Nyahururu athletes on the weekend had a rare opportunity to sample Ekiden running, a popular Japanese relay race, following a demonstration event organised by a young Japanese athlete, Sushi Takamura, who is on a mission to spread the Ekiden race culture across the world.
Ekiden racing is a long-distance road relay event that is highly popular in Japan, where it is held annually as a national competition, especially on New Year’s Day.
The sport is also common in inter-school and inter-university competitions and has steadily gained international recognition. In the past, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) staged four editions of the World Road Relay Championships beginning in 1992, with the inaugural event held in Hiroshima.
Unlike traditional track relays where athletes exchange batons, Ekiden runners pass a sash known as a tasuki. While the rules are largely similar to those of standard relay races, dropping the sash results in automatic disqualification of the team.
Sushi Takamura has previously introduced the Ekiden culture in the Philippines, where a demonstration race was held before he travelled to Kenya in mid-December last year. His visit to Nyahururu marked the first time the event was staged in the town.
The Nyahururu Ekiden race featured a 4-kilometre loop along the town’s eastern bypass and attracted 17 teams. Each team comprised five runners, including four men and one woman.
The winning team, made up of Amazon Kireu of Nala Club, marathoner Monica Ngige, USTN’s Sosion, Julius Mayani and Kiprono Rotich, clocked one hour, one minute and 23 seconds to take first place and were awarded Sh30,000.
Second place went to a team led by Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) cross-country champion Duncan Waweru, alongside Moses Kirimi, Stephen Maina, Francis Waiwa and Japan-based athlete Jacinta Nyokabi. They finished in 1:01.25 and shared Sh25,000.
The third position was claimed by a team of international athletes comprising Pius Karanja, George Kimontho, Alfred Kimathi, Martin Karoki and Susan Wanjiku, who completed the race in 1:02.39 to earn Sh15,000.
Prizes were awarded up to tenth place, with athletes in teams finishing seventh to tenth receiving Sh500 per person.
The race was further spiced up by the participation of two Korean runners, Sin Jinseok and Jang Ji Hoon, who teamed up with Grace Wangechi, David Muthama and Evans Kipngetich, although their team finished outside the prize bracket.
Sushi lauded the impressive turnout of athletes and spectators and promised to organise a larger Ekiden event in Kenya next year.
By Kimani Tirus
