Posted: July 12, 2007

Athletics (RWire): Mt. Tam Trophy Race Hosts Final Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team Selection Race

COLORADO SPRINGS - (July 11, 2007) - The inaugural Mt. Tam Trophy Race will be held at 8:00am on Sunday, July 15 in Sausalito, Calif. The event is the third and final selection race for the Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team and it is the first time the west coast has hosted a selection race in the twenty-plus year history of the U.S. team competing at the World Mountain Running Trophy Event. "Having a selection race on the West Coast is a great opportunity for some new mountain runners to learn about our program. Chris Lundy, a three-time team member, has done an excellent job getting the permits secured for the event and scouting out a great course," said Nancy Hobbs, manager of the Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team. Due to permit restrictions, race entries are limited to the first 60 competitors. There are still spaces in the race with registration available at Active.com or on race day if space is available. The race start is located one mile east of Stinson Beach, at the intersection of Steep Ravine and Dipsea trails. The 12 kilometer (7.5 mile) route boasts an elevation change of 2600 feet and is run entirely on trail, much of which is single track with technical downhills. The first ˝ mile is rolling, followed by a 1,000 foot ascent up Steep Ravine Trail including a short ladder climb at 1.2 miles. Descend 1,100 feet into Muir Woods to the three-mile point, climb back out to Cardiac Hill and return down Dipsea Trail to the finish. Accelerade and water provided at the start / finish and at PanToll aid station. There will be $500 in prize money with $300 donated by Irene Herman Insurance and Real Estate Services and $200 donated by the American Trail Running Association. The funds will be distributed evenly between the men and women with $150 to first place, $75 to the second place and $25 to third place. Cutting edge trail shoes and other prizes are provided by La Sportiva, Accelerade, 180s, and Tec Labs. At the Mt. Tam Trophy Race, the top U.S. male and top U.S. female finisher will receive an automatic World team berth. This is the third and final team selection race. The first selection race, the USA Mountain Running Championships, was hosted at Mt. Cranmore on June 24 in North Conway, NH. Rickey Gates, 26, Boulder, CO; Paul Low, 33, Belchertown, MA and Anita Ortiz, 43, Eagle, CO, received automatic berths on the team. The USA Trail Championships on June 30 in Steamboat Springs, CO served as the second selection race where Simon Gutierrez, 41, Alamosa, CO and Chris Lundy, 36, Sausalito, CA, received automatic berths. The remaining members of the Open squad, (two males, 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 Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team will compete at the 23rd World Mountain Running Trophy in Saillon, Ovronnaz, Switzerland on Saturday, September 15, 2007. This year's Trophy races are up / down events (as opposed to even-numbered years when the events are held on uphill courses) with the Senior men running three loops of the 4.050 kilometer course for a distance of just over 12K, the Senior women and Junior men running two loops of the 4.050 course for a distance slightly over 8K, while the Junior women run one loop of the course at 4.050K. Donations to the team are welcome and are used to offset travel expenses to the World Trophy. Competitors hoping to earn a spot on the mountain team at the Mt. Tam Trophy Race include: MEN Scott Gall, 32, Cedar Falls, IA, a four-time member of the Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team Shiloh Mielke, 27, Waverville, NC, was on last year's mountain team Bill Fanselow, 40, Golden, CO James Nielsen, 27, Palo Alto, CA Mark McManus, 33, Mill Valley, CA WOMEN Julie Bryan, 39, Jackson Hole, WY, a four-time member of the Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team Rachael Cuellar, 25, Albuquerque, NM, a member of the gold medal winning squad at last year's World Trophy Brandy Erholtz, 29, Bailey, CO Sarah Gall, 28, Cedar Falls, IA Laura Haefeli, 39, Del Norte, CO a three-time USA 10K Trail champion and a two-time member of the Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team Abigail Larson, 28, Salt Lake City, UT Kelli Lusk, 37, Belchertown, MA, a three-time member of the Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team Find more race information at: www.TamTrailRace.com/info. Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director (805) 696-6232; Fax = (805) 659-0016 Ryan@RunningUSA.org www.RunningUSA.org. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest