International Chiba Ekiden Explained

The International Chiba Ekiden was 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
YearMenWomen
1988
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Josephat Ndambiri, Martin Mathathi
Daniel Mwangi, Mekubo Mogusu
Onesmus Nyerere and John Kariuki

Philes Ongori, Evelyn Wambui
?, Catherine Ndereba
?, ?
2006[4]
Martin Mathathi, Gideon Ngatuny
Josephat Ndambiri, Sammy Korir
Mekubo Mogusu, Cyrus Njui

Philes Ongori, Evelyne Kemunto Kimwei
Sally Kaptich Chepyego, Catherine Ndereba
Jane Wanjiku, Lucy Wangui
Mixed era!Year!Winner!Time!Athletes (stage winners)
2007 2:05:56 Yuichiro Ueno, Kayoko Fukushi, Kenji Noguchi, Megumi Kinukawa, Kensuke Takezawa, Yukiko Akaba[5]
2008 2:05:27 Ali Abdosh, Sule Utura, Dejen Gebremeskel, Belaynesh Fekadu, Hunegnaw Mesfin, Tsega Gelaw[6]
2009 2:05:58 Yuichiro Ueno, Yuriko Kobayashi, Kensuke Takezawa, Yukiko Akaba, Atsushi Sato, Yurika Nakamura[7]
2010 Collegiate 2:07:52 Taku Fujimoto, Risa Takenaka, Yo Yazawa, Kasumi Nishihara, Shota Hiraga, Hanae Tanaka[8]
2011 2:04:40 Thomas Longosiwa, Lidia Mathathi, Patrick Mutunga Mwikya, Pauline Kahenya, Edwin Mokua, Pamela Lisoreng[9]
2012 2:05:06[10] Thomas Longosiwa, Gladys Cherono, Edwin Soi, Priscah Jeptoo, Philip Mosima, Joyce Chepkurui
Hanji Aoki Cup International Chiba Ekiden - 42.195 km - Stage Winners
First.stage......5.0 km...........................Second.stage......5.0 km.women....................Third.stage......10.0 km..........................Fourth.stage......5.0 km.women....................Fifth.stage......10.0 km..........................Sixth.stage......7.195 km.women.......................
20071. Moses Masai (KEN) - 13:22
2. Yuichiro Ueno (Japan) - 13:29
3. Ed Moran (USA) - 13:32
1. Emily Chebet (KEN) - 15:38
2. Kayoko Fukushi (Japan) - 15:34
3. Elena Zadorozhnaya (Russia) - 15:37
1. Barnaba Sigei (KEN) - 28:32
2. Evgeny Rybakov (Russia) - 29:00
3. Scott Bauhs (USA) - 28:31
1. Catherine Kirui (KEN) - 16:20
2. Megumi Kinukawa (Japan) - 16:03
3. Olesya Syreva (Russia) - 16:38
1. Joseph Birech (KEN) - 29:21
2. Kensuke Takezawa (Japan) - 28:49
3. Ryan Sheehan (USA) - 29:31
1. Yukiko Akaba (Japan) - 22:39
2. Catherine Ndereba (KEN) - 23:53
3. Lilia Shobukhova (Russia) - 23:15
2008Ali Abdosh (ETH) - 13:34Yuriko Kobayashi (Japan)
15:08 - new stage record
Dejen Gebremeskel (ETH)
28:20 - new stage record
Belaynesh Fikadu (ETH)
15:34 - new stage record
Hunegnaw Mesfin (ETH) - 28:54Maria Konovalova (Russia) - 23:31
2009Craig Mottram (Australia) - 13:23Yuriko Kobayashi (Japan) - 15:09Kensuke Takezawa (Japan) - 29:07Yukiko Akaba (Japan)
15:34 - ties stage record
Atsushi Sato (Japan) - 28:57Hikari Yoshimoto (Japan Univ. Select) - 23:12
2010Yuichiro Ueno (JPN) - 13:23Yuriko Kobayashi (JPN) - 15:27Titus Mbishei (KEN) - 28:57Kasumi Nishihara (JUT) - 16:02Tsuyoshi Ugachi (JPN) - 28:51Pauline Korikwiang (KEN) - 23:20
2011 1. Thomas Pkemei Longosiwa (KEN) - 13:36
2. Egor Nikolaev (RUS) - 13:38
3. Robert Cheseret (U.S.A.) - 13:38
1. Kasumi Nishihara (JPN) - 15:17
2. Risa Takenaka (UNIV) - 15:36
3. Lisa Corrigan (AUS) - 15:48
1. Patrick Mutunga Mwikya (KEN)
28:08 -new stage record
2. Evgeny Rybakov (RUS) - 28:42
3. Kensuke Takezawa (JPN) - 28:53
1. Yuriko Kobayashi (JPN) - 15:46
2. Hikari Yoshimoto (UNIV) - 15:49
3. Elena Korobkina (RUS) - 16:21
1. Edwin Nyandusi Mokua (KEN)
27:43 - new stage record
2. Tetsuya Yoroizaka (JPN) - 28:47
3. Bobby Mack (U.S.A.) - 28:55
1. Hitomi Niiya (JPN)
22:36 - new stage record
2. Pamela Chesopich Lisoreng (KEN) - 22:52
3. Emily Brichacek (AUS) - 23:46
Hanji Aoki Cup International Chiba Ekiden - 42.195 km -
First.Place......................Second.Place.....................Third.Place......................Fourth.Place.....................Fifth.Place......................Sixth.Place......................Seventh.Place....................Eight.Place......................Ninth.Place......................Tenth.Place......................Eleventh.Place...................Twelfth.Place....................
2007 Japan - 2:05:56Kenya - 2:07:06Russia - 2:08:00USA - 2:09:05Japan University Select - 2:09:22Great Britain - 2:10:11Australia - 2:11:56Chiba Prefecture - 2:11:57Romania - 2:12:17China - 2:13:59Belarus - 2:14:32Poland - 2:15:10
2008 Ethiopia - 2:05:27
new course record
Japan - 2:06:39Russia - 2:08:04Japanese University Select - 2:08:47Australia - 2:09:36Chiba Prefecture - 2:10:00Great Britain - 2:10:12U.S.A. - 2:11:54Canada - 2:11:56China - 2:12:11Sweden - 2:12:16Brazil - 2:14:15
2009 Japan - 2:05:58Japanese University Select - 2:07:47Kenya - 2:08:34Chiba (Japan) Prefecture - 2:09:26U.S.A. - 2:09:42Russia - 2:11:19Australia - 2:11:35Canada - 2:12:24Italy - 2:13:13Romania - 2:14:28China - 2:14:47Belarus - 2:15:11
2010 Japan University Select - 2:07:52Kenya - 2:08:06Japan - 2:08:12Russia - 2:09:35U.S.A. - 2:10:54Chiba Prefecture - 2:12:56Australia - 2:14:07Italy - 2:14:55Romania - 2:15:02Canada - 2:15:13Czech Republic - 2:15:23Norway - 2:17:01
2011Kenya - 2:04:40 - CRJapan - 2:04:59 (CR)Japanese University Select- 2:07:26Russia - 2:07:56U.S.A. - 2:09:06Australia - 2:09:56Chiba Prefecture - 2:11:55Poland - 2:12:53Romania - 2:13:39Canada - 2:13:52New Zealand - 2:14:37Czech Republic - 2:16:33

