Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

Former St. Xavier High and Villanova University standout Bobby Curtis helped Team USA to a fifth-place finish Tuesday in the International Chiba Ekiden at Chiba, Japan.

The marathon-length relay race, held for the 21st year, featured mixed teams of men and women.

Bobby Curtis

The Japan University Select team won in 2 hours, 7 minutes, 52 seconds. Kenya was runner-up in 2:08:06, followe by Japan (2:08:12), Russia (2:09:35) and Team USA (2:10:54).

Curtis ran the 5,000-meter leadoff leg in 13:36, putting the Americans in fourth place.

Stephanie Pezzullo of Charlotte, N.C., followed with a 16:28 5K, dropping Team USA to fifth place.

Ed Moran of Flagstaff, Ariz., followed with a 29:50 10K, and Kim Conley of West Sacramento, Calif., added a 16:41 5K to keep the team in fifth.

Aaron Braun, also of Flagstaff, moved the Americans into fourth place with a 29:33 10K.

Meghan Armstrong of Minneapolis finished with a 7.195-kilometer leg of 24:46, but was passed by Russia for fourth place.

If you’re willing to go cross-state for cross country, Saturday offers Kentuckians a chance to see some of the best collegiate and high school competition of the year.

It would be done easier, though, if you’re able to cross time and go “back to the future” with Doc and Marty McFly. Because, as the schedule is, it’s not possible to catch all the action.

E.P. “Tom” Sawyer Park in Louisville is the site of the NCAA Division I Southeast Regional. The Duke women and William and Mary men are defending team champions.

The men’s 10,000-meter race starts Saturday morning at 10. The women’s 6,000-meter run is set for 11:15 a.m.

Meanwhile, the State High School Championships will be taking place in Lexington, at the Kentucky Horse Park.

All athletes will run a 5,000-meter course, with girls starting first in each race.

Class A starts are set for 9:30 (girls) and 10:15 (boys) a.m., 2A at 11:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m., and 3A at 1:30 and 2:15 p.m.

Curtis runs for USA in Chiba Ekiden

Bobby Curtis

Bobby Curtis, arguably the top distance runner to come out of Kentucky high schools, will represent Team USA in the International Chiba Ekiden, Nov. 23, at Chiba, Japan. Curtis is a graduate of St. Xavier High School and Villanova University.

The 22nd annual Chiba race features mixed teams of men and women running a marathon relay. Team USA will be competing against nine nations, including Japan, Kenya, Romania, Russia, China and Canada.

Past Chiba competitors Ed Moran and Meghan Armstrong will lead a U.S. team that includes Curtis, Aaron Braun, Kim Conley and Stephanie Pezzullo. Alternates are Andy Biladeau and Kristina Vegh.

The relay legs, in order: 5,000 meters, men; 5,000, women; 10,000, men; 5,000, women; 10,000, men; 7,195 meters, women. Teams USA placed fifth last year.