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Team Chugoku Denryoku to Battle Team Nissin Shokuhin in New Year Ekiden

http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=spo_30&k=2007122600495

translated by Brett Larner

37 teams will compete Jan. 1st in the 52nd annual All-Japan Jitsugyodan Ekiden, popularly known as the New Year Ekiden. The ekiden covers a 7-stage, 100 km course through Gunma Prefecture, starting and ending in Maebashi. Team Chugoku Denryoku will be trying for its 2nd straight victory and will face tough competition from Team Nissin Shokuhin, who will be looking for its 1st victory, and past champs Team Konica Minolta, who will be trying to return to the winner`s circle.

Team Chugoku Denryoku`s lineup includes Tsuyoshi Ogata, the 5th place finisher in this past summer`s World Championships marathon; Atsushi Sato, the Japanese half-marathon national record holder and 3rd-place finisher at the Fukuoka International Marathon on Dec. 2; and Shigeru Aburaya, who was 5th in the Athens Olympics marathon. Team Chugoku Denryoku does not have any foreign runners so it will likely have a comparatively slow 1st half and gain ground in the 2nd half of the race.

Team Nissin Shokuhin won November`s East Japan Ekiden for the 2nd year in a row. Its main weapon is Kenyan ace Ngatuny Gideon. Nissin`s roster also includes World Championships marathon 7th place finisher Toshinari Suwa, Kazuyoshi Tokumoto and other reliable workhorses.

Last year, Team Konica Minolta failed to win a 3rd straight victory. This year, both its aces Takayuki and Yuko Matsumiya are in peak shape and will form the leading edge of its attack. The average 10000 m time of its top 7 runners is 28:22.37, leaving little doubt that Konica Minolta will be one of the top contenders.

Barcelona Olympics marathon silver medalist Koichi Morishita`s Team Toyota Jidosha Kyushu features Fukuoka International Marathon winner and half-marathon world record holder Samuel Wanjiru. This year Toyota Kyushu also features Juntendo University graduate and new member Masato Imai, who gained nationwide fame during the last 3 years for his incredible uphill running on the 5th stage of the Hakone Ekiden.

Team Kanebo includes Japanese marathon national record holder Toshinari Takaoka and will be another contender for one of the top spots in the field.
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