The 25th edition of the Chiba International Ekiden is set to be held in the Chiba prefecture on November 23rd, with 12 international teams named to compete in what is an event of nationally-televised status in Japan. The race follows a mixed-gender format of a Men’s 5km leg, Women’s 5km, Men’s 10km, Women’s 5km, Men’s 10km, finishing with a Women’s 7.195km leg to complete the relay marathon distance.
With the event still over a month away, team announcements have been limited to Australia, Japan, Canada and Kenya, with Japan likely to name a strong team which regularly features Olympic or World Championship level representatives.
The international drawcards this year are significant, with the Kenyan team naming the elusive Joseph Ebuya, a man who has experienced mixed form in the past few years, experiencing the lofty heights of a 2010 World Cross Country Championships victory, followed by missing out on selection entirely in 2011, the 26-year old Kenyan will be one to watch closely given his 12:51 5000m credentials. The Kenyan women haven’t shied away from the competition, naming the reigning World Cross Country Champion Emily Chebet, a 30:47 10,000m runner.
New Zealand have named a competitive team, confirming the attendance of 2008 1500m Olympic Silver medallist Nick Willis who is set to run the 5000m leg, giving a possible insight towards his future distance on the track, accompanied by the Robertson twins of East-African residence, Jake and Zane who hold respective personal bests on the track of 27:45/13:15 and 3:35/13:13.
Canada have made their intentions clear leading up to the highly competitive road race, naming a team of Olympic and World Championship representative calibre, with the likes of 2:10 marathon duo Reid Coolsaet and Dylan Wykes, backed up by Moscow 2013 steeplechase representatives Chris Winter and Alex Genest, the latter of whom boasts an 8:19 steeplechase personal best and a 13th place finish at the recent IAAF World Championships. Lanni Marchant will also feature for the Canadian Women, with her recent 2:28 marathon performance in the Toronto Waterfront Marathon breaking a 28-year old Canadian National Record.
The Australian contingent is highlighted by the current National Women’s Cross Country Champion in Bridey Delaney, accompanied by the 2nd placegetter in the same event, Melissa Duncan. On the Men’s side Steve Kelly leads the charge, with personal bests of 13:53 and 28:52 over 5,000m and 10,000m respectively, followed by young gun Anthony Aloisio, fresh off a breakout 4th placing at this year’s National Cross Country Championships.
Australia will be setting out to improve on their best placing of 5th in 2008, with the battle for the win likely to be close between defending champions Kenya and previous 2nd placegetters Japan, with Kenya holding off Japan in a course record of 2:05:06 with Japan a mere 10 seconds behind.
Team List (confirmed athletes listed where possible):
| Australia| Sex | Name | Date of birth | 5000m
personal best | 10000m
personal best | Achievements |
|---|
