February 12, 2005

The Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team will compete in the 21st World Mountain Running Trophy in Wellington, New Zealand on Sunday, September 25. Additionally an open race competition will be held on September 25 prior to the World Trophy junior and senior events. This year's Trophy races are uphill/downhill events (as opposed to even-numbered years when the events are held on uphill courses) with the senior men running 13.5km, the senior women and junior men running 9.1km, and the junior women running 4.7km. The team is sponsored by Teva, the title sponsor and official footwear of the team, and SportHill apparel. Teva has been the title sponsor of the team since 2002 and we are pleased to welcome SportHill this year, the first year as an official team sponsor.

The women's team includes four athletes and an alternate with the top three finishers scoring for the team. Six athletes and an alternate represent the men's team with the top four finishers scoring. The junior men's team includes a maximum of four with top three scoring while the junior women's team is a maximum of three with the top two scoring. The alternates will run in the Open race, or should another athlete be unable to compete, in the Trophy race. Team leader Richard Bolt, Nashua, New Hampshire and junior team manager Tom Borschel, Idaho Falls, ID will accompany the team to New Zealand.

Team Selection

At the USATF annual convention in Portland, Oregon in December 2004, the Mountain Ultra Trail (MUT) Council chose four races from which automatic qualifiers to the U.S. team will be selected.

1. The USA Trail Running Championships will be hosted by the Teva Spring RunOff, a 10km race slated for June 4 in Vail, CO. The top two U.S. men and the top U.S. women finisher at the RunOff will receive automatic berths on the team.
2. The Northfield Mountain Race, a 15.3km for men and10.2km for women, on June 25 in Northfield, MA will serve as the second selection race where the top U.S. woman and the top U.S. man receive automatic berths.
3. Traveling to the Midwest on July 16 competitors will enjoy the third selection race, the Teva Devil's Trail Race in Merrimac, WI a 4.9km for juniors, a 9.8km for women, and a 14.7km for men. In Merrimac the top U.S. male and top U.S. female finisher will receive an automatic team berth.
4. The final selection race will be held August 7 in Cranmore, NH with the Mt. Cranmore Race, a 13.8km race for both men and women. The top U.S. male finisher will receive an automatic berth on the team.

There will be prize money at several of these events and the Teva Spring RunOff also serves as the second annual North American Central American Caribbean Championships (NACAC).

The remaining members of the squad, (one male, one female plus alternates for both teams), will be selected by the MUT Council based on results at the selection races, past World Trophy events, national and international racing experience including mountain, road, cross country, and track. The heaviest weight will be placed on finishes in the selection races. To be considered for the team all team members must be current USATF members prior to running a selection race. Interested athletes should submit running resumes to:

Richard Bolt (rbolt@emersonecologics.com ) or Nancy Hobbs (trlrunner@aol.com)

The team will be selected based on the following criteria (Note: Must be current USATF members prior to the selection race):

• The top two U.S. males and the top U.S. female finisher at the Teva Spring RunOff (June 4), our USA Trail Running Championships, receive automatic berths.
• The top U.S. male and top U.S. woman finisher at the Northfield Mountain Race (June 25) receive automatic berths.
• The top U.S. male and top US. woman finisher at the Teva Devil's Race (July 16) receive automatic berths.
• The top U.S. male finisher at the Mount Cranmore event (August 7) receives automatic berth.

The remaining team members will be selected by the 15-member USATF Mountain Ultra Trail (MUT) Council based on:

• Results in the above named races.
• Prior World Mountain Running Trophy performances.
• International mountain results.
• National mountain results.
• Regional mountain results.
• Trail and road results.

Juniors Team Selection - 2005 Teva US Mountain Running Team

For team consideration, the junior athlete:

• Must have posted a 16:45 or better (junior men) and 19:30 or better (junior women) in a 5K road or cross country event. (Equivalent times will be considered for distances other than 5K.)
• Must have experience running (in training and preferably racing) on up and down courses similar to the event.
• Must be mature, motivated, with a positive attitude to proudly represent the United States and sponsors internationally, under the rules of USATF and the event governing bodies.
• A letter of recommendation from a coach, parent, or mentor-runner must accompany the athlete resume.

Resumes (including road, trail, track, and cross country results and current training info) will be accepted through July 15th. Late breaking information and results can be added until August 10th. Team members will be announced by August 15, 2005.

Each Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team Member receives the following:

• Official USATF National Team apparel supplied by SportHill
• Teva footwear
• Airline ticket to New Zealand, or up to $1050 for senior team members and $500 for junior team members - whichever is less (more funding is contingent upon additional sponsors)
• Lodging and meals for the 4-night/5-day stay in Wellington

For additional information visit the websites listed below:

USA Trail Running Championships (Spring RunOff) www.tevamountaingames.com

Northfield Mountain Race www.usatfne.org

Teva Devil's Race http://www.trailrun.wors.org/

Mt. Cranmore www.whitemountainmilers.com

World Mountain Running Association www.wmra.info

USA Track & Field www.usatf.org

World Mountain Trophy 2005 www.mountainrunning.org.nz/

All American Trail Running Association www.trailrunner.com

Teva www.teva.com

SportHill Clothing www.sporthill.com