Izumo Ekiden Cancelled Due to Typhoon #19 – by Brett Larner – Japan Running News

After an initial announcement at 8:00 a.m. that the 26th running of the Izumo Ekiden, the first major race of the university men's ekiden season, would go ahead as scheduled in the face of the approaching Typhoon #19 with the possibility of later cancellation in the event of worsening conditions, the IUAU issued a statement at 10:15 a.m. that the race had been cancelled.

Because rapidly changing weather conditions mean that we cannot guarantee the safety of athletes and volunteers, we hereby cancel the 26th running of the Izumo National University Invitational Ekiden.

The cancellation was the first in Izumo's history and the first time that one of the Big Three University Ekidens, Izumo, the National University Men's Ekiden and the Hakone Ekiden, have been cancelled since Hakone was suspended during World War II.

Last year Izumo narrowly escaped the same fate when a large typhoon hit Japan the day after the race.

by Brett Larner – Japan Running News