| Men’s 1 | Jackson Elliott | 1981/12/5 | 13:57.80 | 29:55.00 | – | | Men’s 2 | Steve Kelly | 1988/5/6 | 13:53.30 | 28:52.30 | ’13 World Cross Country Championships representative | | Men’s 3 | Anthony Aloisio | 1992/11/2 | 15:08.70 | 30:20.00 | 4 in Australia ’13 cross-country | | Men’s 4 | Dewar, Ioannina | 1989/12/26 | 13:50.50 | 30:04.00 | ’10 World Cross Country Championships representative | | Women’s 1 | Bridey Delaney | 1989/7/16 | – | 34:26.00 | Australia ’13 cross-country championship | | Women’s 2 | Melissa Duncan | 1990/1/30 | – | 34:42.00 | 2 in Australia ’13 cross-country | | Women’s 3 | Tari Bird | 1986/8/13 | 17:43.40 | 34:50.00 | 3 in Australia ’13 cross-country | | Women’s 4 | Sophie Barker | 1986/10/1 | 16:20.40 | 34:19.00 | ’13 World Cross Country Championships representative |
Canada| Sex | Name | Date of birth | 5000m
personal best | 10000m
personal best | Achievements |
|---|
| Men’s 1 | Alex Jenesuto | 1986/6/30 | – | – | 8:24.56 ’13 World Championships 3000m fault
’12 Olympics (London) 3000m 8:22.62 failure | | Men’s 2 | Chris Winter | 1986/7/22 | 14:03.28 | – | 8:29.36 ’13 World Championships 3000m failure
2 in ’13 Canada Championship 3000m failure | | Men’s 3 | Dylan Wykes | 1983/6/6 | 14:44.00 | 29:15.00 | ’13 Canada 10km 3 in
’12 Olympic London Marathon # 20 | | Men’s 4 | Read Kurusato | 1979/7/29 | 13:21.53 | 29:35.00 | Canada won the 10km ’13
’12 Olympics (London) Marathon # 27 | | Women’s 1 | Lani Marchand | 1984/4/11 | 16:43.00 | 32:46.00 | ’13 Canada 10km victory
in 44 World Championship Marathon ’13 | | Women’s 2 | Leslie Sexton | 1987/5/17 | 16:11.71 | 33:40.27 | 2 in ’13 Canada Championship 10000m | | Women’s 3 | Nicole Shifuentesu | 1986/6/30 | 15:27.58 | – | ’13 World Championships 1500 m 4:06.30
’12 Olympics (London) 1500m 4:06.33 | | Women’s 4 | Andrea Sekkafien | 1990/8/27 | 16:05.41 | – | Canada ’13 championship 5000m victory |
France (FRA)| Sex | Name | Date of birth | 5000m
personal best | 10000m
personal best | Achievements |
|---|
| Men’s 1 | Djamel-Vassiliadis | 1977/5/22 | 13:56.47 | 29:04.30 | 30 in ’10 World Half Marathon Championships | | Men’s 2 | Timose-Bomie | 1986/10/11 | 13:51.64 | – | 26 in ’12 European Cross Country Championships | | Men’s 3 | Jandamasenu-Abarurema | 1976/12/4 | – | 29:03.00 | ’13 Berlin Marathon 13 in 2.12.40 | | Men’s 4 | Yoann Kowal | 1987/5/28 | – | – | 8 in 8.12.53 ’13 World Championships 3000m failure | | Women’s 1 | Angelina Ghoul | 1978/9/1 | 16:03.40 | 33:59.00 | – | | Women’s 2 | Fatia-chestnut Carrettino Chi Forval | 1975/1/1 | 15:42.91 | 32:46.73 | 11 in ’10 European Cross Country Championships | | Women’s 3 | Meriemu-Meredo | 1976/4/4 | 16:20.52 | – | – | | Women’s 4 | Carmen Oribarasu | 1971/6/29 | – | 33:21.45 | 33 in ’13 World Championships Marathon |
Germany| Sex | Name | Date of birth | 5000m
personal best | 10000m
personal best | Achievements |
|---|
| Men’s 1 | Andre Porumehya | 1983/3/22 | 13:47.74 | 27:55.56 | European U23 Championship 10000m 2 in
’13 Berlin Marathon 2:13:05 | | Men’s 2 | Philip Pufuriga | 1987/7/16 | 13:31.24 | 28:45.76 | – | | Men’s 3 | Homiu-Tesufei | 1993/6/23 | 13:58.73 | 29:08.44 | ’13 World Championships 1500m 5 of
