Athletics: U.S. Women's Team Set for the Beijing International Ekiden

INDIANAPOLIS - (April 8, 2004) - USA Track & Field has announced the U.S. women's team for the Beijing International Women's Ekiden to be held on Sunday, April 11. The 26.2 mile road relay with six legs will be contested on the streets of Beijing, the Chinese capital and the 2008 Summer Games host city. Below are the team members with relay segment.

5 km - Sonja Friend-Uhl, 33, West Palm Beach, FL
10 km - Melissa White, 23, Rochester Hills, MI
5 km - Suzanne Weeder Einspahr, 33, Seward, NE
10 km - Leigh Daniel, 25, Rochester Hills, MI
5 km - Erin Dromgoole, 24, Boston, MA
7.195 km - Brianna Torres, 23, Phoenix, AZ
Alternate - Naoko Ishibe, 35, Silver Spring, MD

Coach/Team Leader - Kevin Hanson, Rochester Hills, MI

At the 1998 event, the women's world record for a six-member marathon road relay was set by the Chinese women with their 2:11:41. The best U.S. finish at the event has been third (2:21:55) in 1992.