2006 IAAF World Road Running Championships
Team results -- Men 's
Table:
Rank
Country
Team
Time

Kenya
Robert Kipkorir Kipchumba
Wilson Kiprotich Kebenei
Wilfred Taragon
2:51:18

Eritrea
Zersenay Tadesse
Yonas Kifle
Tesfayohannes Mesfen
2:53:19

Ethiopia
Deriba Merga
Tadesse Tola
Demssew Tsega
2:54:17

4
Qatar
Mubarak Hassan Shami
Essa Ismail Rashed
Jamal Bilal Salem
2:54:59

5
Uganda
Wilson Busienei
Martin Toroitich
James Kibet
2:55:27

6
United States
Ryan Hall
Andrew Carlson
Max King
2:58:32

7
France
James Theuri
Moulay Ali Ouadih
Ibrahim Fouliyeh
3:00:09

8
Japan
Kazuo Ietani
Masayuki Tomura
Masatoshi Ibata
3:00:50

9
Italy
Migidio Bourifa
Antonello Petrei
Fabio Mascheroni
3:01:00

10
South Africa
Lusapho April
Enos Matalane
Norman Dlomo
3:01:11

11
Spain
Iván Hierro
Iván Galán
Rafael Iglesias
3:01:24

12
Brazil
João de Lima
Adriano Fortes
Elson Gracioli
3:03:57

13
Hungary
Tamás Tóth
Balázs Csillag
Roland Kedves
3:09:41

Taking into account the given table along with the context paragraphs listed at the end.

Provide an answer to this question: What is the birthdate of the runner who specializes in the 10,000 metres from a nation that has a total area of approximately 117,600 km2 ? Output only the correct answer as {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Use only the information given.

