Top elites named to Canada’s Chiba Ekiden team

Two Olympians will lead Canada's entry at the Chiba Ekiden Road Race Relay in Japan later this month.

Two Olympians will lead Canada’s entry at the Chiba Ekiden Road Race Relay in Japan later this month.

Athletics Canada has officially named the athletes who will travel to Chiba, Japan for the 24th International Chiba Ekiden Road Race Relay on Nov. 23. The unique event features teams of men and women running six alternate legs to cover the marathon distance.

The Canadian team is led by 2012 Olympians Reid Coolsaet of Hamilton, Ont., and Alex Genest of Lac-aux-Sables, Que. Coolsaet finished 27th in the men’s marathon competition at the London Games, while Genest recorded a seasonal best in the men’s 3000-metres steeplechase.

Krista DuChene of Brantford, Ont., and Lanni Marchant of London, Ont. are also on the team. Both women have run under the 2013 World Championship marathon standard.

Other team members include Rachel Hanna, Tarah Korir, Geoff Martinson and Rob Watson. The support team includes Jon Brown, Rick Mannen and Ron O’Hare.

The first International Chiba Ekiden was held in 1988. The event made the move to mixed gender teams in 2007.

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