By JAMIE STRUDLEY
YARRA Ranges Athletics athletes travelled to Anglesea for the annual Ekiden relays over the weekend.
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.
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.
The 2016 season will see the continuation of the Ekiden relay to the XCR’16 series with Anglesea again playing host to this beautiful course and scenic terrain.
Yarra Ranges Athletics had nine teams compete over a range of grades with exceptional performances from all our athletes.
Highlights were the men’s Division 5 winning its grade and the Under 14s Boys with an awesome silver medal.
Results
Women Division 3, 5th: Veida Somerville 9.8km 45.34, Amanda Laven 7.9km 39.31, Amanda Branson 6.0km 26.10, Sienna Somerville 4.6km 23.20.
Women Division 5, 4th: Sue McCall 8.8km 48.34, Sarah Love 7.9km 42.54, Claire Knell 5.2km 27.55. Women 16: Zoe Sibley 6.0km 29.54, Mia Strudley 5.2km 25.20, Grace Muller 4.6km 21.37.
Men Division 3 3rd: Caleb McInnes 9.8km 39.45, Michael Clarke 8.8km 36.59, Connor Thrall 7.9km 35.01, James Laven 6.0km 23.58, Jamie Strudley 5.2km 21.59.
Men Division 5, 1st: Bryan Ackerly 9.8km 42.22, Steve Blair 8.8km 38.21, Dave Seeds 7.9km 37.42, Craig Hewitson 5.2km 24.30.
Men Division 7 4th: Justin Eagleton 9.8km 47.25, David Laven 8.8km 43.47, Gerard Thrall 7.9km 43.29, Brent Linde 5.2km 26.12.
Men 16 6th: Harrison Van Duuren 6.0km 23.59, James Love 5.2km 24.35, Ryan Thrall 4.6km 22.49.
Men 16 8th: Liam Russell 6.0km 29.50, Camden Hewitson 5.2km 25.30, Ky Linde 4.6km 21.36.
Men 14 2nd: Samuel Norton 6.0km 23.31, Zac Clarke 5.2km 23.51, Taj Linde 4.6km 21.52.
Next week, the club is off to Cockatoo for the Annual Hills Challenge.
For results, news, photos and more, visit yarrarangesathletics.org.au or check out the Facebook page.