See also

External links

Race commentaries in English: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 2011.

Notes and References

  1. News: New mixed race format for Chiba International Ekiden - Preview. Nakamura. Ken. 21 November 2007. IAAF. 1 May 2016.
  2. http://www.usatf.org/news/view.aspx?DUID=USATF_2010_11_11_14_06_36 Team USA set for International Chiba Ekiden
  3. News: Nakamura . Ken. 23 November 2005. Kenyan men win in Chiba with World’s fastest ever time. IAAF. 1 May 2016.
  4. Nakamura, Ken (2006-11-23). Kenya dominate at Chiba Ekiden. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-11-18.
  5. News: Nakamura. Ken. 23 November 2007. Japan comes from behind to win the Chiba International Ekiden. IAAF. 1 May 2016.
  6. News: Nakamura. Ken. 24 November 2008. Ethiopia sweeps Chiba Ekiden. IAAF. 1 May 2016.
  7. News: Nakamura. Ken. 23 November 2009. Japan takes Chiba Ekiden title, with favourite Kenya well-beaten third. IAAF. 1 May 2016.
  8. News: Nakamura. Ken. 23 November 2010. Japanese Collegiate Team scores upset at Chiba Ekiden. IAAF. 1 May 2016.
  9. News: Nakamura. Ken . 23 November 2011. Teenagers Mwikya and Mokua lead Kenya to Chiba Ekiden victory. IAAF. 1 May 2016.
  10. News: Nakamura. Ken. 23 November 2012. Kenya defends in Chiba. IAAF. 14 February 2013.