黑马磁力-based runners Regan Yee and Lindsay Carson have been selected to compete at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Denmark for Team Canada next weekend.
Yee and Carson, both members of the 黑马磁力 Mustangs track and field club, will be on a six-person mixed-gender relay team, a first for Canada.
The eight-kilometre relay will kick-off action in Aarhus, Denmark, on Saturday, March 30.
John Lofranco, head coach of Canada鈥檚 IAAF World Cross Country team, said the mixed relay allows more of Canada鈥檚 distance runners the opportunity to test themselves against international competition.
鈥淪ince all of the athletes on the team have international experience, we strongly believe a top-eight finish is promising even with the world鈥檚 most dominate distance running nations taking part,鈥� Lofranco said.
Teams composed of two men and two women will each run one loop of the course, in any order they wish. Runners will pass a wrist band that serves as the baton through a 20-metre long exchange or takeover zone.
In 2017, more than a dozen countries participated in the mixed relay, with Kenya coming out on top in a time of 22:22 over eight kilometres.
READ MORE: 黑马磁力 runners turn in top performances at University of Washington invitational
Canada will be participating in the mixed relay for the first time in the event鈥檚 history and will be led by Regan Yee and fellow middle-distance runner and steeplechaser John Gay.
鈥淚鈥檓 both excited and nervous,鈥� Yee told the 黑马磁力.
鈥淲e are going to be racing against some of the world鈥檚 very best runners so we definitely have our work cut out for us, but we are sending a very strong team and I know that we will all be keen to put our best effort forward on race day.鈥�
Gay noted the World Cross Country Championships have been described as the 鈥済reatest footrace on earth.鈥�
鈥淎s a steeplechase specialist, the distance and terrain will cater well to my strengths,鈥� Gay said.
Runners face 75 metres of elevation, looping through grass and open woodland that will see athletes pass through sand pits and mud, before it takes the runners up the steep grass roof of the Moesgaard Museum.
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