Yokohama Women's Ekiden webcast

Can you read Japanese? ;o)

Who do you want to know?

Are you in Japan with the girls? We'll see you in Boston.

Desiree: 15:51 (5k)-32:57 (10k)

Mellissa: 16:15 (5k)-32:42 (10k)

These are your girls, right? Do you want to know other's as well? Right now, everything (at least that I know of) are in Japanse.

Samia Akbar: 6km leg in 20:39

Herbst-Lucke: 6km leg in 20:18

Well, couldn't leave other two out...

Carrie Mesnter: 5k leg in 16:04

Allie GRace: 5.195 leg in 17:47

Nice job Hansons. That team would have finished in 10th or 11th if not for Desiree and Melissa.

10th for Akbar, Grace and Vickers

11th for Herbst-Lucke.

Nobby--

Ruth joined Second Wind last year, so she's being coached by Kawagoe now along with Kano, Shimahara et al.

Here's a pdf with complete results, Keith:

http://www.ntv.co.jp/yokohama-ekiden/images/results.pdf

The top row of data for each team shows the team position and total time, while the bottom shows the runner's position on their stage and their individual time. Desiree was 6th on her stage and Melissa 3rd on hers. All the other Americans were 10th or 11th.

Scratch that on Wanjiru. I just saw that Second Wind announced she quit a few days ago and is moving back to Kenya.

How is that course in terms of elevation? Which legs are the toughest ones?

Both White and Davila ran pb. That is pretty impressive for the roads.

WAY TO REPRESENT, BROOKS-HANSONS (Davila & White) and TEAM USA!

I do have an issue with the Selection Process, however (as we always do this time of year).

Carrie Vickers was a fine choice ran competitively in this race. Desiree Davila ran studly, 32:57, no complaints here.

That brings me to Samia Akbar, an athlete I have an issue with, as this Ekiden was not a priority for her. Less than a month ago she won a difficult marathon in Trinidad, and one would be hard pressed to argue that she was fully recovered for this 6km Effort. Akbar should have either 1) defaulted on her Trinidad marathon, or 2) given up her spot on the Ekiden, and the results prove it.

Which brings us to Herbst-Lucke. Great athlete, but a MASTER. A Masters athlete has no business in such a race, unless it shows the true lack of depth by American women, and her age showed in this race, turning in by far the worst performance on the American team and jeopardizing a Top 5 finish for the USA.

Of course, Melissa White was the MVP of this year's Ekiden, running 32:42, a time that put her with the big girls. And, anchoring was Allison Grace, which, no worries, she was just gaining some much needed experience.

Congrats USA, but if this Ekiden does not once again prove the benefits of team training (Brooks-Hansons), I don't know what will...

The woman in charge of selecting the team is a complete wack job. Just try asking her a question.

Carrie should not have been on the team because she has not raced since November of 2008.

Stephanie is 43 and wants to be 23. Put those fake things away and act like a mother of 3.

Samia, I thought was a good pick based on her performance at World Cross trials.

Allison has been less than stellar this year and was also a questionable pick.

The Hanson women looked good at Houston and ran a fast 3k a couple weeks ago. So they made sense.

There needs to be selection races to decide these teams. You can NOT have an individual or group of individuals making these calls. Let us not forget the mens half marathon abortion this past fall.

This was the best team available. There was originally going to be a very, very good US team, but when one of them backs out, the others don't want to be on a losing team. The selection committee did a good job and got the best possible 6 person team they could. Almost all of these girls were second or third choices

I would have gone and I would have run faster than Allison Grace, so I guess it wasn't the best team possible.How exactly do they make these selections?

best team available wrote:

This was the best team available. There was originally going to be a very, very good US team, but when one of them backs out, the others don't want to be on a losing team. The selection committee did a good job and got the best possible 6 person team they could. Almost all of these girls were second or third choices

You indeed may have run faster than Allison Grace had you gone to Yokohama - but based on the selection stipulations from National Road championships as well as descending order of '08 track performances - (I think she was 9th or 10th in the 2008 8k road champs - 26:30s and somewhere in the top 10 in the 2008 5k road champs as well - - - - 33 teens on the USATF list for 10,000m and Oly Trials 10k runner).

Kathy Nary (whose selections I will admit are less than objective) goes down a list and it is unbelievable how many good women who would be ahead of Allison say no - so she goes further and further down the list - - and often lands at the level of athlete of Allison or Carrie Mesners. So my question to you is...did you run the Trials in track? were you top 10 at a US road Championship at 5k /8k / 10k etc. - if so - then you should keep bitching.

These races should be one of 2 things.

1. THE BEST

or

2. DEVELOPMENTAL

You can make valid arguments both ways. If it is developmental then we should never send an athlete over the age of 30. They are no longer developing at 32 or 35. 43 years old is ridiculous. What is USATF preparing her for? I would rather send some 22 year old that might get fired up after traveling the world.

Stephanie Herbst Lucke should be making a donation to USATF because she just stole a trip. Is Scott Simmons still coaching her or has she moved on? Whoever is her coach or agent is also wrong in this type of a thing.