Galen Rupp Posts 28:20 10K in Japan's Chiba Ekiden

Galen Rupp Posts 28:20 10K in Japan's Chiba Ekiden

Nov 23, 2012 by Christopher Chavez
Galen Rupp Posts 28:20 10K in Japan's Chiba Ekiden
While you were sleeping or recovering from your Thanksgiving food comas, there was a six stage Japanese road race in action. Olympic silver medalist Galen Rupp was one of the main attractions as the United States faced off against 13 other countries and one Japanese collegiate team in the 2012 Chiba Ekiden. 

Rupp was handed the tasuki (the relay ribbon) as the fifth leg of the race, by then Kenya and Japan were ahead by approximately 70 seconds. Prior to the race, Rupp said that he felt confident about his fitness and would not be fazed by the hills he would encounter towards the end of his race. 

The thighs of Rupp were wrapped up and he occasionally looked down to his left leg. Health did not appear to be an issue with him as he closed up on the leaders. He was able to shed the lead from 70 seconds to 16 seconds behind first place as he handed off to Neely Spence, the United States anchor. 

Splits by Rupp:
1,000-meters -- 2:41
5,000-meters -- 13:59
10,000-meters and final -- 28:20

Spence could not keep up to the leaders as close as Rupp was, but she did secure the third place podium finish for Team USA. 

Much like in 2011, it came down to Kenya and Japan for the victory. The Kenyan women in Gladys Cherono, Priscah Jeptoo, and Joyce Chepkirui made the difference. Cherono and Jeptoo dominated their legs and handed off with the lead. Chepkirui's kick beat out Japan's Hitomi Niiya after a close race by the men in the 10,000-meter leg before her. 

Rupp did not run a course record, but he won the fifth stage by 26 seconds. Cherono did set a course record in the second stage as she ran 14:54 for the 5,000-meter leg. Fellow Kenyan Jeptoo dominated in the fourth stage as she ran 30 seconds faster than second place. 

A close race in a field with several Olympians brought light to a damp day in Japan. The Olympians provided more attention to the race this year and got people talking about it. Track superfan, Jesse Squires, put together his own collegiate American team and now we all can wonder how they could have finished in comparison to Japanese collegiate team that finished fifth overall. 

Quick Note: Wesley Korir's wife, Tarah, was the second leg for the Canadian team. She ran 16:36 for her 5,000-meter race, which was good enough for 10th place individually.