Posted: July 5, 2005

Athletics: Bag Sponsor - ground™ - Joins the 2005 Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team

The Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team has recently signed ground™ as the official bag sponsor. The USA National Team has been title sponsored by Teva, the official footwear of the team, since 2002; team uniforms are from official apparel sponsor SportHill and 180s is the team's official ear warmer, glove and sunglass sponsor.

"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 ground™ will help us achieve our goals," said Nancy Hobbs, Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team manager.

According to Ryan Clark, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for ground™, "We are both pleased and honored to be supporting an entire team of such high caliber athletes. Ground™'s mission statement is Differentiate or Don't Bother, this mission seems to speak for these athletes also. They have taken running and racing in a new direction embracing all of the inherent difficulties. We applaud that and are proud to be associated with their efforts."

Ground™ is supplying the Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team with bags and packs. The bags lead the industry in regard to design, materials and fabrication.

"The bags were designed with the traveler, student and athlete in mind. Offering features like cell phone holders, MP3 holders, music ports, hydration bladder compatibility, laptop sleeves and extra tough construction make the bags the perfect travel companion," contineud Clark.

For additional information on ground™, visit its website at: groundwear.com.

The Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team will compete in the 21st World Mountain Running Trophy in Wellington, New Zealand on Sunday, September 25.

Source: Nancy Hobbs, Manager, Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team.