By JAMIE STRUDLEY
THE return of the Ekiden relay to the Athletics Victoria season was welcomed by all Yarra Ranges Athletics athletes.
The term ‘Ekiden’ originated in Japan, although the concept of a long distance relay race is not unique to any country.
The first ‘Ekiden’ race was run over three days between the old Japanese capital of Kyoto and the modern capital of Tokyo, a distance of 508km, to celebrate the anniversary of the moving of the capital to Tokyo.
As written in Japanese, ‘Ekiden’ combines the characters for ‘station’ and ‘transmit’.
The original concept of the race hearkens back to Japan’s old communication and transportation system in which stations were posted at intervals along the road.
In the race, each runner on a team runs the distance from one ‘station’ to the next, and then hands off to the next runner. Held on an uncompromisingly tough course at Anglesea on Saturday, Yarra Ranges athletes excelled with some outstanding individual and team performances.
Standout performances were the team wins for the Men’s Division 4 and Women’s Division 4 teams.
Led by outstanding opening legs from Caleb McInnes and Veida Somerville respectively, the teams were never headed with both teams winning, finishing over four minutes ahead of second place.
Other outstanding runs on the day came from Lochie Scully, James Laven and from Under 14s athletes Jayden Clarke, Zac Clarke and Jayden Eagleton.
Results are:
Men Div 4 1st 9.8km Caleb McInnes 29.01 8.8km Michael Clarke 34.44 7.9km Bryan Ackerly 32.41 6.0km Lachlan Scully 25.34 5.2km James Laven 18.42 Men Div 6 3rd 9.8km David Mims 42.25 8.8km Jamie Strudley 36.54 7.9km Tynan Mims 31.36. 5.2km David Laven 22.41. Men Div 7 10th 9.8km Justin Eagleton 43.16 8.8km Gerard Thrall 45.03 7.9km Craig Hewitson 39.13
5.2km Jayden Clarke 28.36 5. Men Div 7 4th 9.8km Andre Waring 37.05 8.8km Luke Kasper 44.56 7.9km Connor Thrall 34.26
5.2km Andrew Peeler 24.05. Women Div 4 1st 8.8km Veida Somerville 35.56 7.9km Amanda Branson 34.50 5.2km Sienna Somerville 22.48. Women Div 5 3rd8.8km Sue McCall 46.26 7.9km Laura Kasper 40.31 5.2km Sophie Todorov 28.28. Men U14 6.0km 5th Harrison Van Duuren 27.27 5.2km Ryan Thrall 23.3 4.6km Liam Russell 20.51. Men U14 6.0km 6th Jayden Eagleton 32.56 5.2km Camden Hewitson 27.00 Zac Clarke 21.03.
Next week is the Yarra Ranges Athletics cross-country presentation fun day at Lilydale Lake.
A fun day of relay running and awards will complete another successful and enjoyable winter cross country season.
Be at Lilydale Lake from 9.45am on Saturday; bring a chair, an appetite and a smile.
