INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - (November 16, 2000) - USA Track & Field announced the USA teams for the Chiba International Ekiden, the world's most competitive road relay. The race will be contested on Thursday, November 23 in Chiba, Japan.

The men's team is Dave Cullum (CA), Dan Browne (CO), Abdi Abdirahman (AZ), Tim Broe (AL), Teddy Mitchell (FL) and Josh Cox (CA). The women's team includes Molly Watcke (MA), Milena Glusac (CA), Jenny Crain (WI), Carmen Troncoso (TX), Kim Pawelek (FL), Sonja Friend-Uhl (FL) and Rose Gutierrez (OR). For the marathon distance (26.2 miles/42.195K), the men will run five legs and the women six. There is also an alternates' race on the track.

The men's staff is manager, Rich Ayers, Kansas City, MO and coach, Rick Rothman, Delray Beach, FL and for the women, manager, Charlotte Lanahan, Bridgewater, VT; coach, Ric Troncoso, Austin, TX and trainer, Robert Nash, Crestwood, NY.

Last year at the Chiba road relay, the USA teams again ran well. The U.S. men ran 2:01:57 to earn their highest place (fourth) and the second fastest Chiba time by the USA (only the 1991 team who ran 2:01:40 is faster). In the women's race, with consistent performances, the USA women's team placed sixth in 2:19:43, its second fastest time at Chiba (the 1988 team ran 2:17:09). Overall, the 1999 teams were the best combined efforts (time and place) by the USA at Chiba.

2000 USA Teams for Chiba Int'l Ekiden
MEN
10K
Dave Cullum, 27, Redwood City, CA
PRs: Steeplechase 8:33.34; 5000m 13:58.17
College: UC Santa Barbara

5K
Dan Browne, 25, Lafayette, CO
PRs: 5000m 13:28.24; 10,000m 28:18.65
College: U.S. Military Academy

10K
Abdi Abdirahman, 21, Tucson, AZ
PRs: 5000m 13:37.01; 10,000m 27:46.17
College: Arizona

5K
Tim Broe, 23, Birmingham, AL
PRs: Steeplechase 8:21.50; 5000m 13:43.61
College: Alabama

12.195K
Teddy Mitchell, 28, Longwood, FL
PRs: 5000m 13:52; 10,000m 28:40.8
College: Arkansas

Alternate
Josh Cox, 25, El Cajon, CA
PRs: 5000m 14:10; 10,000m 29:26
College: Liberty University

WOMEN
Molly Watcke, 29, West Newbury, MA
PRs: 5000m 15:47.76
College: Michigan

Milena Glusac, 25, Fallbrook, CA
PRs: 5000m 15:51; 10,000m 33:38
College: Oregon

Jenny Crain, 32, River Hills, WI
PRs: 10,000m 32:30.01
College: Ohio University

Carmen Troncoso, 41, Austin, TX
PRs: 5000m 15:50.02; 10,000m 33:21.9

Kim Pawelek, 26, Jacksonville Beach, FL
PRs: 5000m 16:22; 10,000m 33:41
College: University of North Florida

Sonja Friend-Uhl, 29, Weston, FL
PRs: 10,000m 33:58
College: William & Mary

Alternate
Rose Gutierrez, 37, Glendale, OR
PRs: 10,000m 33:29
College: Oregon

Chiba Ekiden: USA Team Summary (1990-99)

Year    Men         Women
1999    2:01:57 (4th)   2:19:43 (6th)
1998    2:02:21 (5th)   2:20:55 (5th)
1997    2:06:44 (15th)  2:23:05 (9th)
1996    2:03:45 (9th)   2:23:28 (10th)
1995    2:06:34 (17th)  2:23:19 (8th)
1994    2:06:07 (16th)  2:20:43 (7th)
1993    2:04:21 (6th)   2:23:40 (4th)
1992    2:06:07 (13th)  2:24:40 (11th)
1991    2:01:40 (7th)   2:23:05 (9th)
1990    2:03:36 (12th)  2:20:41 (5th)

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Special thanks to 
Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Coordinator for providing us this press release.
USATF Road Running Information Center
5522 Camino Cerralvo, Santa Barbara, CA 93111
(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 696-6252
http://www.runningusa.org
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