International Chiba Ekiden - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The International Chiba Ekiden is an annual team road running

Road running

Road running is the sport of running on a measured course over an established road . These events would be classified as long distance according to athletics terminology, with distances typically ranging from 5 kilometers to 42.2 kilometers in the marathon. They may involve large numbers of runners...

competition held in Chiba

Chiba, Chiba

is the capital city of Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is located approximately 40 km east of the center of Tokyo on Tokyo Bay. Chiba City became a government designated city in 1992. Its population as of 2008 is approximately 960,000....

, Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

in late November. The marathon

Marathon

The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...

relay race, or ekiden

Ekiden

is a term referring to a long-distance relay running race, typically on roads. The Japanese term originally referred to a post-horse or stagecoach which transmitted communication by stages.-History:...

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

Marathon

The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...

distance of 42.195 km. The Chiba Ekiden was first held in 1988 and featured separate competitions for both men and women. 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).

The men's world record for the event was set at the competition in 2005 as the Kenya

Kenya

Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...

n team of Josephat Ndambiri

Josephat Ndambiri

Josephat Muchiri Ndambiri is a Kenyan long-distance runner. He represented his country at the World Championships in Athletics in 2007....

, Martin Mathathi

Martin Mathathi

Martin Irungu Mathathi is a Kenyan long-distance runner, who competes in track, cross country and road running events. Mathathi won the bronze medal in the 10,000 metres at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka. He represented his country in the same event at the 2008 Summer Olympics...

, Daniel Mwangi, Mekubo Mogusu

Mekubo Mogusu

Mekubo Job Mogusu is a Kenyan long distance runner who specialises in road running, particularly the half marathon. An emigrant to Japan, he has won the Sapporo Half Marathon on three occasions and the Kagawa Marugame Half Marathon twice – he is the course record holder for both of the races...

, 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

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

men ran a North American record and the fourth-placed Russia

Russia

Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

n team broke the European record.

Winners

Key: Stage winner

Men's and women's era
Year	Men	Women
1988
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005	Josephat Ndambiri Josephat Ndambiri Josephat Muchiri Ndambiri is a Kenyan long-distance runner. He represented his country at the World Championships in Athletics in 2007.... , Martin Mathathi Martin Mathathi Martin Irungu Mathathi is a Kenyan long-distance runner, who competes in track, cross country and road running events. Mathathi won the bronze medal in the 10,000 metres at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka. He represented his country in the same event at the 2008 Summer Olympics... Daniel Mwangi, Mekubo Mogusu Mekubo Mogusu Mekubo Job Mogusu is a Kenyan long distance runner who specialises in road running, particularly the half marathon. An emigrant to Japan, he has won the Sapporo Half Marathon on three occasions and the Kagawa Marugame Half Marathon twice – he is the course record holder for both of the races... Onesmus Nyerere and John Kariuki	Philes Ongori Philes Ongori Philes Moora Ongori is a Kenyan long-distance runner who competes in half marathon and marathon events.... , Evelyn Wambui ?, Catherine Ndereba Catherine Ndereba Wincatherine Nyambura Ndereba is a Kenyan marathon runner. She has twice won the marathon at the World Championships in Athletics and won silver medals in the Olympics in 2004 and 2008. She is also a four-time winner of the Boston Marathon... ?, ?
2006	Martin Mathathi Martin Mathathi Martin Irungu Mathathi is a Kenyan long-distance runner, who competes in track, cross country and road running events. Mathathi won the bronze medal in the 10,000 metres at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka. He represented his country in the same event at the 2008 Summer Olympics... , Gideon Ngatuny Gideon Ngatuny Gideon Lekumok Ngatuny is a Kenyan long-distance runner.At the 2007 World Cross Country Championships he finished fourth in the senior race, while the Kenyan team of which Ngatuny was a part won the team competition... Josephat Ndambiri Josephat Ndambiri Josephat Muchiri Ndambiri is a Kenyan long-distance runner. He represented his country at the World Championships in Athletics in 2007.... , Sammy Korir Sammy Korir Sammy Korir is a long distance runner from Kenya.In 2008 Korir became the first man to run ten marathons faster than the time of 2:09 hours, by finishing third in Dubai Marathon with a time of 2:08:34. The race was won by Haile Gebrselassie, who narrowly failed to break the world record held by... Mekubo Mogusu Mekubo Mogusu Mekubo Job Mogusu is a Kenyan long distance runner who specialises in road running, particularly the half marathon. An emigrant to Japan, he has won the Sapporo Half Marathon on three occasions and the Kagawa Marugame Half Marathon twice – he is the course record holder for both of the races... , Cyrus Njui Cyrus Njui Cyrus Gichobi Njui is a Kenyan long-distance runner who specialises in road running competitions.Njui initially competed in the steeplechase and the 10,000 metres. He moved to Japan at a young age and studied at Ryutsu Keizai University...	Philes Ongori Philes Ongori Philes Moora Ongori is a Kenyan long-distance runner who competes in half marathon and marathon events.... , Evelyne Kemunto Kimwei Sally Kaptich Chepyego, Catherine Ndereba Catherine Ndereba Wincatherine Nyambura Ndereba is a Kenyan marathon runner. She has twice won the marathon at the World Championships in Athletics and won silver medals in the Olympics in 2004 and 2008. She is also a four-time winner of the Boston Marathon... Jane Wanjiku Jane Wanjiku Jane Wanjiku Gakunyi is a Kenyan long-distance runner.At the 2003 World Cross Country Championships she finished third in the short race, while the Kenyan team, of which Wanjiku was a part, won the team competition... , Lucy Wangui Lucy Wangui Lucy Wangui Kabuu is a Kenyan long-distance runner who specializes in the 5000 and 10,000 metres events. She has represented Kenya twice at the Summer Olympics, finishing in the top ten of the 10,000 m race in both 2004 and 2008...

