UK Athletics announced today that Mara Yamauchi, the UK No.1 last year at 10km, half marathon and marathon, will return to action in the Norwich Union Great Britain and Northern Ireland team at the Ekiden International Road Relay in Yokohama, Japan on Sunday 25 February.
Yamauchi, the Commonwealth 10,000m bronze medallist who also competed in the IAAF World Cross Country Championships and led home the UK women in the Flora London Marathon last spring, is over a viral infection she suffered in October.
She will run a 10km stage in Yokohama in a team completed by Faye Fullerton (Havering Mayesbrook AC), Vicky Gill (Chorley AC), Wendy Jones (Cirencester AC), Gemma Phillips (Kendal AC) and Sonia Thomas (Sale Harriers Manchester). Traveling reserve is Michelle Ross Cope
Ekiden Relays, which are run over the full marathon distance of 26.2 miles, attract huge crowds in Japan.
