Twins in NZ team's tilt at Japan relay

Lucy van Dalen leads sister Holly PHOTO/FILE

Wanganui's Van Dalen twins will be in the mixed New Zealand team aiming for a strong performance at the Chiba Ekiden Relay in Japan today.

The squad of three men and three women will run over six legs of varying distance to complete the full marathon distance of 42.195km.

The runners include London 1500m Olympians Lucy van Dalen and Nick Willis, 2013 world championships 5000m finalist Zane Robertson and former world junior cross-country rep Nicki McFadzien.

They will be supported by 2013 double New Zealand champion Malcolm Hicks, replacing the injured Jake Robertson, and Van Dalen's twin sister, Holly.

Ekiden which means long-distance relay running racing is popular in Japan and this notable annual event attracts quality international teams.

New Zealand finished seventh last year, nearly six minutes behind Kenya in a combined time of 2:11.04 hours, in which Zane and Jake Robertson made their mark by recording the fastest times for their respective legs.

However, there is confidence the 2013 team will improve on that effort with the inclusion of Willis and Lucy van Dalen who, with Holly van Dalen, will race 5km legs.

After training in Ethiopia, Robertson will run one of the two 10km legs, while the final 7.195km will be covered by McFadzien.

Willis, a 1500m specialist, won ahigh-quality 5km road race inNew York three weeks ago, recorded a 3000m personal best of 7:40.62 minutes in Zagreb, and has won the Fifth Avenue Mile in New York.

Zane Robertson ran a stunning time of 13:13.83 minutes for the 5000m four months ago in Belgium and made the final of the world champs 5000m.

Hicks will run the other 10km leg.

Teams from Australia, Canada, Chiba, France, Germany, Japan, Japanese universities, Kenya, Romania, Russia, Ukraine and the US will also compete.