Kenya ( /ˈkɛnjə/ ( listen ) ) , officially the Republic of Kenya ( Swahili : Jamhuri ya Kenya ) , is a country in Africa with 47 semiautonomous counties governed by elected governors . At 580,367 square kilometres ( 224,081 sq mi ) , Kenya is the world 's 48th largest country by total area . With a population of more than 47.6 million people , Kenya is the 29th most populous country . Kenya 's capital and largest city is Nairobi , while its oldest city and first capital is the coastal city of Mombasa . Kisumu City is the third largest city and also an inland port on Lake Victoria . Other important urban centres include Nakuru and Eldoret . Kenya is bordered by South Sudan to the northwest , Ethiopia to the north , Somalia to the east , Uganda to the west , Tanzania to the south , and the Indian Ocean to the southeast . According to archaeological dating of associated artifacts and skeletal material , the Cushites first settled in the lowlands of Kenya between 3,200 and 1,300 BC , a phase referred to as the Lowland Savanna Pastoral Neolithic . Nilotic-speaking pastoralists ( ancestral to Kenya 's Nilotic speakers ) started migrating from present-day southern Sudan into Kenya around 500 BC . European colonisation of Kenya began in the 19th century during the European exploration of the interior . Modern-day Kenya emerged from a protectorate established by the British Empire in 1895 and the subsequent Kenya Colony , which began in 1920 . Numerous disputes between the UK and the colony led to the Mau Mau revolution , which began in 1952 , and the subsequent declaration of independence in 1963 .
Robert Kipkorir Kipchumba ( born February 2 , 1984 in Kaptul , Marakwet District ) is a Kenyan long-distance track , and road running athlete .
Wilson Kiprotich Kebenei ( born 20 July 1980 ) is a Kenyan long-distance runner . He is a Nandi by ethnicity . He finished eighth at the 2004 World Half Marathon Championships . At the 2006 World Road Running Championships he finished third in the individual competition . This was good enough to help Kenya win a gold medal in the team competition . Among his victories on the circuit are the Stramilano Half Marathon and Giro di Castelbuono in 2005 , and victories at the World 's Best 10K in Puerto Rico and Philadelphia Half Marathon in 2006 . He was also fourth at the Beijing Marathon that year .
Wilfred Kipkoech Taragon ( born 25 February 1985 ) is a Kenyan long-distance runner . He finished seventh in 10,000 metres at the 2006 African Championships . At the 2006 World Road Running Championships he finished fifth in the individual competition . This was good enough to help Kenya win the team competition . In 2005 Taragon won the Bristol Half Marathon , and Lake Vyrnwy Half Marathon
Eritrea ( /ˌɛrɪˈtreɪə , ˌɛrɪˈtriːə/ ( listen ) officially the State of Eritrea ) , is a country in the Horn of Africa in East Africa , with its capital at Asmara . It is bordered by Sudan in the west , Ethiopia in the south , and Djibouti in the southeast . The northeastern and eastern parts of Eritrea have an extensive coastline along the Red Sea . The nation has a total area of approximately 117,600 km2 ( 45,406 sq mi ) , and includes the Dahlak Archipelago and several of the Hanish Islands . Eritrea is a multi-ethnic country , with nine recognized ethnic groups in its population of around 3 million . Eritrea has nine national languages which are Tigrinya language , Tigre , Afar , Beja , Bilen , Kunama , Nara , Saho . Tigrinya , Arabic , and English serve as the three working languages . Most residents speak languages from the Afroasiatic family , either of the Ethiopian Semitic languages or Cushitic branches . Among these communities , the Tigrinyas make up about 55% of the population , with the Tigre people constituting around 30% of inhabitants . In addition , there are a number of Nilo-Saharan-speaking Nilotic ethnic minorities . Most people in the territory adhere to Islam or Christianity . The Kingdom of Aksum , covering much of modern-day Eritrea and northern Ethiopia , was established during the first or second centuries AD .
Zersenay Tadese [ nb ] ( Tigrinya : ዘርእሰናይ ታደሰ ; born 8 February 1982 ) is an Eritrean long-distance track and road running athlete . He held the men 's half marathon world record from 2010 to 2018 . His bronze medal in the 10,000 metres at the 2004 Athens Olympics made him the first ever Eritrean Olympic medallist , and his 20-km title at the 2006 IAAF World Road Running Championships also made him the country 's first athlete to win at a world championship event . He does not use a sprint finish to win races ; his strategy relies on a combination of efficient running and fast pace setting . Zersenay ( Tadese is his father 's name ) has found most of his success in the half marathon , with four consecutive victories in the World Half Marathon Championships from 2006 to 2009 ( with a 2006 20km edition ) , a silver medal in 2010 and a fifth title in 2012 . His 5 titles are a record . He set a world record at the Lisbon Half Marathon in 2010 . He has also excelled in cross country running , winning a gold , a silver , and two bronze medals in the long distance race over five IAAF World Cross Country Championships . He is a four-time Olympian ( 2004 , 2008 , 2012 and 2016 ) . In 2009 , Zersenay became only the second man ( after Paul Tergat ) to win three World Championship medals over three different surfaces in the same year , winning World Cross Country bronze , 10,000 metres World Championship silver on the track , and gold in road running at the World Half Marathon Championships . He is a popular public figure in his home country ; 2500 guests attended his wedding to Merhawit Solomon , which was broadcast live on Eritrean television . His brother , Kidane Tadese , is also a professional distance runner .