Mixed era
Year	Winner	Time	Athletes (Stage winner)
2007		2:05:56	Yuichiro Ueno Yuichiro Ueno is a Japanese long-distance runner, who specializes in the 1500 and 5000 metres events.Ueno began his international career at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships where he ran in the junior race in 2004, then in the senior short race for the two years following that... , Kayoko Fukushi Kayoko Fukushi is a Japanese long-distance runner who specializes in the 5000 and 10,000 metres. Fukushi represented Japan at the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics.... , Kenji Noguchi, Megumi Kinukawa Megumi Kinukawa is a Japanese long-distance runner. She represented her country at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics in Osaka and is the Japanese high school and junior record holder for the 10,000 metres.... , Kensuke Takezawa Kensuke Takezawa is a Japanese long-distance runner. He attended Waseda University in Tokyo.His international debut came at the 2006 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Fukuoka, where he was 49th in the men's long race... , Yukiko Akaba Yukiko Akaba is a Japanese long-distance runner who specializes in the 10,000 metres, half marathon and marathon events.She won the silver medal in half marathon at the 1999 Summer Universiade. At the 2001 Summer Universiade she finished eighth in the 5000 metres and won the bronze medal in the 10,000 metres...
2008		2:05:27	Ali Abdosh Ali Abdosh Ali Abdosh is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who specializes in the 5000 metres.He won the bronze medal at the 2008 African Championships, finished sixth at the 2009 World Championships and twelfth at the 2009 World Athletics Final.His personal best times are 12:56.53 minutes in the 5000... , Sule Utura Sule Utura Gedo Sule Utura is an Ethiopian middle distance and long distance runner. She won the 5000 metres at the 2008 World Junior Championships in Athletics and was third place in the 3000 metres at the World Youth Championships in the previous year.She began competing at road running events: she ran the... , Dejen Gebremeskel Dejen Gebremeskel Dejen Gebremeskel is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who primarily competes in track events. His personal best for the 5000 metres is 12:53.56 minutes... , Belaynesh Fekadu, Hunegnaw Mesfin Hunegnaw Mesfin Hunegnaw Mesfin is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who competes in cross country and track running events... , Tsega Gelaw
2009		2:05:58	Yuichiro Ueno Yuichiro Ueno is a Japanese long-distance runner, who specializes in the 1500 and 5000 metres events.Ueno began his international career at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships where he ran in the junior race in 2004, then in the senior short race for the two years following that... , Yuriko Kobayashi Yuriko Kobayashi Yuriko Kobayashi is a Japanese middle- and long-distance runner who specializes in the 1500 metres and 5000 metres. She represented Japan at the 2008 Summer Olympics.... , Kensuke Takezawa Kensuke Takezawa is a Japanese long-distance runner. He attended Waseda University in Tokyo.His international debut came at the 2006 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Fukuoka, where he was 49th in the men's long race... , Yukiko Akaba Yukiko Akaba is a Japanese long-distance runner who specializes in the 10,000 metres, half marathon and marathon events.She won the silver medal in half marathon at the 1999 Summer Universiade. At the 2001 Summer Universiade she finished eighth in the 5000 metres and won the bronze medal in the 10,000 metres... , Atsushi Sato, Yurika Nakamura Yurika Nakamura is a Japanese long-distance runner. Nakamura grew up in the Hyōgo Prefecture.She finished seventh at the 2006 World Road Running Championships, helping the Japanese team win the bronze medal in the team competition. In 2008, she won the Nagoya Marathon in her marathon debut. In the 2008 Summer...
2010	Collegiate	2:07:52	Taku Fujimoto, Risa Takenaka, Yo Yazawa, Kasumi Nishihara, Shota Hiraga, Hanae Tanaka
2011		2:04:40	Thomas Longosiwa Thomas Longosiwa Thomas Pkemei Longosiwa is a runner from Kenya who has competed at the Olympics. He is also the Kenyan 5000 metres champion from 2007.... , Lidia Mathathi, Patrick Mutunga Mwikya, Pauline Kahenya, Edwin Mokua, Pamela Lisoreng

Winners

See also