Athletics Australia – News – Australia to battle it out at Chiba Ekiden Relay tomorrow

An Australian team of eight is readying to race in Japan this afternoon, as final preparations are made for the illustrious Chiba Ekiden Relay tomorrow.

Set to compete with the world’s best distance running nations in a relay that covers the 42.195km marathon course, the squad, which is led by team management Susan Andrews and Rod Griffin, will look to continue Australia’s strong history of success at the event.

Competing men are Jackson Elliott (Qld, 5km), Steve Kelly (Vic, 10km) and Anthony Aloisio (Vic, 10km), while the starting women are Bridey Delaney (NSW, 5km), Melissa Duncan (Vic, 5km) and Tarli Bird (Vic, 7.195km). Duer Yoa (Vic) and Sophie Barker (Vic) will join the team as travelling reserves.

Elliott is a three-time Queensland 5000m champion and a previous winner of the state title at the Queensland Cross-Country Championships, while Aloisio is the national under-23 cross-country champion. Kelly this year competed for Australia at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, placing 56th, and has previous Chiba Ekiden Relay experience from 2010 and 2011.

. Australian Flame Scott Westcott coaches Delaney and Duncan has previous international experience from the IAAF World Youth Championships, while Bird is making her debut.

As three-time winner of the men's event (1991, 1992, 1995), Australia has regularly fielded a successful team at the Chiba Ekiden Relay, an event held annually as part of Labor Thanksgiving Day celebrations in Japan.

Since the introduction of the revised format in 2007, when the race became a mixed gender event with a single title up for grabs, Australia has placed seventh on three occasions (2007, 2009, 2010), and scored its highest finish to date in 2008 when it crossed the line in fifth. 

Athletics Australia – News

For more information on the Chiba Ekiden Relay, please visit the event home page by clicking here.
 
A live stream is likely to be made available via watchathletics.com, with links and further details available by clicking here. 

Chiba Ekiden Relay
Chiba (JPN)
Saturday 23 November 2013

Men:
Jackson Elliott (QLD) – 5km
Steve Kelly (VIC) – 10km
Anthony Aloisio (VIC) – 10km
Duer Yoa (VIC) – Reserve

Women:
Bridey Delaney (NSW) – 5km
Melissa Duncan (VIC) – 5km
Tarli Bird (VIC) – 7.195km
Sophie Barker (VIC) – Reserve