Yomi Omogbeja (24/11/2004)

Ethiopia has won the International Chiba Ekiden for the third consecutive year.

The men's and women's teams swept to victories convincingly in 1 hour, 56 minutes and 57 seconds and 2 hours, 11 minutes and 54 seconds respectively.

Although both course times fell short of the record they set last year, Meregu Zewde and Meseret Defar demolished stage records.

Meregu Zewde tore off 21 seconds from the stage record set in 2003 by compatriot Markos Geneti as he flew over the 5Km fourth stage in 13:08.

Zewde said afterwards: "It was my first road race over 5Km and I expected to run around 13 minutes.

"However, 13:08 was still a good time. I was not even aware of the stage record."

Kenya led the way with Martin Mathathi their fastest runner by the end of the 10Km first stage.

But, it all changed at the about 5.4 km into the third stage when Ethiopia’s Gebre Gebremariam caught up with Julius Maina and Kenya was relegated to the second spot.

Zewde further increased Ethiopia’s lead with a spectacular run at the fourth stage to pave the way for an easy finish at the final 12.195Km stage for Abebe Dinkesa, who ran nearly a minute faster than Kenyan Josephat Ndimbiri.

Kenya placed second in 1:59:03 while Japan finished third for the third consecutive year with 2:01:43.

Defar’s day

The Olympic 5000m champion, Meseret Defar, knocked 28 seconds off the stage record set in 2002 by Liliya Vulkova when she ran the 4.676Km uphill course in 14:44.

Defar tore away from the field completely such that by the time World 5000m champion Tirunesh Dibaba took over at the final stage, the Ethiopian team was well assured of the Ekiden.

The starstudded team led by 21-year-old Defar include - Eyerusalem Kuma, Meselech Melkamu, Ejegayehu Dibaba, Sentayehu Ejigu, and Tirunesh Dibaba.

Japan finished second with 2:14:15 while Kenya placed third with 2:15:17.

The Ethiopian women’s team of Derartu Tulu, Denboba, Eyerusalem Kuma, Tirunesh Dibaba, Meseret Defar, and Werknesh Kidane broke the 10-year winning streak of the Japanese women’s team in 2002.

Official Chiba Ekiden 2004 Results

Men

1. Ethiopia 1:56:57
2. Kenya 1:59:03
3. Japan 2:01:43
4. Brazil 2:02:29
5. Sweden 2:02:42
6. Tanzania 2:03:42

Women

1. Ethiopia 2:11:54
2. Japan 2:14:15
3. Kenya 2:15:17
4. Russia 2:16:18
5. Romania 2:19:32
6. Australia 2:20:28