When the senior men's relay team from the Ariki Harrier Club contests the Portland to Coast Challenge next year, the odds of success will be very much against it.
In all, 1850 teams, mostly United States-based, attempted to enter the event on August 27 next year, from which 850 were culled to meet the 1000-team limit.
Teams total 12 runners, each of whom runs three of the 36 legs, which vary in distance from 5.66km to 12.53km.
The 317km event starts at Timber Lodge on the slopes of Mt Hood (1800m above sea level) and finishes at the town of Seaside on the Oregon coast.
Ariki teams and individuals have dominated middle and long-distance events in Otago for the past decade and, to reward this, Ariki officials decided to enter a team in one of the premier road relay events in the US.
The Oregon Challenge was put forward by Dunedin businessman Russell Lund, who contested the event while living there.
Such was his belief in the venture that he tabled a substantial donation towards funding the venture and meeting the $1600 entry fee.
The idea gathered momentum when Max Smith, who has maintained his Ariki membership since accepting a scholarship to the University of Oregon five years ago, was approached in his capacity as a representative of Nike which sponsors the event.
Portland is home to the sports shoe company's co-founder, Bill Bowerman, who is also a noted coach.
Ariki officials are confident of making the trip more affordable for team members by means of several fundraising ventures.
At this stage, Lund, along with Dunedin builder Dave Crew, will manage a team that, based on current performance and availability, could boast six internationals in Dougal Thorburn, Max Smith, Brent Halley, Tony Dodds, Joe Piggin and Eddie Smith.
Others in contention are Stafford Thompson, a past Otago cross-country and national marathon champion, current Otago cross-country and 10,000m champion Nathan Baxter, Edmond Cup champion Callum Moody, Port Road Race champion Tim Dobier, Otago road champion and Matt Lambert.
Top Otago middle-distance athletes James List, Greg Brockbank, Chris Weddell, and Chris Tipper are also possibilities.
"This has got to be good for running in Otago and good for the club," Crewe said.
"I'm confident the team will perform well and rise to the occasion and put Otago on the map."
It will not be the first time Ariki has sent teams to compete internationally.
In 1968, Ariki members went to Canberra, Surfers Paradise, Sydney and Melbourne where they competed in league meetings over the New Year period.
Another trip to Australia was to follow in 1972 and incorporated a similar itinerary.
