC champs and a 2025 season that saw her break 35 minutes for 10km at the Telford 10km.
UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL
By Benedict Westhenry
The University of Bristol is very excited to make our debut appearance at the UK Ekiden in 2026. We enjoy competing with the other top University endurance setups in the country, and it’s fantastic to have another opportunity to do this beyond BUCS in such a unique event.
Leading our charge are our recently crowned BUCS XC bronze medallist Joe English, BUCS 10000m 4th placer Steven Denby, multiple BUCS steeple chase finalist Alex Stewart, English schools finalist Maddie Johnson and Millie Watkins. They are backed up by strong depth following the 11th-place team finish for the 2nd consecutive year at BUCS XC for the men and previous top 12 finishes for the women.
UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
By Benjamin McCartney
The UK Ekiden is a highlight of our yearly calendar and presents the opportunity for Oxford to, once again, demonstrate the strength and depth of our distance team.
This year, we are in a better position than ever, having dominated our Varsity Match against Cambridge and achieved numerous GB and Home Nation international vests. We’ve now just had our most successful BUCS ever, where we won Men’s individual and team gold, and Women’s team bronze. We’re keen to build off this momentum moving into the Summer and continue what has been an unprecedented year for Oxford Cross-Country.
The Ekiden is a team race, and you can only be successful if your runners prioritise team goals over individual ambitions during the Summer. This is ideally suited to the atmosphere and culture at Oxford, where we have an extremely close-knit group of highly motivated athletes dedicated to representing the University. This has enabled us to routinely field our best runners, regardless of whether they’re competing on the track, road or trail at that time of the year – they’re all willing to turn up and give their best for OUCCC.
We’re excited to return for a third year and establish ourselves as the team to beat. Some of our more notable athletes this year are Alex Gruen, Chris Parker, Rebecca Flaherty and Hanna Andrejczuk, who’s new to the team this year.
UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
By Alasdair Fletcher
The UK Ekiden is a unique opportunity to compete in a true team environment in what can often feel like an individual sport. Having been lucky enough to compete in the UK Ekiden since its first edition, it is one of the highlights of our racing season, and something we all look forward to each year.
Watching the UK Ekiden grow, become more competitive, and feature international talent–it has become an extremely valuable opportunity to showcase our teams’ talent and mix with the best!
UNIVERSITY OF CARDIFF
By Thomas Claridge
After getting a taster for the event in its second edition, we are returning with a stronger team and eyes set on the podium.
The boys’ half of the team comes in high spirits after 8th place at BUCS Cross Country. Leading the team is Ritchie Gardiner, Alex Smart comes in flying form, and Ethan Esteban-Protheroe returns to the event in better shape than ever. Fresher Jack Rees completes the boys’ side.
The girls’ side of the team sees a vast improvement in quality from last year. Emma Powell leads the line-up, with Emily Davies, Rachel Duckworth and Hermione Jewell stepping up to the event. Indoor 1500m finalist Lilly Oakenfull rounds off the team as she takes to the Thames Path over a longer distance than she’d prefer.
