International Chiba Ekiden

The International Chiba Ekiden is an annual team road running competition held in Chiba, Japan in late November. The marathon relay race, or ekiden as it is known in Japan, is one of the prominent annual races of its kind. The competition is split into six legs which combine to make up the marathon distance of 42.195 km. The Chiba Ekiden was first held in 1988 and featured separate competitions for both men and women.[1] Since 2007, each competing country selects three men and three women for their team. The legs are divided as follows: 5 km (men), 5 km (women), 10 km (men), 5 km (women), 10 km (men), and 7.195 km (women).[2]

The men's world record for the event was set at the competition in 2005 as the Kenyan team of Josephat Ndambiri, Martin Mathathi, Daniel Mwangi, Mekubo Mogusu, Onesmus Nyerere and John Kariuki completed the course in a time of 1:57:06. In the same race the Japanese team ran an Asian record, the United States men ran a North American record and the fourth-placed Russian team broke the European record.[3]

Winners

Key: Stage winner
Men's and women's era
Year Men Women
1988  Ethiopia  New Zealand
1990  Japan  Romania
1991  Australia  Kenya
1992  Australia  Japan
1993  Morocco  Japan
1994  Ethiopia  Japan
1995  Australia  Japan
1996  South Africa  Japan
1997  Kenya  Japan
1998  Japan  Japan
1999  Japan  Japan
2000  Japan  Japan
2001  South Africa  Japan
2002  Ethiopia  Ethiopia
2003  Ethiopia  Ethiopia
2004  Ethiopia  Ethiopia
2005  Kenya
Josephat Ndambiri, Martin Mathathi
Daniel Mwangi, Mekubo Mogusu
Onesmus Nyerere and John Kariuki		  Kenya
Philes Ongori, Evelyn Wambui
 ?, Catherine Ndereba
 ?, ?
2006[4]  Kenya
Martin Mathathi, Gideon Ngatuny
Josephat Ndambiri, Sammy Korir
Mekubo Mogusu, Cyrus Njui		  Kenya
Philes Ongori, Evelyne Kemunto Kimwei
Sally Kaptich Chepyego, Catherine Ndereba
Jane Wanjiku, Lucy Wangui
Mixed era
Year Winner Time Athletes (Stage winner)
2007  Japan 2:05:56 Yuichiro Ueno, Kayoko Fukushi, Kenji Noguchi, Megumi Kinukawa, Kensuke Takezawa, Yukiko Akaba[5]
2008  Ethiopia 2:05:27 Ali Abdosh, Sule Utura, Dejen Gebremeskel, Belaynesh Fekadu, Hunegnaw Mesfin, Tsega Gelaw[6]
2009  Japan 2:05:58 Yuichiro Ueno, Yuriko Kobayashi, Kensuke Takezawa, Yukiko Akaba, Atsushi Sato, Yurika Nakamura[7]
2010  Japan Collegiate 2:07:52 Taku Fujimoto, Risa Takenaka, Yo Yazawa, Kasumi Nishihara, Shota Hiraga, Hanae Tanaka[8]
2011  Kenya 2:04:40 Thomas Longosiwa, Lidia Mathathi, Patrick Mutunga Mwikya, Pauline Kahenya, Edwin Mokua, Pamela Lisoreng[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ Nakamura, Ken (2007-11-21). New mixed race format for Chiba International Ekiden - Preview. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-11-18.
  2. ^ Team USA set for International Chiba Ekiden. USATF (2010-11-11). Retrieved on 2010-11-18.
  3. ^ Nakamura, Ken (2005-11-23). Kenyan men win in Chiba with World’s fastest ever time. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-07-24.
  4. ^ Nakamura, Ken (2006-11-23). Kenya dominate at Chiba Ekiden. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-11-18.
  5. ^ Nakamura, Ken (2007-11-23). Japan comes from behind to win the Chiba International Ekiden. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-11-18.
  6. ^ Nakamura, Ken (2008-11-24). Ethiopia sweeps Chiba Ekiden. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-11-18.
  7. ^ Nakamura, Ken (2009-11-23). Japan takes Chiba Ekiden title, with favourite Kenya well-beaten third. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-11-18.
  8. ^ Nakamura, Ken (2010-11-23). Japanese Collegiate Team scores upset at Chiba Ekiden. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-11-27.
  9. ^ Nakamura, Ken (2011-11-23). Teenagers Mwikya and Mokua lead Kenya to Chiba Ekiden victory. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-11-25.

External links

Ekiden races
All-Japan Corporate Ekiden Championships (Men • Women) • All-Japan Interprefectural Ekiden Championships • Asahi Ekiden • Atlanta Ekiden (USA) • Gifu to Nagoya Ekiden • Hakone Ekiden • International Chiba Ekiden • Round-Kyūshū Ekiden • Women's Kita-Kyushu Ekiden • Yokohama International Women's Ekiden
See also: Athletics in Japan • Relay race