Posted: March 19, 2007

Athletics: California to Host Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team Selection Race

For the first time in the twenty-plus year history of the U.S. Mountain Running program, California will host a Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team Selection Race. The Mt. Tam Trophy Race will be held in Marin County on Sunday, July 15 with an 8:00am start time. The 6.5 mile route boasts an elevation change of 2,100 feet, or approximately 650 feet per mile and is run entirely on trail, much of which is single track. "Having a selection race on the West Coast is a great opportunity for some new mountain runners to learn about our program. Chris Lundy, one of our two-time team members, 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. The staging area for the start and finish will be located one half mile south of Stinson Beach. The trailhead is at the intersection of Panoramic and Hwy 1 and the start line is one mile east which is visible from Panoramic Hwy. After the start and within one half mile, the course climbs 1000 feet up Steep Ravine Trail including a short ladder climb at 1.2 miles. Descent 1100 feet into Muir Woods to the three mile point, climb back out to Cardiac Hill and return down the famous Dipsea Trail to the finish. At the Mt. Tam Trophy Race, the top U.S. male and top U.S. female finisher will receive an automatic team berth. This is the third and final team selection race. The first selection race will be the USA Mountain Running Championships hosted at Mt. Cranmore on June 24 in North Conway, NH. The top two U.S. men and the top U.S. woman finisher at Mt. Cranmore will receive automatic berths on the team. The USA Trail Championships on June 30 in Steamboat Springs will serve as the second selection race where the top two U.S. men and top U.S. woman will receive automatic berths. The remaining members of the Open squad, (one male, 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 in the 23rd World Mountain Running Trophy in Saillon, Ovronnaz, Switzerland, during the weekend of September 14-16, 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. 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