Yonas Andebrhan Kifle ( born 5 November 1977 ) is an Eritrean runner who specializes in the 10,000 metres , the marathon and cross-country running . He has represented Eritrea at the Olympics on four occasions ; in 2000 , 2004 , 2008 and 2012 . He has also competed at World Championship-level in cross country , road running , and on the track indoors and outdoors . He was the bronze medallist in the half marathon at the 2007 All-Africa Games and the 2005 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships . His personal bests include 59:30 minutes for the half marathon and 2:07:34 hours for the marathon ( an Eritrean record ) .
Tesfayohannes Mesfin ( born November 24 , 1974 ) is an Eritrean runner who specializes in the half marathon and cross-country running . He has several top-25 placements in global competitions . At the 2004 World Cross Country Championships he finished 22nd in the long race and also won a bronze medal with the Eritrean team . He followed up with a 20th place at the 2005 World Cross Country Championships and a ninth place at the 2006 World Cross Country Championships . He finished 21st at the 2004 World Half Marathon Championships , 12th at the 2005 World Half Marathon Championships ( team silver medal ) and 21st at the 2006 World Road Running Championships ( team silver medal ) . In track competitions he has a sixth place from the 10,000 metres at the 2006 African Championships . He also placed more lowly at the 2002 World Cross Country Championships , the 2003 World Cross Country Championships , the 2003 World Half Marathon Championships , the 2009 World Championships and the 2010 World Cross Country Championships . He competed but did not finish the 2008 Olympic maraton . His personal best times are 13:27.06 minutes in the 5000 metres ( Seville , 2006 ) ; 28:19.88 minutes in the 10,000 metres ( Bambous , 2006 ) ; 1:03:08 hours in the half marathon ( Edmonton , 2005 ) and 2:12:17 hours in the marathon ( Hamburg Marathon , 2008 ) . He was born in Eritrea ኤርትራ , Seraye ሰራየ , Tekhela፣ ተኸላ in the village Dibezana ፣ ድበዛና and now lives in Bodø , Norway .
Ethiopia ( /ˌiːθiˈoʊpiə/ ; Amharic : ኢትዮጵያ , ʾĪtyōṗṗyā , listen ( help·info ) , Tigrinya : ኢትዮጵያ , Oromo : Itiyoophiyaa , Somali : Itoobiya , Afar : Itiyoophiyaa ) , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia , is a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa . It shares borders with Eritrea to the north , Djibouti to the northeast , Somalia , and the de facto state of Somaliland to the east , Kenya to the south , South Sudan to the west and Sudan to the northwest . With over 109 million inhabitants , Ethiopia is the most populous landlocked country in the world and the second-most populous nation on the African continent with a total area of 1,100,000 square kilometres ( 420,000 sq mi ) . Its capital and largest city is Addis Ababa , which lies a few miles west of the East African Rift that splits the country into the Nubian and Somali tectonic plates . Some of the oldest skeletal evidence for anatomically modern humans has been found in Ethiopia . It is widely considered as the region from which modern humans first set out for the Middle East and places beyond . According to linguists , the first Afroasiatic-speaking populations settled in the Horn region during the ensuing Neolithic era . Tracing its roots to the 2nd millennium BCE , Ethiopia 's governmental system was a monarchy for most of its history . Oral literature tells that the monarchy was founded by the Solomonic dynasty of the Queen of Sheba , under its first king , Menelik I . In the first centuries , the Kingdom of Aksum maintained a unified civilization in the region , followed by the Ethiopian Empire circa 1137 . During the late 19th-century Scramble for Africa , Ethiopia and Liberia were two nations that preserved their sovereignty from long-term colonisation by a European colonial power and many newly-independent nations on the continent subsequently adopted its flag colours . However , the country was later occupied by Italy in 1936 and became Italian Ethiopia ( part of Italian East Africa ) until it was liberated during World War II .
Deriba Merga Ejigu ( Amharic : ደርባ መርጋ አጅጉ ; born 26 October 1980 ) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner . He mainly competes in the marathon . He finished fourth in that event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and went on to win the Boston Marathon the following year . His personal best for the distance is 2:06:38 hours . He also competes in half marathon races and his time of 59:14 minutes in 2008 was the fastest that year . He won the 2006 Paris Half Marathon and took the gold medal at the 2007 All-Africa Games a year later .
