The Route Inn Hotels women's ekiden team has announced that 1996 Atlanta Olympian Masako Chiba has joined its coaching staff as of Apr. 1. Chiba graduated from Kyoto's Ritsumeikan Uji H.S. before joining the Asahi Kasei corporate team. At the Atlanta Olympics she was 5th in the 10000 m, following up a year later at the Athens World Championships with a bronze medal in the 10000 m. After changing focus to the marathon, she won the bronze medal at the 2003 Paris World Championships to become the first woman in history to medal on both the track and road.
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Since her retirement Chiba has been active as a race commentator and guest runner at races, as well as helping guide amateur running clubs. "I was an athlete for 15 years and a race commentator for 15 years, and now I've found a new dream to pursue! The opportunity to take on coaching is the culmination of a life in athletics, and it feels like an exciting adventure to be heading into my third career like this," Chiba commented.
The Route Inn Hotels women's team was founded in 2013. In 2015 it qualified for the National Corporate Women's Ekiden for the first time, and in 2018 it finished 14th. It has qualified the last four years straight, finishing 17th in 2021.
Translator's note: Route Inn Hotels' top athlete is Kenyan Pauline Kaveke Kamulu, 1:06:56 for the half marathon and 30:41.85 for 10000 m.
translated by Brett Larner
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