Chinese girl completes cross-country run amid health worries

BEIJING -- An eight-year-old girl has completed a nearly two-month trek across China, amid sharp criticism of the young prodigy's coach father for endangering her health, state media said Monday.

Zhang Huimei arrived in Beijing on Sunday after running 3,558 kilometers (2,210 miles) from the southern province of Hainan in a journey that began on July 3, the Beijing News said.

Zhang, who dreams of competing in the Beijing Olympic marathon next year, has earned headlines with strong performances in a series of long-distance races this year.

These included a full marathon in Hainan in January in which she finished second among all female contestants despite still being just seven-years-old.

Her cross-country run, which her father Zhang Jianmin said was aimed at showing her Olympic spirit, has triggered media reports expressing concern over her health and the dangers of parents pushing young athletes too hard.

"I make the training fun for her. I don't push her. She loves to run. Many people don't understand us," the 54-year-old Zhang said, according to the Beijing News.

The youngster avoided comment to reporters in the capital upon her arrival, which her father blamed for the negative reports and heckling during the run, the paper said.

Zhang, who admits his wife left him in anger for pushing the girl too hard, was questioned by reporters about a cough that has plagued the schoolgirl throughout much of her trek through six provinces.

He attributed it to some seafood she ate early in the run.

Zhang vowed to push ahead with his daughter's development as a marathoner, including a planned run early next year from the Tibetan capital of Lhasa to the eastern city of Shanghai, an even greater distance than the just-completed run.

"Whether people oppose it or not, we will soldier on," he said.

Beijing will host the 2008 Olympic Games next August.