Chiba Ekiden - NZ team expressions of interest

Just seen the results from Chiba ekiden. Well done guys and girls!! It's a learning experience running chiba and I'm sure you will all benefit from this experience for future participation at this event! I was disappointed I couldn't run due to withdrawing with heel injury but I'm pleased some younger fella's stepped in to get that international experience! Again well done!

Looks like the whole team ran pretty consistent with all runners with Fiona Crombie the highest on the short Women's leg in 8th, Matt Smith in 12th on the Long Men's leg and the other four in between.
My run-of-the-day pick for the Kiwi's would go to Beamish and Crombie for both being within 50 seconds of the fastest runner on their legs - and yes I know they were the short legs but comparatively their differentials seemed the best.

Congrats to the team that raced and lets hope it fires them up to go back and move up the standings next year, and maybe even create a bit more competition from back home to make the team! - dc

Robertson 25:01 (11)

Team 2:14:37 for 11th place
Good Job Crew

how close are we to poland romania and canada?

Lett 31:12 (11)

End of Lap Four:
1.JPN
2.KEN
3.UNIV
4.RUS
5.AUS
6.USA
7.CAN
8.Chiba
9.POL
10.ROM
11.NZL
12.CZE

At the end of Lap Three:

1.KEN
2.JPN
3.UNIV
4.RUS
5.AUS
6.CAN
7.USA
8.Chiba
9.POL
10.ROM
11.NZL

At the end of Lap Two:
1.JPN
2.UNIV
3.RUS
4.KEN
5.USA
6.AUS (Huge run from Corrigan)
7.CAN
8.Chiba
9.POL
10.ROM
11.NZL

Brett will be providing very good race updates on his Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/JRNLive and usually answers requests for info when possible.

Final Team Lists: http://www.inter-chibaekiden.jp/pdf/order.pdf

Good for Lett, sux for Dale
Do they need another replacement?
Georgie Clark in Auzzie team

cdm, you may be correct about event changes or withdrawals, although the Elite entry list provided to NZRun yesterday still listed three Ekiden runners in the Marathon - I guess we'll wait and see.
Regarding information about selections and EOI's: Athletics Australia usually gives a brief rundown of the selection basis of their teams and also notes high profile athletes who may or may not have been available and why they weren't selected. This could certainly help reduce speculation about specific non-selections in this case, but word from Athletics NZ suggested that this information would have to come directly from the Convener of Selectors, who I doubt has 'writing of press releases' in his job description - dc

Karl, thanks for the input, especially since you thought the thread needed more positivity. It's better than sitting at your comp moaning about the people who you think are moaning - however, I think Nick put it well.
Other than CK questioning the reasoning behind Biscuit's non-selection and Robbo suggesting the make-up of our 'best possible' team everyone seems supportive of the team selected. Most comments basically agree that this is probably close to the best we have available based on the selection criteria.

With regards to the Auckland Marathon issue - it certainly does seem to be at odds to select athletes for an event three weeks after a marathon when another ANZ selection policy (WC's) doesn't allow for marathon runners to run an event over 10,000m within four weeks - shouldn't a similar or even stricter policy apply here when the marathon is the curtain raiser??
WC's Selection policy:
4.11 An athlete for the Marathon or Race Walks shall not compete in a marathon or race walk during the period prior to the championship (6 June ‐ 27 August), nor in an event exceeding 10km in the four weeks prior to the IAAF 2011 World Track and  Field Championships (30 July ‐ 27 August)

As a non-elite runner who helps to bring up the rear of local runs, I'm not sure if its my place to say it here, but to me it seems a bit on the nose to downplay the fantastic achievement of these guys to represent our country. It seems to me that it's a privilege that we're invited to the relay and this forum seems to be a lot of ing and moaning - it seems really off to list the team and then say "but best team would be none of you".

Congrats to all selected - wear the singlet with pride.

Congrats to the team and wish them well.

Part of the reason I didn't put myself forward is having run Berlin I knew I wouldn't be in really great shape 8 weeks later! I hope I'm wrong of course but it was a bit surprising to read some are doing a full marathon 3 weeks prior.

Re: Marathon Entries - entrants can be viewed at the Auckland Marathon site - just enter the first few letters of a surname to see if someone is in.

ANZ also released a list of runners competing in the Half Champs on their site.