GB Ekiden

Seems like a great run from Kate Reed, Dave Webb seems to have had a stormer, good to see McCormick on the way back after a couple of crap years, Davies held his own and proves he is not only a Sutton Park man and justified his selection, with Townend and Morris competing well and in the top half.Great result in dificult circumstances.

I'd say Webb and Reed ran well. 30.18 is not quick for Davies (don't know conditions/undulations). 14.04 is getting back there for McCormick but he was only 8th on the 1st leg. There are also a lot of guys in the UK who could run 14.23.15 for 5km on the track.

re. pidgeon, isn't she supposed to be at university? She's been training in south africa, then a trip to Japan then the euros, lots of time away and as yet no race results, I hope she comes good at the euro xc.

Chiba Ekiden Team Results:

1 Japan 2:05:54; 2 Kenya 2:07:04; 3 Russia 2:07:58; 4 USA 2:09:03; 5 JUT 2:09.22; 6 Great Britain and NI 2:10.11; 7 Australia 2:11.56; 8 Chiba 2:11.57; 9 Romania 2:12.17; 10 China 2:13.59; 11 Belarus 2:14.32; 12 Poland 2:15.10; 13 Sweden 2:17.14; 14 Italy 2:17.30; 15 Korea 2:23.26

Men

Nick McCormick finished 8th 14.04 5km

Dave Webb fifth fastest 29.32 10km

Chris Davies 10km 30.18 8th fastest

Stephen Hepples 14.23.15 to finish 5th in the track 5km.

Women:

Kate Reed fastest 5km second stage 15.24

Rachel Townend was a late substitute for Emily Pidgeon 8th fastest over 5km and kept the team in 5th position.

Sophie Morris undulating 7.195km stage to the finish and her 6th fastest run of 24.08 maintained 6th

"Pidgeon was rested from the race with a sore foot to ensure she is in best shape for next month’s European Cross Country Championships"

agreed not that great from mccormick - slower than last year's gb runner adam bowden. nowhere near at his 2004/2005 form

Just goes to show how bad his last few years has been because he has trained hard and consistent.Can he get back to where he was?

give the lad a break. he's ran well!

He's gone straight from South Africa to there and recently changed coaches, so he'll be adapting to new training regimes.

very good run by Webb there as well.

Not a bad result? Didn't we get beaten by a college team?

I put up a report with photos and video at:

japanrunningnews.blogspot.com

Not much on the GB team, though. Sorry.

Found the Ekiden Website, here is a link, shows course map, undulations, gradients etc.

http://homepage2.nifty.com/chibariku/pdf/07map.pdf

http://homepage2.nifty.com/chibariku/

Hear hear Ryan.The South African training group were travelling for about 2 days almost so the run is probably better than it seems.It also puts Kate Reed's run into some perspective.People need to have faith in our athletes.McCormick will have a good year this year.Nah, McCormick is on for a great year. Ask him if you don't believe us.