Japan Comes From Behind to Win Chiba Ekiden

Published by IAAF on November 24, 2014

For the first time in five years, host nation Japan won the Chiba International Ekiden, a mixed six-stage relay held over the marathon distance on Monday (24), coming from behind to overhaul defending champions Kenya on the sixth and final stage.

The race started with Australia and New Zealand fighting for the lead on the first stage, but then Russia took over the lead on stage two. The third and fourth stages were between Russia and Japan, but the race truly got going on the fifth stage over 10km when Matthew Kisorio brought Kenya from sixth to first, making up a minute deficit to set a stage record of 27:42.

Going into the final stage, three-time winners Kenya led Japan by eight seconds, but Asian Games 10,000m bronze medallist Ayumi Hagiwara passed Kenya’s anchor Mercy Kibarus to give Japan the victory.

Results

1 Japan 2:05:53

2 Kenya 2:06:29

3 Japan Collegiate 2:07:16

4 Russia 2:07:42

5 New Zealand 2:09:00

6 USA 2:09:13

7 Canada 2:09:28

8 Australia 2:10:16

9 Germany 2:13:12

10 Chiba Prefecture 2:13:16

11 France 2:13:35

12 Estonia 2:16:49

13 China 2:19:56