Posted: November 21, 2007

Athletics (RWire): Team USA Set for International Chiba Ekiden on November 23

2007 marathon road relay event goes co-ed INDIANAPOLIS - (November 19, 2007) - Team USA departed for Chiba, Japan on Monday for the 2007 International Chiba Ekiden, to be held this Friday, November 23. In addition to Team USA, the 6-leg marathon relay will feature teams from Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, France and Great Britain. Ed Moran (Williamsburg, Va.), Ryan Sheehan (Rochester Hills, Mich.) and Josh Moen (Waterloo, Iowa), all members of last year's bronze medal U.S. men's team, along with 2006 women's team member Desiree Davila (Rochester Hills, Mich.) will return to Chiba to lead Team USA's combined team. Other members of the 2007 squad include Melissa White (Rochester Hills, Mich.), Stephanie Rothstein (Eugene, Ore.), Casey Owens (Des Moines, Iowa) and Scott Bauhs (Danville, Calif.). Now in its 19th year, for the first time, the format of the race has been revised to feature mixed teams of men and women running six alternating legs totaling 42.195K or 26.2 miles as follows: 1st leg, Men 5K; 2nd leg, Women 5K; 3rd leg, Men 10K; 4th leg, Women 5K; 5th leg, Men 10K and 6th leg, Women 7.195K. Kenya, the defending men's and women's team champions, will be returning this year. Osaka World Championships women's marathon gold medalist Catherine Ndereba will lead the combined team in its attempt for a third straight victory. For more information on the International Chiba Ekiden, visit: USATF.org. Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director (805) 696-6232; Fax = (805) 659-0016 Ryan@RunningUSA.org www.RunningUSA.org. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest