This was kind of amazing to watch. I especially liked the way they had those ribon baton things as they handed over.
UK has something a bit like this for clubs. Not as fast though.
This was kind of amazing to watch. I especially liked the way they had those ribon baton things as they handed over.
UK has something a bit like this for clubs. Not as fast though.
You caught me. How about latter half of the pack for the guys and dead last for the girls?
Did my calculations based on the Calvin College men multiple Div3 XC championships during the last 10 years and the women`s near titles (eg 2008).
Men`s side (ekiden team is 7 runners averaging 6028m):
In the men`s best year, Calvin`s top 7 averaged 30 seconds slower for 5k than the 2008 ekiden winner and 30 seconds faster than the 40th place team. Of course the high school boys set their 5k pace while running 6028m on the street; The Calvin times came from 5000m races on the track.
Women`s side (ekiden team is 5 runners averaging 4220m). Calvin women were Div3 runners-up in 2008; none of those girls are within 30 seconds of the Calvin all-time top 5 in 5000 meters. If the Calvin all-time top 5 could have run in the ekiden and all posted their best time, they would have averaged 67 seconds slower per 5k than the winning high school team and 6 seconds faster than the 40th place team. [caveat, the Japanese girls 5k pace might have been a wee bit slower if they had run a full 5000 meters]
btw, the top Japanese HS ekiden teams also had 2 or 3 more sub 15:00 boys and sub 17:00 girls in the corral who did not run. Can`t say the same for Calvin.
And don`t get me wrong; I am pretty much in awe of the Calvin program.