1500m personal best 3:34.18 | | Men’s 4 | Steffen Urichika | 1984/7/17 | 13:41.88 | – | Failure 3000m personal best 8:22.93
6 times national champion | | Women’s 1 | Irina Mikitenko | 1972/8/23 | 14:42.03 | 31:29.55 | Marathon 2:19:19 (national record) | | Women’s 2 | Corinna Harrer | 1991/1/19 | 16:47.04 | 32:30.41 | 2 in ’13 European Indoor Athletics Championships 3000m | | Women’s 3 | Geza Felicitas Krause | 1992/8/3 | 16:15.00 | – | ’12 Olympics (London) 3000m fault
’13 World Championships 3000m failure | | Women’s 4 | Maren Cock | 1990/6/22 | 15:27.65 | 33:29.14 | – |
Kenya| Sex | Name | Date of birth | 5000m
personal best | 10000m
personal best | Achievements |
|---|
| Men’s 1 | Joseph Ebuya | 1987/6/20 | 12:51.00 | 28:53.46 | – | | Men’s 2 | Joseph Cha Cha | 1992/9/4 | 13:51.00 | 28:46.00 | – | | Men’s 3 | Daniel Muteti | 1994/11/10 | 13:08.00 | 28:44.00 | – | | Men’s 4 | Edwin Mokua | 1993/12/31 | 13:54.09 | 29:09.08 | – | | Women’s 1 | Emily Chebeto | 1986/2/18 | 14:46.89 | 30:47.02 | – | | Women’s 2 | Caroline Nyakaguwa | 1986/12/12 | 15:35.35 | 31:42.25 | – | | Women’s 3 | Esta-Nudiema | 1988/6/4 | 15:26.00 | 31:26.00 | – | | Women’s 4 | Eunice Mutie | 1996/11/8 | 14:40.00 | 33:10.00 | – |
New Zealand| Sex | Name | Date of birth | 5000m
personal best | 10000m
personal best | Achievements |
|---|
| Men’s 1 | Nicholas Willis | 1983/4/25 | 13:27.54 | – | 1500m 3:30.35 (national record)
’08 Olympic Games (Beijing) 1500m 3 of | | Men’s 2 | Zane Robertson | 1989/11/14 | 13:13.83 | – | ’13 World Championships 5000m 13:46.67 | | Men’s 3 | Malcolm Hicks | 1987/10/19 | 13:43.96 | 30:18.00 | 1 in ’13 New Zealand cross-country | | Men’s 4 | Daniel Baruchin | 1990/8/13 | 14:47.36 | 31:11.70 | – | | Women’s 1 | Lucy Bandaren | 1988/11/18 | 15:21.08 | – | ’12 Olympics (London) 1500m 24 of | | Women’s 2 | Holy Bandaren | 1988/11/18 | 15:41.68 | 35:21.68 | 3 in ’13 New Zealand cross-country | | Women’s 3 | Nikki Makufajien | 1988/6/21 | – | 34:31.00 | 1 in ’13 New Zealand cross-country | | Women’s 4 | Rachel Kingsford | 1991/9/17 | 16:34.37 | 35:57.00 | – |
Romania| Sex | Name | Date of birth | 5000m
personal best | 10000m
personal best | Achievements |
|---|
| Men’s 1 | Marius Ionescu-Bioreru | 1984/12/18 | – | – | Marathon 2:13:33 (personal best) | | Men’s 2 | Nicolae Alexandre Cesar Soares | 1991/9/20 | – | 29:41.25 | – | | Men’s 3 | Christie Nell Irimia | 1984/1/1 | 14:44.96 | 31:41.71 | – | | Men’s 4 | Io Ann Stephen basil | 1993/12/19 | 15:09.59 | – | – | | Women’s 1 | Liliana Maria Chilly | 1990/6/18 | – | 35:05.38 | – | | Women’s 2 | Monikamadarina-Furorea | 1993/2/3 | 16:08.46 | – | – | | Women’s 3 | Elena Daniela Chiruran | 1980/9/18 | – | 35:34.96 | – | | Women’s 4 | Rumi Nita oh Luzia Na Achim | 1994/2/23 | – | – | 1500m 4:18.25 (personal best) |
Russia| Sex | Name | Date of birth | 5000m
personal best | 10000m
personal best | Achievements |
|---|
| Men’s 1 | Anatoly Rybakov | 1985/2/27 | – | 28:06.54 | – | | Men’s 2 | Evgeny Rybakov | 1985/2/27 | – | 28:05.75 | – | | Men’s 3 | Vyacheslav Sharamofu | 1989/7/8 | 13:38.10 | – | – | | Men’s 4 | Igor Nikolaev | 1988/4/28 | 13:35.33 | – | – | | Women’s 1 | Natalia Arisutaruhowa | 1989/10/31 | – | – | 8:50.76 3000m