Tadese Tola ( born 31 October 1987 in Addis Ababa ) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner . He has represented Ethiopia at World championship level in cross country , road running , and on the track . He made his first impact in 2006 , helping the Ethiopian teams to bronze medals in the junior race at the 2006 IAAF World Cross Country Championships and the 20 km race at the 2006 IAAF World Road Running Championships . He won a silver medal at the All-Africa Games in the 10,000 metres and ran at the 2007 World Championships . He has largely focused on road running since 2008 , scoring wins at the New York City Half Marathon and San Silvestre Vallecana . He made his marathon debut in 2009 at the Chicago Marathon and won on his second attempt at the Paris Marathon . He was the bronze medallist in the marathon at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics .
Qatar ( /ˈkætɑːr/ , /ˈkɑːtɑːr/ ( listen ) , /ˈkɑːtər/ or /kəˈtɑːr/ ( listen ) ; Arabic : قطر Qaṭar [ ˈqɑtˤɑr ] ; local vernacular pronunciation : [ ˈɡɪtˤɑr ] ) , officially the State of Qatar ( Arabic : دولة قطر Dawlat Qaṭar ) , is a country located in Western Asia , occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula . Whether the sovereign state should be regarded as a constitutional monarchy or an absolute monarchy is disputed . Its sole land border is with neighbouring Gulf Cooperation Council ( GCC ) monarchy Saudi Arabia to the south , with the rest of its territory surrounded by the Persian Gulf . The Gulf of Bahrain , an inlet of the Persian Gulf , separates Qatar from nearby Bahrain . In early 2017 , Qatar 's total population was 2.6 million : 313,000 Qatari citizens and 2.3 million expatriates . Islam is the official religion of Qatar . The country has the highest per capita income in the world . Qatar is classified by the UN as a country of very high human development and is widely regarded as the most advanced Arab state for human development . Qatar is a high-income economy , backed by the world 's third-largest natural gas reserves and oil reserves . Qatar has been ruled by the House of Thani since Mohammed bin Thani signed a treaty with the British in 1868 that recognised its separate status . Following Ottoman rule , Qatar became a British protectorate in the early 20th century until gaining independence in 1971 . In 2003 , the constitution was overwhelmingly approved in a referendum , with almost 98% in favour .
Mubarak Hassan Shami ( Arabic : مبارك حسن شامي , born Richard Yatich on December 1 , 1980 ) is a Kenyan-born Qatari long-distance runner . He specializes in half marathon and marathon races .
Essa Ismail Rashed ( Arabic : عيسى اسماعيل راشد ; born Daniel Kipkosgei on 14 December 1986 ) is a long-distance runner now representing Qatar after his switch from Kenya in 2004 . He represented his adopted country at the 2008 Summer Olympics and the World Championships in Athletics in 2005 and 2007 . He is coached by the Italian Renato Canova . In 10,000 metres he won a gold medal at the 2005 Asian Championships in Incheon and a silver medal at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha . He came twentieth in the 10,000 metres at the 2008 Beijing Olympics . He was the 5000 m bronze medallist at the 2009 Asian Athletics Championships and went on to claim another bronze over 3000 m at the 2009 Asian Indoor Games later that year . Rashed ran an Asian indoor record for the 5000 m at the PSD Bank Meeting in Düsseldorf in 2010 , running a time of 13:19.10 minutes . Later that month he was just pipped to the gold in the 3000 m by teammate James Kwalia at the 2010 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships . He gained selection for the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships and came ninth in the 3000 m final . He claimed a consecutive silver medal in the 10,000 m at the 2010 Asian Games . He ran a personal best in the marathon at the 2012 Amsterdam Marathon , coming eleventh with his run of 2:09:22 hours .
Gamal Belal Salem ( born Kipkemoi Katui on 12 September 1978 in Eldoret , Kenya ) is a Qatari runner who specializes in the 3000 metres steeplechase , training with the world record holder Saif Saaeed Shaheen under the Italian coach Renato Canova . He has represented Qatar at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships on numerous occasions , including two team bronze medals at the 2005 competition and one at the 2008 competition . He won the 10,000 metres at the 2005 West Asian Games , and was also the 5000 metres silver medallist . He was also the silver medallist in the steeplechase at the 2006 Asian Games , where he finished behind fellow Kenyan-turned-Qatari Tareq Mubarak Taher . He won the World Military Cross Country Championships that same year . From 2009 onwards , he decided to run road races , leaving the activity on track . He made his debut over the marathon distance at La Route Du Louvre in May 2010 and won in a time of 2:12:46 hours . He ran at the Amatrice-Configno road race in Italy in August 2010 and took second place behind former compatriot and steeplechase specialist Ezekiel Kemboi . He entered the marathon race at the 2010 Asian Games , but did not manage finish the race . Salem improved his marathon best to 2:12:27 hours at the 2011 Madrid Marathon and was fourth overall .
