Jesse Squire | On 01, Jan 2014

In Japan, the New Year is for running fans.

Happy New Year and welcome to our new feature, our daily afternoon news roundup. You can expect to see a roundup of the day’s track and running news each afternoon at about 3:00 (Eastern time).

Today’s news is mostly results from various New Year’s Eve races around the globe…

The 58th Sao Silvestre International 10km race in Luanda, Angola, was hot (90°) and humid. Kenyan Stanley Biwott won over a tough field that included Yenew Alamirew, Edwin Kipyego and Zersenay Tadese. The women’s race went to Priscah Jeptoo, the reigning New York City marathon champion.
More from the IAAF

The men’s 10k race at the Boclassic Sylvesterlauf in Bolzano, Italy, went down to the wire. Imane Merga held off Wilson Kiprop by a tenth of a second. The women’s 5k race was won by miler Maryam Jamal, who pulled away from World 10k silver medalist Gladys Cherono over the last 300 meters.
More from EthioSports

In Madrid, the San Silvestre Vallecana 10k races were won by 15k world record holder Leonard Komon and former World 10k champion Linet Masai, both by large margins.
More from the IAAF

In Sao Paulo, Brazil, the 89th Corrida Internacional de São Silvestre 15k went to Edwin Kipsang Rotich and Nancy Kipron.
More from Zeenews India

And in Maebashi, Japan, the New Year Ekiden, a seven-leg 100 kilometer relay race between corporate men’s teams, was won by the Konica Minolta team for the second straight year. Next up is the Hakone Ekiden on January 2 and 3, a two-day 218km college men’s relay which is just as popular in Japan as March Madness is in the USA.
More from Japan Running News

Today’s video of the day: the dramatic finish of the 2011 Hakone Ekiden