JAPAN, 16 February 2004 — Benita Johnson of Australia defeated two-time Olympic 10,000-meter champion Derartu Tulu of Ethiopia to win the women’s race for a third year running at the Chiba International Cross Country yesterday.
The men’s 12-kilometer race was won by Japanese-based high-school student Samuel Wanjiru, who led a Kenyan 1-2-3 finish in 35 minutes four seconds, ahead of James Mwangi in 35.16 and 1999 winner Julius Kiptoo in 35.37.
Johnson, eighth in the World Championships 10,000m last year, always kept a few steps lead in a tip-to-toe battle against Tulu, and started to out-distance the Ethiopian steadily in the last kilometer of the 6km race.
The 24-year-old Australian timed 18.38, and Tuku, the Barcelona and Sydney Olympic 10,000 gold medalist, came in second in 18.50.
Ayumi Hashimoto was third in 19.25, followed by fellow Japanese Yoshiko Ichikawa in 19.26.
Ramaala Wins Marathon in Bombay
South Africa’s Hendrik Ramaala braved heat and humidity to lead an African sweep of the men’s international marathon in Bombay yesterday. The 32-year-old broke away in the last 10 km of the route through the streets of Bombay to win the race comfortably in two hours 15 minutes 47 seconds.
Julius Sugut of Kenya was second in 2:16.36 with Tanzania’s Lucian Hombo (2:16:50) a close third. Ramaala’s compatriot and 1996 Olympic gold medalist Josiah Thugwane dropped out midway through the race.