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda ( Swahili : Jamhuri ya Uganda ; Luganda : Eggwanga Yuganda ) is a landlocked country in East-Central Africa . It is bordered to the east by Kenya , to the north by South Sudan , to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo , to the south-west by Rwanda , and to the south by Tanzania . The southern part of the country includes a substantial portion of Lake Victoria , shared with Kenya and Tanzania . Uganda is in the African Great Lakes region . Uganda also lies within the Nile basin , and has a varied but generally a modified equatorial climate . Uganda takes its name from the Buganda kingdom , which encompasses a large portion of the south of the country , including the capital Kampala . The people of Uganda were hunter-gatherers until 1,700 to 2,300 years ago , when Bantu-speaking populations migrated to the southern parts of the country . Beginning in 1894 , the area was ruled as a protectorate by the UK , who established administrative law across the territory . Uganda gained independence from the UK on 9 October 1962 . The period since then has been marked by violent conflicts , including an 8-year-long far right military dictatorship led by Idi Amin . Additionally , a lengthy civil war against the Lord 's Resistance Army in the Northern Region led by Joseph Kony , has caused hundreds of thousands of casualties . The official languages are English and Swahili , although any other language may be used as a medium of instruction in schools or other educational institutions or for legislative , administrative or judicial purposes as may be prescribed by law .
Wilson Kipkemei Busienei ( born 18 August 1981 in Nakasongola ) is an Ugandan long-distance runner . He is best known for winning three gold medals at the 2005 Summer Universiade . He has represented his country at the World Championship level in cross country running and road running and on the track . He took part in the 2004 Summer Olympics , finishing eleventh in the 10,000 metres . Busienei has also competed at the Commonwealth Games , having taken fifth in the 10,000 m in 2006 . He ran at the 2010 Giro al Sas 10,000 m race in Italy in October and crossed the line after Edwin Soi to finish as runner-up .
Martin Kitiyo Toroitich ( born 10 August 1983 in Kurongur ) is a Ugandan long-distance runner who specializes in the half marathon . His younger brother Boniface Kiprop Toroitich is a successful Ugandan runner .
The United States of America ( USA ) , commonly known as the United States ( U.S. or US ) or America , is a country consisting of 50 states , a federal district , five major self-governing territories , and various possessions . [ g ] At 3.8 million square miles ( 9.8 million km2 ) , it is the world 's third or fourth-largest country by total area [ b ] and is slightly smaller than the entire continent of Europe . Most of the country is located in central North America between Canada and Mexico . With an estimated population of over 328 million , the U.S. is the third most populous country in the world . The capital is Washington , D.C. , and the most populous city is New York City . Paleo-Indians migrated from Siberia to the North American mainland at least 12,000 years ago . European colonization began in the 16th century . The United States emerged from the thirteen British colonies established along the East Coast . Numerous disputes between Great Britain and the colonies led to the American Revolutionary War lasting between 1775 and 1783 , leading to independence . The United States embarked on a vigorous expansion across North America throughout the 19th century - gradually acquiring new territories , displacing Native Americans , and admitting new states - until by 1848 it spanned the continent . During the second half of the 19th century , the American Civil War led to the abolition of slavery in the United States . The Spanish-American War and World War I confirmed the country 's status as a global military power .
Ryan Hall ( born October 14 , 1982 in Kirkland , Washington ) is a retired American long-distance runner who holds the U.S. record in the half marathon . With his half marathon record time ( 59:43 ) , he became the first U.S. runner to break the one-hour barrier in the event . He is also the only American to run a sub-2:05 marathon ( 2:04:58 at the 2011 Boston marathon ) . However , this time is not eligible to be a record due to the course being point-to-point and a net-downhill course . Hall won the marathon at the 2008 United States Olympic Trials and placed tenth in the Olympic marathon in Beijing .
Max King ( born February 24 , 1980 ) is an American ultra-marathoner . He was the winner at the 2014 IAU 100 km World Championships and the 2011 World Mountain Running Championships . King earned the bronze medal at the 2016 NACAC Cross Country Championships / Pan American Cross Country Cup . He has also won numerous national titles at various distances ranging from half marathon to ultra marathons . In addition , he has won multiple national runner of the year awards . King graduated from Cornell University in 2002 , where he was a member of the Quill and Dagger society .
