by Brett Larner The organizers of the 28th Izumo Ekiden have released the starting order for Monday's six stage, 45.1 km race. Below are the top runners on each stage from the field of twenty university teams and their best times for distances close to what they will be racing. Click here for JRN's detailed preview . Complete starting lists are available here in Japanese. Follow @JRNLive for live coverage throughout the race beginning at 1:00 p.m. Japan time. Last year's course record-setting winner Aoyama Gakuin University is back as the favorite, but it's due for a serious challenge from last year's runner-up Yamanashi Gakuin University and the ascendant Tokai University . Going by PB YGU runners lead AGU's on all but the Fifth Stage. Both schools' anchors return, but last year YGU's Dominic Nyairo was a minute faster than AGU's Tadashi Isshiki over the 10.2 km Sixth Stage. YGU may build up a lead over the first four stages and l...
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