China claimed the 2006 Beijing International Relay Marathon
women's title while Kenya won men's event on Sunday.
The six-strong Chinese women squad, spearheaded by Seoul
Marathon winner Zhou Chunxiu, completed the 42.195-kilometer course
in two hours sixteen minutes and 43 seconds.
Defending champion Ethiopia finished second in 2:18:47, 1
minutes and 50 seconds ahead of third-placed Australia.
In men's race, Kenya clocked 2:02:59 for the title, leaving
Russia a far second in 2:06:02. China was the third in 2:06:22.
Winners of the men's and women's races, which started and
finished at the Tiananmen Square downtown, were awarded US$20,000
each.
According to the organizers, a record of about 4,000
international and local runners, including amateurs, took part in
the event of a 20-year history.
(Xinhua News Agency April 10, 2006)