France ( French : [ fʁɑ̃s ] ( listen ) ) , officially the French Republic ( French : République française , pronounced [ ʁepyblik fʁɑ̃sɛːz ] ( listen ) ) , is a country whose territory consists of metropolitan France in Western Europe and several overseas regions and territories . [ XIII ] The metropolitan area of France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea , and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean . It is bordered by Belgium , Luxembourg and Germany to the northeast , Switzerland and Italy to the east , and Andorra and Spain to the south . The overseas territories include French Guiana in South America and several islands in the Atlantic , Pacific and Indian oceans . The country 's 18 integral regions ( five of which are situated overseas ) span a combined area of 643,801 square kilometres ( 248,573 sq mi ) and a total population of 67.02 million ( as of July 2019 [ update ] ) . France is a unitary semi-presidential republic with its capital in Paris , the country 's largest city and main cultural and commercial centre . Other major urban areas include Lyon , Marseille , Toulouse , Bordeaux , Lille and Nice . France , including its overseas territories , has the most number of time zones of any country , with a total of 12 . During the Iron Age , what is now metropolitan France was inhabited by the Gauls , a Celtic people . Rome annexed the area in 51 BC , holding it until the arrival of Germanic Franks in 476 , who formed the Kingdom of Francia . The Treaty of Verdun of 843 partitioned Francia into East Francia , Middle Francia and West Francia . West Francia , which became the Kingdom of France in 987 , emerged as a major European power in the Late Middle Ages , following its victory in the Hundred Years ' War ( 1337-1453 ) .
James Theuri ( born October 30 , 1978 in Kanjinji , Kenya ) is a French athlete who specialises in the marathon . Theuri competed at the 2009 World Athletics Championships .
Japan ( Japanese : 日本 , Nippon [ ɲippoꜜɴ ] ( listen ) or Nihon [ ɲihoꜜɴ ] ( listen ) ) is an island country located in East Asia . It is bordered by the Sea of Japan to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east , and spans more than 3,000 kilometers ( 1,900 mi ) along the coast of the continent from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Philippine Sea in the south . Part of the Pacific Ring of Fire , Japan encompasses a stratovolcanic archipelago of about 6,852 islands , with five main islands ( Hokkaido , Honshu , Kyushu , Shikoku , and Okinawa ) comprising 97% of the country 's total area of 377,975 square kilometers ( 145,937 sq mi ) . Japan is officially divided into 47 prefectures and traditionally into eight regions . Approximately two-thirds of the country 's terrain is mountainous and heavily forested , and less than one-eighth of land is suitable for agriculture . Consequently , Japan is among the most densely populated and urbanized countries in the world , with over 90% of its population living in urban areas . The largest of these is the metropolitan area centered on the capital city of Tokyo , which is the most populous in the world and home to more than 38 million people . Japan itself is the world 's eleventh most populous country with a population of 126.2 million , of which 97.8% are ethnically Japanese . The kanji ( or Chinese characters ) that make up the name of Japan in the Japanese language mean sun origin ; in the Western world , the country is often known by the sobriquet Land of the Rising Sun . Periods of influence from other regions , primarily China , followed by periods of isolation , particularly from Western Europe , have characterized the history of Japan . While archaeological evidence indicates that Japan was inhabited as early as the Upper Paleolithic period , the first written mention of the archipelago appears in Chinese texts from the first century AD . Between the fourth and ninth centuries , the kingdoms of Japan became gradually unified under an Emperor and imperial court based in Heian-kyō ( modern Kyoto ) .
Kazuo Ietani ( born 25 August 1977 ) is a Japanese long-distance runner who specializes in the half marathon . He finished eighth at the 2005 World Half Marathon Championships , which was good enough to help Japan finish third in the team competition . His personal best time is 1:02:18 hours , achieved in March 2007 in Yamaguchi . In the 10,000 metres his personal best time is 28:34.04 minutes , achieved in April 2007 in Kobe .
Italy ( Italian : Italia [ iˈtaːlja ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Italian Republic ( Italian : Repubblica Italiana [ reˈpubblika itaˈljaːna ] ) , is a European country consisting of a peninsula delimited by the Alps and surrounded by several islands . Italy is located in south-central Europe , and it is also considered a part of Western Europe . The country covers a total area of 301,340 km2 ( 116,350 sq mi ) and shares land borders with France , Switzerland , Austria , Slovenia , and the enclaved microstates of Vatican City and San Marino . Italy has a territorial exclave in Switzerland ( Campione ) and a maritime exclave in the Tunisian Sea ( Lampedusa ) . With around 60 million inhabitants , Italy is the third-most populous member state of the European Union . The capital and largest city is Rome ; other major cities are Milan , Naples , Turin , Palermo , Genoa , Bologna , Florence and Venice . Due to its central geographic location in Southern Europe and the Mediterranean , Italy has historically been home to myriad peoples and cultures . In addition to the various ancient peoples dispersed throughout what is now modern-day Italy , the most predominant being the Indo-European Italic peoples who gave the peninsula its name , beginning from the classical era , Phoenicians and Carthaginians founded colonies mostly in insular Italy , Greeks established settlements in the so-called Magna Graecia of Southern Italy , while Etruscans and Celts inhabited central and northern Italy respectively . An Italic tribe known as the Latins formed the Roman Kingdom in the 8th century BC , which eventually became a republic with a government of the Senate and the People . The Roman Republic initially conquered and assimilated its neighbours on the Italian peninsula , eventually expanding and conquering parts of Europe , North Africa and Asia . By the first century BC , the Roman Empire emerged as the dominant power in the Mediterranean Basin and became a leading cultural , political and religious centre , inaugurating the Pax Romana , a period of more than 200 years during which Italy 's law , technology , economy , art , and literature developed . Italy remained the homeland of the Romans and the metropole of the empire , whose legacy can also be observed in the global distribution of culture , governments , Christianity and the Latin script .
