Posted: March 27, 2005

Athletics: 2005 U.S. World Cup 100K Team Named

The Mountain/Ultra/Trail (MUT) Council of USA Track & Field has selected the USA 100K Team to compete in the 2005 IAU 100K World Cup under the Patronage of the IAAF in Lake Saroma, Hokkaido, Japan on June 26, 2005.

The annual 100K 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 (IAU). Another event, the IAU 24 Hours World Challenge, will be held this July in Wörschach, Austria and in 2006, it will be staged in Taipei, Taiwan. A U.S. team will also compete at that event as well.

The 2005 U.S. team members for the 100K World Cup are:

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
Laura Nelson, 39, Woodstock, VA

Alternates (in order) 
Beverly Anderson-Abbs, 40, Red Bluff, CA
Tania Pacev, 45, Lakewood, CO
Mary Fagan, 29, Northampton, MA
Stephanie Ehret, 42, Boulder, CO

MEN
Howard Nippert, 39, Pembroke, VA
Greg Crowther, 31, Seattle, WA
Chad Ricklefs, 37, Boulder, CO
Patrick Russell, Duluth, MN
Mark Werner, 32, Boulder, CO
Tim Clement, 44, Solon, OH

Alternates (in order) 
Scott Creel, 42, Bozeman, MT
Jarrow Wahman, 43, Duluth, MN
Bob Sweeney, 38, Rye Brook, NY
Brad Lael, 40, Carmichael, CA

The athletes selected by USATF/MUT comprise the officially sanctioned team from the United States participating in IAU World Cup 100K competition. Howard Nippert and Anne Riddle were automatically selected to the team based on their top ten finishes at the 2004 World 100K. MUT selected the remaining team members and alternates for the USA National 100K Team based on their ultrarunning performances that met the published criteria during the qualifying period.

Some of the aforementioned athletes may decline their spot based on training plans, injury or other commitments with family and work.

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 1993-97, 1999, 2001-04; first year manager in an official capacity Tim Yanacheck, WI, who has been on numerous 100K 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 1995-2004 and is also a seasoned ultra distance competitor.

The USATF Selection Process and the lists of men's and women's performances that MUT used to select the remaining team members and alternates is available from the: Mountain/Ultra/Trail Running Council.

Source: Nancy Hobbs, Chair USATF MUT, trlrunner@aol.com; (719) 573-4133

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
385 Oak View Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111

(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.runningusa.org.