Yomi Omogbeja (20/11/2004)

Olympics 5000m champion Meseret Defar will lead a strong Ethiopian women’s team to defend their title at the annual International Chiba Ekiden in Japan on Tuesday 23 November 2004.

Defar, who makes her first competitive outing since winning the 3000m at World Athletics Final in September, will be joined by the Dibaba sisters Tirunesh and Ejegayehou, Werkinesh Kidane, Sentayehu Ejigu and Eyerusalem Kuma.

Veteran Werkinesh Kidane makes her fifth appearance in the Ekiden, for the women’s team, which beat Kenya by more than four minutes in last year’s competition.

Newcomer Sentayehu Ejigu is the only change from last year’s winning team after she replaced World 10,000m champion Berhane Adere.

The men’s team is missing Olympic 10,000m champion Kenenisa Bekele, silver medallist Sileshi Sihine and Great North Run course record holder Dejene Berhanu.

But, still look very formidable with Gebregziabher Gebremariam and World Indoor 3000m bronze medallist Markos Genetti keeping their place from last year.

Other team members are Addis Ababa Municipal 10,000m champion Abera Chane, Abebe Dinkessa, Abiyote Abate and Maeregu Zewde.