1 in ’13 European Team Championship 3000m failure | | Women’s 2 | Gurushato-Fazuritojinowa | 1992/8/28 | – | 32:01.83 | ’13 European U23 Championship 10000m victory | | Women’s 3 | Lyudmila Lebedeva | 1990/5/23 | – | 32:46.08 | 2 in ’12 European Cross Country Championships | | Women’s 4 | Natalia Nobichikowa | 1988/10/9 | 15:34.34 | – | – |
USA| Sex | Name | Date of birth | 5000m
personal best | 10000m
personal best | Achievements |
|---|
| Men’s 1 | Giruma-Mecheso | 1988/1/20 | 13:34.00 | 27:52.00 | ’13 NCAA10000m record of rank 1 | | Men’s 2 | Sean Quigley | 1985/2/8 | 13:27.17 | 27:50.78 | ’10 USA20km victory | | Men’s 3 | William Lear | 1985/4/15 | 13:21.55 | – | 3:35.27 3000m 7:39.38 / 1500 m
’13 USA Indoor 1 miles / 3000m victory | | Men’s 4 | Chris Banikuru | 1987/3/31 | 13:36.00 | 28:10.59 | Half Marathon 62:43 | | Women’s 1 | Dorothy Makumahan | 1976/11/6 | 16:27.00 | 33:24.00 | ’13 USA25km victory | | Women’s 2 | Laura at Swedenborg | 1988/12/17 | 15:36.85 | 32:15.51 | 4 in ’13 USA5km Championship | | Women’s 3 | Khellin Johnson | 1986/7/22 | 15:31.66 | 32:30.40 | Two time NCAA All-American | | Women’s 4 | Katie Kellner | 1991/8/4 | 16:01.51 | 32:58.73 | – |
Ukraine| Sex | Name | Date of birth | 5000m
personal best | 10000m
personal best | Achievements |
|---|
| Men’s 1 | U~orodimiru-Kitsu | 1987/1/15 | 13:52.69 | – | 1500m 3:39.83 (personal best) | | Men’s 2 | Oleksandr Babarika | 1984/5/22 | 14:28.12 | 29:43.00 | – | | Men’s 3 | Ivan Babarika | 1982/11/11 | 14:20.06 | 29:15.00 | – | | Men’s 4 | Mihairo-Iberuku | 1975/10/2 | 13:50.32 | 28:48.60 | – | | Women’s 1 | Subitorana Schmidt | 1990/3/20 | – | – | Failure 3000m 9:31.16 (personal best)
1500 m 4:12.18 (personal best) | | Women’s 2 | Katerina-Karumanenko | 1986/9/3 | 16:40.18 | 33:36.26 | – | | Women’s 3 | Victoria Pohorierusuka | 1990/8/4 | 15:28.35 | 34:25.00 | – | | Women’s 4 | Techiana-Berunihoru | 1983/1/23 | 16:15.33 | 33:21.17 | – |
Japan| Sex | Name
(affiliation) | Date of birth | 5000m
personal best | 10000m
personal best | Achievements |
|---|
| Men’s 1 | Yu Sato group
(Nissin Food Group) | 1986/11/26 | 13:13.60 | 27:38.25 | (Moscow) 5000m 10000m participation ’13 World Championship
’13 Japan Championship 10000m victory
in three successive 10000m Japan | | Men’s 2 | Jie Osako
(Waseda University) | 1991/5/23 | 13:27.54 | 27:38.31 | ’13 World Championships (Moscow) 10000m played
2 in ’13 Japan Championship 10000m
10000m 4 in Japan history (student record) | | Men’s 3 | UGA ground strength
(Konica Minolta) | 1987/4/27 | 13:29.50 | 27:40.69 | (Moscow) 10000m participation ’13 World Championships
3 in ’13 Japan Championship 10000m | | Men’s 4 | Kubota Shinobu
(Komazawa) | 1991/12/12 | 13:45.50 | 28:07.01 | ’13 Japan Championship 10000m 7 in
3 in ’13 Japan Intercollegiate 5000m | | Women’s 1 | Bisai Misaki
(Sekisui Chemical) | 1985/2/24 | 15:21.73 | – | ’13 World Championships (Moscow) 5000m participation
’13 Japan Championship 5000m victory | | Women’s 2 | Oka Sayuri
