Posted: July 20, 2007

Athletics (RWire): Cuellar, Mielke Victorious at Final Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team Selection Race

From Nancy Hobbs MARIN COUNTY, Calif. - (July 15, 2007) - Competitors at Sunday's inaugural Mt. Tam Trophy Race marveled at the coastline views of Stinson Beach before heading up the infamous Dipsea Trail for an approximately seven mile race. The event was the third and final selection race for the Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team and it was 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. "It was everything I'd hoped for, (it) brought back memories of the "good old days" and at the same time I got to see my friends from around the country. An added bonus was that I got to watch an excellent battle in the women's race," said Dave Dunham who finished in ninth place just in front of the lead women, and witnessed the duel for the top women's slot throughout the race. The duel involved Rachael Cuellar, 25, Albuquerque, NM, who was first to the steep 12-plus rung ladder obstacle at .8 miles into the race, just ahead of Sarah Gall, 28, Cedar Falls, IA. Cuellar kept the lead to the aid station at the Pan Toll Ranger Station at two miles into the race. Gall dropped back and Laura Haefeli, 29, Del Norte, CO, emerged as another front runner to chase Cuellar up and down the course to finish. Cuellar was first to the line in 59 minutes, 45 seconds and with her win earned a spot on her second consecutive Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team. Cuellar finished 10th among the world's best women mountain runners at last year's World Trophy competition and with her teammates won the gold medal. After the race Haefeli, who finished just six seconds behind Cuellar, said, "I started my training a bit late this year and know that I really need to work on my climbing." A solid performance was also turned in by Abby Larson, 28, Salt Lake City, UT, who finished in third (1:00:38). Larson had finished fifth in the recent USA 10K Trail Championships in Steamboat Springs, just one place behind Cuellar and two places behind Haefeli. In the men's race, Shiloh Mielke, 27, Weaverville, NC, led from the start and was first to the two-mile aid station. He emerged on the final climb in first place, just eight seconds ahead of Bill Fanselow, 40, Golden, CO who shadowed Mielke throughout. Mielke won in 52:01, while Fanselow finished runner-up in 52:09. Rounding out the top three was John Tribbia, 25, Boulder, CO, in 52:34. Following the event, Fanselow remarked, "What an awesome race for everyone! Everybody had high praise for the course, and the organization of it all." Mielke, like Cuellar, made his second consecutive Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team. 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 4.05 kilometer course for a distance of just over 12K, the Senior women and Junior men running two loops of the 4.05 course for a distance slightly over 8K, while the Junior women run one loop of the course at 4.05K. The complete Senior and Junior teams will be announced by August 1. Inaugural Mt. Tam Trophy Race - Marin County, CA, Sunday, July 15, 2007 MEN 1) Shiloh Mielke (NC), 52:01, $150, Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team berth 2) Bill Fanselow (CO), 52:09, $75 3) John Tribbia (CO), 52:34, $25 WOMEN 1) Rachael Cuellar (NM), 59:45, $150, Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team berth 2) Laura Haefeli (CO), 59:51, $75 3) Abigail Larson (UT), 1:00:38, $25 More results and information at: TamTrailRace.com. 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