Migidio Bourifa ( born 31 January 1969 at Casablanca ) is an Italian long-distance runner who specializes in the marathon races .
South Africa , officially the Republic of South Africa ( RSA ) , is the southernmost country in Africa . It is bounded to the south by 2,798 kilometres ( 1,739 mi ) of coastline of Southern Africa stretching along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans ; to the north by the neighbouring countries of Namibia , Botswana , and Zimbabwe ; and to the east and northeast by Mozambique and Eswatini ( Swaziland ) ; and it surrounds the enclaved country of Lesotho . South Africa is the largest country in Southern Africa and the 24th-largest country in the world by land area and , with over 58 million people , is also the world 's 24th-most populous nation . It is the southernmost country on the mainland of the Old World or the Eastern Hemisphere . About 80 percent of South Africans are of Bantu ancestry , divided among a variety of ethnic groups speaking different African languages , nine of which have official status . The remaining population consists of Africa 's largest communities of European , Asian ( Indian ) , and multiracial ( Coloured ) ancestry . South Africa is a multiethnic society encompassing a wide variety of cultures , languages , and religions . Its pluralistic makeup is reflected in the constitution 's recognition of 11 official languages , which is the fourth-highest number in the world . Two of these languages are of European origin : Afrikaans developed from Dutch and serves as the first language of most coloured and white South Africans ; English reflects the legacy of British colonialism , and is commonly used in public and commercial life , though it is fourth-ranked as a spoken first language . The country is one of the few in Africa never to have had a coup d'état , and regular elections have been held for almost a century . However , the vast majority of black South Africans were not enfranchised until 1994 . During the 20th century , the black majority sought to claim more rights from the dominant white minority , with this struggle playing a large role in the country 's recent history and politics .
Lusapho Lesly April ( born 1982 ) is a South African long-distance runner . He was born in Uitenhage . He competed in the marathon at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London , but managed only 43rd place after falling mid-race . He set a national record in 25 km road running ( 1:15:02 ) in 2010 . He is a two-time winner at the Two Oceans Half Marathon . He set a course record at the 2013 Hannover Marathon , winning in a personal best time of 2:08:32 hours . He was the third-place finisher at the 2013 New York City Marathon . He competed in the men 's marathon at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro . He finished in 24th place with a time of 2:15:24 .
Norman Dlomo ( born 18 April 1975 in Vereeniging , Gauteng ) is a South African long-distance runner . Dlomo finished tenth at the 2005 World Half Marathon Championships . He competed in the marathon at the 2007 World Championships , but did not finish the race .
Spain ( Spanish : España [ esˈpaɲa ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Kingdom of Spain ( Spanish : Reino de España ) , [ a ] [ b ] is a country in Southwestern Europe with some pockets of Spanish territory across the Strait of Gibraltar and the Atlantic Ocean . Its continental European territory is situated on the Iberian Peninsula . Its territory also includes two archipelagoes : the Canary Islands off the coast of Africa , and the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea . The African enclaves of Ceuta , Melilla , and Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera make Spain the only European country to have a physical border with an African country ( Morocco ) . [ h ] Several small islands in the Alboran Sea are also part of Spanish territory . The country 's mainland is bordered to the south and east by the Mediterranean Sea except for a small land boundary with Gibraltar ; to the north and northeast by France , Andorra , and the Bay of Biscay ; and to the west and northwest by Portugal and the Atlantic Ocean . With an area of 505,990 km2 ( 195,360 sq mi ) , Spain is the largest country in Southern Europe , the second largest country in Western Europe and the European Union , and the fourth largest country in the European continent . By population ( about 47 million ) , Spain is the sixth largest in Europe and the fifth in the European Union . Spain 's capital and largest city is Madrid ; other major urban areas include Barcelona , Valencia , Seville , Zaragoza , Málaga and Bilbao . Modern humans first arrived in the Iberian Peninsula around 35,000 years ago . Iberian cultures along with ancient Phoenician , Greek , Celtic and Carthaginian settlements developed on the peninsula until it came under Roman rule around 200 BCE , after which the region was named Hispania , based on the earlier Phoenician name Sp ( a ) n or Spania . At the end of the Western Roman Empire the Germanic tribal confederations migrated from Central Europe , invaded the Iberian peninsula and established relatively independent realms in its western provinces , including the Suebi , Alans and Vandals .
