June 1, 2005

In March, the Mountain/Ultra/Trail (MUT) Council of USA Track & Field selected the USA 100 Km Team to compete in the 2005 IAU 100km World Cup. The USATF 100K National Team will compete in the 2005 International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) 100 Km World Cup under the Patronage of the IAAF in Lake Saroma, Hokkaido, Japan on June 26.

The annual 100 Km World Cup race is the international venue at which USATF fields an ultra distance team. The United States will be represented by a team of six men and six women ultrarunners. The 62.1 mile World Cup road race is one of two ultra distance events that has achieved international prominence under the auspices of the International Association of Ultrarunners. Another event, the I.A.U. 24 Hours World Challenge, will be held this July in Wörschach, Austria and in 2006 will be staged in Taipei, Taiwan. A U.S. team will also compete at this event.

Several athletes originally named to the team have declined their spots due to work schedules, prior racing commitments, or injury. The final U.S. roster for the 100km World Cup includes:

Women
Anne Riddle Lundblad, 38 Asheville, NC
Nikki Kimball, 33, Bozeman, MT
Karen Scott, 37, Florissant, CO
Ann Heaslett, 41, Madison, WI
Anthea Schmid, 33, Florissant, CO
Tania Pacev, 45,

Men
Howard Nippert, 39, Pembroke, VA
Greg Crowther, 31, Seattle, WA
Patrick Russell, Duluth, MN
Mark Werner, 32, Boulder, CO (although presently working in Cairo, Egypt)
Scott Creel, 42, Bozeman, MT

The athletes selected by USATF/MUT comprise the officially sanctioned team from the United States participating in IAU World Cup 100 Km competition. Howard Nippert and Anne Riddle were automatically selected to the team based on their top ten finishes at the World 100km in 2004. MUT selected the remaining team members and alternates for the US National 100 Km Team based on their ultrarunning performances that met the published criteria during the qualifying period. Each athlete must be a current USATF member to compete in this event for the U.S. national team. The team receives limited funding and most athletes must pay for a large portion of their expenses out of their own pockets. There is a non-profit organization, Ultrarunners Supporting Ultrarunners (USU) and this organization has raised funds for the team for a number of years. Donations are always welcome.

Managers of this year's team include Minnesota resident Lin Gentling who has been a competitor on the team in the past as well as manager in 1993 to1997, 1999, 2001 to 2004, first year manager in an official capacity Tim Yanacheck, WI, who has been on numerous 100km World Cup trips as a handler for athletes, and Lion Caldwell, NM who will serve as the team doctor. Caldwell traveled with the team from 1995 to 2003 and is also a seasoned ultra distance competitor.

Click here for the Selection Process and the lists of men's and women's performances that MUT used to select the team members and alternates. 

Click here for the USATF Event Website for the 2005 IAU 100 Km World Cup.

To donate to the USU fund visit: www.run100s.com/USU/