(Daihatsu) | 1990/9/19 | 15:50.86 | 32:06.79 | 3 in ’13 All-Japan Corporate team 10000m | | Women’s 3 | Kikuchi Risa
(Hitachi, Ltd.) | 1990/2/5 | 15:36.28 | – | ’13 Japan Championship 5000m 15 of
4 in ’13 All Japan Businessman 5000m | | Women’s 4 | Miho Ihara
(Sekisui Chemical) | 1988/2/4 | 15:48.23 | 32:16.46 | 2 of 5 district interval ’13 East business group Ekiden |
Japan Student Section| Sex | Name
(affiliation) | Date of birth | 5000m
personal best | 10000m
personal best | Achievements |
|---|
| Men’s 1 | Kenta Murayama
(Komazawa) | 1993/2/23 | 13:47.19 | 28:14.57 | ’11 Japan Intercollegiate 5000m won
six in ’12 World Junior Championships 10000m
10000m representative Universiade ’13
’13 Izumo Ekiden District 3 Award interval (interval new record) | | Men’s 2 | Yusuke Ogura
(Aoyama Gakuin University) | 1993/4/16 | 14:03.96 | 29:09.30 | 4 in ’13 Izumo Ekiden District 1 section | | Men’s 3 | Isamu Hattori horse
(Toyo University) | 1993/11/13 | 13:56.52 | 28:22.43 | ’11 World Cross Country Championships junior 8km representative
’13 Izumo Ekiden 5th district interval award (section new record) | | Men’s 4 | Muta Yuki
(Meiji University) | 1993/5/26 | 13:47.58 | 29:28.68 | – | | Women’s 1 | Izawa Nana Hana
(Juntendo University) | 1991/4/13 | 15:40.94 | 32:39.31 | ’09 World Cross Country Championships Junior 6km representative (organization 3rd)
8 in ’10 World Junior Championships 5000m
5 District interval Award ’13 All Japan Women’s University Ekiden | | Women’s 2 | Suzuki Ayuko
(Nagoya University) | 1991/10/8 | 15:31.45 | 32:49.02 | ’10 World Junior Championships 5000m 5 in
two consecutive ’11, ’12 Japan Intercollegiate 5000m
’13 World Cross Country Championships senior 8km representative
’13 Universiade 10000m won second place 5000m | | Women’s 3 | Maeda Aya Sato
(Buddhist University) | 1991/11/7 | 15:32.22 | 32:51.53 | 2 of 5 district interval ’13 All Japan Women’s University Ekiden | | Women’s 4 | Omori Natsuki
(Ritsumeikan University) | 1994/6/22 | 15:40.34 | – | ’13 Japan Intercollegiate 5000m champion
’13 All Japan Women’s University Ekiden District 1 interval Award |
Chiba Selection | Sex | Name
(affiliation) | Date of birth | 5000m
personal best | 10000m
personal best | Achievements |
|---|
| Men’s 1 | Shota Yamaguchi
(Fujitsu) | 1985/12/19 | 13:44.21 | 28:20.32 | 5 in ’11 All-Japan Corporate team Ekiden District 3 section
3 in ’11 bear day load | | Men’s 2 | Akira Ogino flat
(Fujitsu) | 1989/12/8 | 14:19.76 | 28:56.18 | – | | Men’s 3 | Osawa Shun male
(Heiseikokusaidaigaku) | 1991/7/6 | 14:48.13 | 30:30.82 | – | | Men’s 4 | Takumi Yoshimura
(Tokyo Keizai University) | 1993/9/21 | 14:33.77 | 31:32.07 | – | | Women’s 1 | Shinozuka Mai
(Chuo University) | 1993/4/1 | 15:57.40 | 33:32.14 | 2 in ’13 Japan Intercollegiate 10000m | | Women’s 2 | Nakamura Moeno
(Universal AC) | 1990/11/24 | 15:51.35 | – | ’13 All Japan Women’s Ekiden Businessman District 2 interval Award | | Women’s 3 | Side horse cape
(Juntendo University) | 1993/3/26 | 16:29.96 | – | – | | Women’s 4 | Miki Kobayashi
(Juntendo University) | 1993/10/24 | 15:59.26 | – | – |
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