japan running news

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The article above lists the gold and silver medalists at the All-Africa Games 10000 m as Ebrahim Gashu of Ethiopia and Bernard Muchiri of Kenya.  According to the ARRS' competition rankings, these athletes are in fact Japan-based World Champion Ibrahim Jeilan Gashu (Team Honda) and Bitan Karoki Muchiri (Team S&B).  Both runners train in Saitama prefecture.  Ibrahim is cited as having won in 28:18.22, with Karoki just behind in 28:19.32.  Awaiting confirmation of official results.

Update: Ibrahim's coach Kiyoshi Akimoto just confirmed to JRN that Ibrahim did in fact win.

Update: Unofficial results.  These results list Karoki as 7th and Kenyan Kenneth Kipkemboi having taken silver, but that seems likely to be an accidental name reversal.

10000 m world champion Ibrahim Jeilan with Honda teammates. Photo by Takashi Horiguchi - click to enlarge.

In a tense and turbulent World Championships 10000 m full of turnover at the head of the pack, Saitama-based 2006 World Jr. 10000 m and 2008 World Jr. XC champion Ibrahim Jeilan (Ethiopia/Team Honda) pulled off a darkhorse win by running down world leader Mo Farah (Great Britain) in the home stretch to take his first senior world title.  In so doing he achieved the historic feat of becoming the first man to beat world record holder Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) over the 10000 m distance.  Jeilan's coach at Honda, Kiyoshi Akimoto, told JRN shortly after the race, "This result belongs to both Jeilan and the rest of the coaching staff.  He has taken the Japanese lifestyle and training methodology to heart deeply and is truly a superb athlete."

Jeilan also beat Japan-based Kenyans Martin Mathathi (Suzuki Hamamatsu AC), the 2007 World Championships bronze medalist and 10 m…