INDIANAPOLIS - Team USA departs for Chiba, Japan, on Thursday for the 2008 Chiba International Ekiden, to be held Monday, November 24. In addition to Team USA, the marathon relay will feature teams from ten nations including, Brazil, Canada, China, Ethiopia, Great Britain, Romania, Russia and Sweden.
Now in its 20th year, the format of the race features mixed teams of men and women running six alternating legs totaling 42.195 km as follows: 1st leg, Men 5 km; 2nd leg, Women 5 km; 3rd leg, Men 10 km; 4th leg, Women 5 km; 5th leg, Men 10 km; 6th leg, Women 7.195 km.
This year's team features three athletes with past Chiba experience as 2004 Olympian Dan Browne (Portland, Ore.); Carrie Messner Vickers (Vail, Colo.); and Ed Moran (Williamsburg, Va.) lead Team USA.
Other members of the 2008 squad include Sean Quigley (Braintree, Mass.); Tera Moody (Boulder, Colo.); Allison Grace (Blowing Rock, N.C.) and alternates Teresa McWalters (Cambridge, Mass.) and David Jankowski (Rochester Hills, Mich.).
Team USA finished fourth in the event last year behind host team and defending champion Japan.
For more information on the 2008 Chiba International Ekiden visit USATF.org.
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