Last year's bronze medalist Laura Haefeli leads U.S. contingent; nine states represented among the 16 athletes
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - (July 31, 2008) - The 2008 Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team will compete at the 24th World Mountain Running Trophy in Sierre Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on Sunday, September 14. This year's Senior team - led by last year's bronze medalist Laura Haefeli - includes five past team members and five newcomers ranging in age from 24 to 42. The U.S. women have won the past two World Trophy team titles.
At the endurance event, the Junior men, like the Senior women, will run an eight kilometer course (8.38K) with 733 meters of ascending. The Junior women will cover 4.72 kilometers with 314 meters of ascending, and the Senior men will race 12 kilometers with 1,046 meters of ascending. Each of the courses consists of only uphill terrain. In odd-numbered years, the World Trophy is held on an up/down course.
SENIOR MEN (alpha order with age listed at year end)
* Eric Blake, 29, New Britain, CT
* Matthew Byrne, 33, Scranton, PA, first-time team member
* Zac Freudenberg, 30, St. Louis, MO, first-time team member
* Rickey Gates, 27, Boulder, CO, his third consecutive team
* Joe Gray, 24, Lakewood, WA, first-time team member
* Simon Gutierrez, 42, Alamosa, CO, seven-time Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team member (2002-08)
SENIOR WOMEN
* Rachael Cuellar, 26, Albuquerque, NM, member of U.S. gold medal teams (2006-07)
* Brandy Erholtz, 31, Bailey, CO, first-time team member
* Laura Haefeli, 41, Del Norte, CO, 2007 bronze medalist at World Trophy; fourth U.S. team
* Megan Kimmel, 28, Silverton, CO, first-time team member
JUNIOR WOMEN
* Alexandra Dunne, 17, San Clemente, CA
* Yasmine White, 19, Arcata, CA
JUNIOR MEN
* Levi Grandt, 19, West Union, WV
* Paul Petersen, 16, Broomfield, CO
* Tim Smith, 18, Roanoke, VA
* Jonny Stevens, 19, Vail, CO, third U.S. team
The Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team staff at the event will be Nancy Hobbs, Colorado Springs, CO; Richard Bolt, Portland, OR; Dave Dunham, Bradford, MA and Ellen Miller, Vail, CO.
For more information on the World Mountain Trophy 2008 or the Teva U.S. Mountain Running, go to: www.wmrt2008.org/ or www.usmrt.com.
Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director
(805) 696-6232; Fax = (805) 659-0016
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.RunningUSA.org.
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