Aoyama Gakuin University got off to a good start toward recapturing the Hakone ekiden title as it finished first on the opening day of the New Year's traditional event on Thursday.

Aoyama Gakuin notched a first-day record of 5 hours, 21 minutes, 16 seconds, with a lead of 1:33 over runner-up Kokugakuin University at the finish line at Lake Ashi in Kanagawa Prefecture.

Reigning overall Hakone champ Tokai University was fourth at 5:24:33. Toyo University, the two-time defending first-day leader, unexpectedly sits in 11th place.