Canada looking for strong performances in Japan at Chiba Ekiden

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 22, 2011

Canada looking for strong performances in Japan at Chiba Ekiden

OTTAWA - Athletics Canada has sent a contingent of eight athletes to Japan to compete tomorrow in the 23rd annual International Chiba Ekiden Road Race Relay.  The unique marathon distance road race relay features mixed men’s and women’s teams running six alternate legs.

The Chiba Ekiden relay will unfold in the following order: men’s 5km, women’s 5km, men’s 10km, women’s 5km, men’s 10km and then ending with a women’s 7.195km leg. Canada will face strong competition from twelve nations including the host country, China, Kenya, the United States, Romania and Russia.

Team Leader, Thelma Wright comments on the Canadian team, “Our young team is up to the challenge and will be looking for personal bests and a strong team result against some of the world’s best”. Wright adds, “Experienced Chiba returnees Lanni Marchant and Natasha Wodak along with 2011 Canadian cross-country team members Kate Vaughan and Derek Snider will be joined by 2008 Olympian Taylor Milne and 2009 World Championship team member Rob Watson, Dayna Pidhoresky and young upcoming road racer Terence Attema”.  

Athletics Canada l2011 Chiba Ekiden Road Race Team

Name	Hometown	Personal Coach
Terence Attema	Smithville, Ont.	Stuart Galloway
Lanni Marchant	London, Ont.	Dave Mills
Taylor Milne	Guelph, Ont.	Dave Scott-Thomas
Dayna Pidhoresky	Tecumseh, Ont.	Josh Seifarth
Derek Snider	Lindsay, Ont.	Dave Scott-Thomas
Kate Vaughan	St. John's, Nfld.	Fabien Basset
Rob Watson	Guelph, Ont.	Dave Scott-Thomas
Natasha Wodak	Port Moody, B.C.	Brit Townsend
Integrated Support Team
Thelma Wright	Team Leader	Vancouver, B.C.
Chris Moulton	Team Coach	Hamilton, Ont.
Ron O'Hare	Physiotherapist	Aurora, Ont.

-AC-

Robyn Woods
Assistant, Communications and Events
Athletics Canada
(613) 260-5580 x.3334