Rafael Iglesias ( born July 5 , 1979 ) is a Spanish long-distance runner who specialises in marathon running .
Brazil ( Portuguese : Brasil ; Portuguese pronunciation : [ bɾaˈziw ] ) , [ nt 1 ] officially the Federative Republic of Brazil ( Portuguese : República Federativa do Brasil , listen ( help·info ) ) , is the largest country in both South America and Latin America . At 8.5 million square kilometers ( 3.2 million square miles ) and with over 211 million people , Brazil is the world 's fifth-largest country by area and the sixth most populous . Its capital is Brasília , and its most populous city is São Paulo . The federation is composed of the union of the 26 states , the Federal District , and the 5,570 municipalities . It is the largest country to have Portuguese as an official language and the only one in the Americas ; it is also one of the most multicultural and ethnically diverse nations , due to over a century of mass immigration from around the world . Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east , Brazil has a coastline of 7,491 kilometers ( 4,655 mi ) . It borders all other countries in South America except Ecuador and Chile and covers 47.3% of the continent 's land area . Its Amazon River basin includes a vast tropical forest , home to diverse wildlife , a variety of ecological systems , and extensive natural resources spanning numerous protected habitats . This unique environmental heritage makes Brazil one of 17 megadiverse countries , and is the subject of significant global interest and debate regarding deforestation and environmental protection . Brazil was inhabited by numerous tribal nations prior to the landing in 1500 of explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral , who claimed the area for the Portuguese Empire . Brazil remained a Portuguese colony until 1808 , when the capital of the empire was transferred from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro . In 1815 , the colony was elevated to the rank of kingdom upon the formation of the United Kingdom of Portugal , Brazil and the Algarves .
Hungary ( Hungarian : Magyarország [ ˈmɒɟɒrorsaːɡ ] ( listen ) ) is a country in Central Europe . Spanning 93,030 square kilometres ( 35,920 sq mi ) in the Carpathian Basin , it borders Slovakia to the north , Ukraine to the northeast , Romania to the east and southeast , Serbia to the south , Croatia and Slovenia to the southwest , and Austria to the west . With about 10 million inhabitants , Hungary is a medium-sized member state of the European Union . The official language is Hungarian , which is the most widely spoken Uralic language in the world , and among the few non-Indo-European languages to be widely spoken in Europe . Hungary 's capital and largest city is Budapest ; other major urban areas include Debrecen , Szeged , Miskolc , Pécs and Győr . The territory of modern Hungary was for centuries inhabited by a succession of peoples , including Celts , Romans , Germanic tribes , Huns , West Slavs and the Avars . The foundations of the Hungarian state were established in the late ninth century CE by the Hungarian grand prince Árpád following the conquest of the Carpathian Basin . His great-grandson Stephen I ascended the throne in 1000 , converting his realm to a Christian kingdom . By the 12th century , Hungary became a regional power , reaching its cultural and political height in the 15th century . Following the Battle of Mohács in 1526 , Hungary was partially occupied by the Ottoman Empire ( 1541-1699 ) . It came under Habsburg rule at the turn of the 18th century , and later joined Austria to form the Austro-Hungarian Empire , a major European power . The Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed after World War I , and the subsequent Treaty of Trianon established Hungary 's current borders , resulting in the loss of 71% of its territory , 58% of its population , and 32% of ethnic Hungarians .
Tamás Tóth ( born 29 May 1989 ) is a Hungarian professional triathlete . Among the male Hungarian elite triathletes of the year 2010 , Tóth is number 6 in the Ranglista . Like Zsófia Tóth , he is supported by the National High Performance Scheme , Héraklész . He lives in Budapest and runs for Budaörsi Triatlon Klub Egyesület .
Balázs Csillag ( born 5 March 1979 ) is a Hungarian long-distance runner . He finished seventh in the 5000 metres at the 2002 European Championships , and also competed at the 2006 World Road Running Championships . His personal best times are 3:41.32 minutes in the 1500 metres , achieved in July 2002 in Győr ; 7:52.51 minutes in the 3000 metres , achieved in August 2002 in San Sebastián ; 13:26.96 minutes in the 5000 metres , achieved in July 2002 in Heusden-Zolder ; 29:38.64 minutes in the 10,000 metres , achieved in April 2006 in Antalya . The 5000 metres result is a Hungarian record .