Posted: September 19, 2005

Athletics: Teva U.S. Junior Mountain Running Team Daily Blogs at YouthRunner.com

In a blog at YouthRunner.com, the Teva U.S. Junior Mountain Running Team members are sharing their thoughts and training as they prepare for the upcoming 22nd World Mountain Running Trophy race in Wellington, New Zealand on Sunday, September 25.

YR editor Dan Kesterson said, "Some people think that cross country running in bad weather or getting through a field of mud is tough, but mountain racing is definitely over the top as one of the most challenging sports going where you don't have to strap on a motor and a helmet. Most of us haven't had a chance to actually see a mountain race...so we wanted to offer our readers a daily snapshot into the minds of these athletes and see what makes them tick as they get up every morning to prepare for the World Mountain Running Trophy races in Wellington, New Zealand. We also wanted to give the athletes the extra recognition they deserve for qualifying to be on the team."

For fans who just can't wait for the results, YouthRunner and "Wiggle Wireless" have partnered up to offer anyone with a cell phone free athlete tracking and event updates through live text messaging from New Zealand. Just visit YouthRunner.com, click on the phone and sign-up or visit WiggleWireless.com.

This is the fourth year the U.S. will field a Junior team and with just one returning team member, Rory Egelus, who was on the 2003-04 teams, the six-member Junior squad has five first timers - three men and two women. The Juniors were selected based on their running resume which included mountain, trail, cross country, road and track performances. Athletes must not yet be 20 in the year of competition to compete as Juniors. All applicants were required to also provide a letter of recommendation from their coach, and be a current member of USA Track & Field.

Sanctioned by the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) and patronized by the International Association of Amateur Athletics Federations (IAAF), the Trophy competition will be held on a lap course. The basis for each race, of which four will be contested, is a 4.3K lap with 310m of altitude gain. The Junior men run 8.6K while the Junior women run 4.3K. Athlete place finish will be added together to provide the team score in the respective divisions (men score top three and women score top two).

Selected to represent the U.S. on the Junior men's team are Jon Horn, 18, Chandler, AZ; Jonny Stevens, 16, Vail, CO; Christian Thompson, 17, Candor, NY and Rory Egelus, 18, Palmer, AK. The Junior women include Mary Hallissey, 17, Friant, CA and Kathryn Helmerick, 16, Cheyenne, WY. Tom Borschel, Idaho Falls, ID led the Junior recruitment effort and serves as the team manager for the second consecutive year.

Find more World Mountain Running Trophy information at: MountainRunning.org.nz.

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.