March 4, 2006

FuelBelt Joins the Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team as the Official Hydration Supplier

The Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team will compete in the 22nd World Mountain Running Trophy in Bursa, Turkey on Sunday, September 10. The USA National Team has been title sponsored by Teva, the official footwear of the team, since 2002, team uniforms are sponsored by official apparel sponsor SportHill, and 180s is the team's official ear warmer, glove, and sunglass sponsor. The team recently signed a two-year agreement with FuelBelt, Inc., as the official hydration system of the team. 

"Developing relationships with industry leaders is integral to the future of our sport and the future of our team in terms of promotion, visibility, and success. Partnering with FuelBelt will help us achieve our goals," said Nancy Hobbs, Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team manager.
According to David Norton, Marketing Manager for FuelBelt, Inc., "The Teva US Mountain Running Team represents the pinnacle of mountain running. It is our pleasure to supply hydration products to such an elite group of athletes. We feel confident our products will help team members achieve their personal and collective goals."

FuelBelt is supplying the Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team with product to include race number belts, hydration belts, reflective gear, and headlamps. The products lead the industry in design, materials and fabrication. "Great products are born out of genuine usage," says Norton. "We design, test, and more importantly, use our products every day. Our multi-bottle Fuel Belts and bottle carriers are entirely unique and are widely recognized as the products of choice by top endurance athletes around the world. We look forward to supplying the Mountain Team with a selection of high quality and functional gear to keep them hydrated, visible, and running at their peak."

This year's Trophy races are uphill events (as opposed to odd-numbered years when the events are held on up/down courses) with the senior men running 12km, the senior women and junior men running 8.5km, and the junior women running 3.4km.

The women's team includes four athletes with the top three finishers scoring for the team. Six athletes will 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. Team leader Richard Bolt, Nashua, New Hampshire, junior team manager Dave Dunham, Bradford, MA, and women's team manager Ellen Miller, Vail, CO will accompany the team to Turkey.

At the USATF annual convention in Jacksonville, FL in December 2005, the Mountain Ultra Trail (MUT) Council chose three races from which automatic qualifiers to the U.S. team will be selected. The USA Mountain Running Championships will be hosted by Mt. Washington slated for June 17 in Gorham, NH. The top three U.S. men and the top U.S. women finisher at Mt. Washington will receive automatic berths on the team. The Loon Mountain Race, a 10Km, on June 24 in Lincoln, NH will serve as the second selection race where the top U.S. man will receive an automatic berth. Traveling to the Rockies on July 9 competitors will enjoy the third and final selection race, the Vail Mountain Trophy Race in Vail, CO. In Vail the top U.S. male and top U.S. female finisher will receive an automatic team berth.

The remaining members of the squad, (one male, one female), will be selected by the Mountain Ultra Trail Council with input from the team staff based on results at the selection races, past World Trophy events, national and international racing experience including mountain, road, cross country, and track.

Athletes MUST run a selection race in order to be considered for the team. 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 (r_boltski@yahoo.com ) and Nancy Hobbs (trlrunner@aol.com ). The full team will be announced by August 1, 2006.

For additional information visit the websites listed below:

FuelBelt, Inc. www.fuelbelt.com
David Norton (Marketing Manager, FuelBelt, Inc.): (401) 289-0724 dave@fuelbelt.com 

USA Mountain Running Championships www.gsrs.com
Loon Mountain Race www.whitemountainmilers.com
Vail Mountain Trophy Race www.vailrec.com
World Mountain Running Association www.wmra.info
USA Track & Field www.usatf.org
World Mountain Trophy 2006 www.wmrt2006.org
All American Trail Running Association www.trailrunner.com
Teva www.teva.com
SportHill Clothing www.sporthill.com
180s performance gear www.180s.com