The 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. 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).Team USA set for International Chiba Ekiden. USATF (11 November 2010). Retrieved 18 November 2010.

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.

Winners Key: Stage winner + Men's and women's eraYearMenWomen 1988 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Josephat Ndambiri, Martin MathathiDaniel Mwangi, Mekubo MogusuOnesmus Nyerere and John Kariuki Philes Ongori, Evelyn Wambui ?, Catherine Ndereba ?, ? 2006Nakamura, Ken (2006-11-23). Kenya dominate at Chiba Ekiden. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-11-18. Martin Mathathi, Gideon NgatunyJosephat Ndambiri, Sammy KorirMekubo Mogusu, Cyrus Njui Philes Ongori, Evelyne Kemunto KimweiSally Kaptich Chepyego, Catherine NderebaJane Wanjiku, Lucy Wangui

+Mixed eraYearWinnerTimeAthletes (stage winners) 2007 2:05:56 Yuichiro Ueno, Kayoko Fukushi, Kenji Noguchi, Megumi Kinukawa, Kensuke Takezawa, Yukiko Akaba 2008 2:05:27 Ali Abdosh, Sule Utura, Dejen Gebremeskel, Belaynesh Fekadu, Hunegnaw Mesfin, Tsega Gelaw 2009 2:05:58 Yuichiro Ueno, Yuriko Kobayashi, Kensuke Takezawa, Yukiko Akaba, Atsushi Sato, Yurika Nakamura 2010 Collegiate 2:07:52 Taku Fujimoto, Risa Takenaka, Yo Yazawa, Kasumi Nishihara, Shota Hiraga, Hanae Tanaka 2011 2:04:40 Thomas Longosiwa, Lidia Mathathi, Patrick Mutunga Mwikya, Pauline Kahenya, Edwin Mokua, Pamela Lisoreng 2012 2:05:06 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....................... 2007 1. Moses Masai (KEN) - 13:222. Yuichiro Ueno (Japan) - 13:293. Ed Moran (USA) - 13:32 1. Emily Chebet (KEN) - 15:382. Kayoko Fukushi (Japan) - 15:343. Elena Zadorozhnaya (Russia) - 15:37 1. Barnaba Sigei (KEN) - 28:322. Evgeny Rybakov (Russia) - 29:003. Scott Bauhs (USA) - 28:31 1. Catherine Kirui (KEN) - 16:202. Megumi Kinukawa (Japan) - 16:033. Olesya Syreva (Russia) - 16:38 1. Joseph Birech (KEN) - 29:212. Kensuke Takezawa (Japan) - 28:493. Ryan Sheehan (USA) - 29:31 1. Yukiko Akaba (Japan) - 22:392. Catherine Ndereba (KEN) - 23:53 3. Lilia Shobukhova (Russia) - 23:15 2008 Ali Abdosh (ETH) - 13:34 Yuriko 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) - 28:54 Maria Konovalova (Russia) - 23:31 2009 Craig Mottram (Australia) - 13:23 Yuriko Kobayashi (Japan) - 15:09 Kensuke Takezawa (Japan) - 29:07 Yukiko Akaba (Japan)15:34 - ties stage record Atsushi Sato (Japan) - 28:57 Hikari Yoshimoto (Japan Univ. Select) - 23:12 2010 Yuichiro Ueno (JPN) - 13:23 Yuriko Kobayashi (JPN) - 15:27 Titus Mbishei (KEN) - 28:57 Kasumi Nishihara (JUT) - 16:02 Tsuyoshi Ugachi (JPN) - 28:51 Pauline Korikwiang (KEN) - 23:20 2011 1. Thomas Pkemei Longosiwa (KEN) - 13:362. Egor Nikolaev (RUS) - 13:383. Robert Cheseret (U.S.A.) - 13:38 1. Kasumi Nishihara (JPN) - 15:172. Risa Takenaka (UNIV) - 15:363. Lisa Corrigan (AUS) - 15:48 1. Patrick Mutunga Mwikya (KEN)28:08 -new stage record2. Evgeny Rybakov (RUS) - 28:423. Kensuke Takezawa (JPN) - 28:53 1. Yuriko Kobayashi (JPN) - 15:462. Hikari Yoshimoto (UNIV) - 15:493. Elena Korobkina (RUS) - 16:21 1. Edwin Nyandusi Mokua (KEN)27:43 - new stage record2. Tetsuya Yoroizaka (JPN) - 28:473. Bobby Mack (U.S.A.) - 28:55 1. Hitomi Niiya (JPN)22:36 - new stage record2. Pamela Chesopich Lisoreng (KEN) - 22:523. 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 - 2:05:56 Kenya - 2:07:06 Russia - 2:08:00 USA - 2:09:05 Japan University Select - 2:09:22 Great Britain - 2:10:11 Australia - 2:11:56 Chiba Prefecture - 2:11:57 Romania - 2:12:17 China - 2:13:59 Belarus - 2:14:32 Poland - 2:15:10 2008 Ethiopia - 2:05:27new course record Japan - 2:06:39 Russia - 2:08:04 Japanese University Select - 2:08:47 Australia - 2:09:36 Chiba Prefecture - 2:10:00 Great Britain - 2:10:12 U.S.A. - 2:11:54 Canada - 2:11:56 China - 2:12:11 Sweden - 2:12:16 Brazil - 2:14:15 2009 Japan - 2:05:58 Japanese University Select - 2:07:47 Kenya - 2:08:34 Chiba (Japan) Prefecture - 2:09:26 U.S.A. - 2:09:42 Russia - 2:11:19 Australia - 2:11:35 Canada - 2:12:24 Italy - 2:13:13 Romania - 2:14:28 China - 2:14:47 Belarus - 2:15:11 2010 Japan University Select - 2:07:52 Kenya - 2:08:06 Japan - 2:08:12 Russia - 2:09:35 U.S.A. - 2:10:54 Chiba Prefecture - 2:12:56 Australia - 2:14:07 Italy - 2:14:55 Romania - 2:15:02 Canada - 2:15:13 Czech Republic - 2:15:23 Norway - 2:17:01 2011 Kenya - 2:04:40 - CR Japan - 2:04:59 (CR) Japanese University Select- 2:07:26 Russia - 2:07:56 U.S.A. - 2:09:06 Australia - 2:09:56 Chiba Prefecture - 2:11:55 Poland - 2:12:53 Romania - 2:13:39 Canada - 2:13:52 New Zealand - 2:14:37 Czech Republic - 2:16:33

See also Chiba International Cross Country, another prominent athletics competition in the city

References

External links Official site

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

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