The U.S. Mountain Running Team competes each fall at the World Mountain Running Trophy race. The team faces stiff competition from the world's best mountain runners.
In September of 2007, the team traveled to Ovronnaz, Switzerland to race at this year's WMRT race. The U.S. Women won a second Gold Medal with Laura Haefeli winning the first ever individual women's medal. The Junior Women won a Silver Medal, the first ever for a Junior Team. As you can see, this is an exciting time for Mountain Running in the U.S. and we hope to continue the growth and competition for spots on the U.S. Team.
This 2008 WMRT will take place at Crans Montana in Switzerland. It will be an uphill only race (as opposed to odd-numbered years when the events are held on up/down courses). To see a preview of the 2008 course, go to www.wmrt2008.org
2008 Mountain Team Qualifier Races
June
21 - U.S. Mountain Running Championships
Gorham, NH
Info
Running Trophy
24th World Mountain Running Trophy in Crans
Montana, Switzerland, during the weekend of September 13-14, 2008
Qualifying for the Team
Athletes qualify for the team by competing at one of the Team
Qualifying Races. The women’s team includes four athletes
with the top three finishers scoring for the team. Six athletes will
represent the men’s team with the top four finishers scoring.
The junior men’s team includes a maximum of four with top three
scoring while the junior women’s team is a maximum of three with
the top two scoring.
Team manager Nancy Hobbs, Colorado Springs, CO, team leader Richard
Bolt, Portland, Oregon, team manager for the juniors Dave Dunham, Bradford,
MA, and women’s team manager Ellen Miller, Vail, CO will accompany
the team to Switzerland.
At the USATF annual convention in Honolulu on December 2, the Mountain
Ultra Trail (MUT) Council chose two races from which automatic qualifiers
to the U.S. team will be selected. The USA Mountain Running Championships
will be hosted at Mt.
Washington (7.6 miles) slated for June 21 in Gorham, NH. The top
four U.S. men and the top U.S. woman finisher at Mt. Washington will
receive automatic berths on the team. Vail Mountain in Colorado will
host the second and final selection race on July 20 with the Berry
Picker Hill Climb (approximately 5 miles) where the top U.S. man,
the top two U.S. women, and the top junior man will receive automatic
berths.
The 2008 team will be selected based on the following criteria (Note: Must be current USATF members prior to the selection race):
The top four U.S. males and the top U.S. female finisher at the USAMountain Running Championships (June 21) receive automatic berths.
The top U.S. male, the top two U.S. female finishers, and the top junior male (provided he finishes within 10% of the top female finisher and/or meets junior qualifying standards) at the Berry Picker Hill Climb (July 20) receive automatic berths.
The remaining team members will be selected by the Mountain Ultra Trail Council with input from the team staff based on:
Results in the above named races.
Prior World Mountain Running Trophy performances.
International mountain results.
National mountain results.
Regional mountain results.
Trail and road results.
If you are an athlete who would like to learn more about the team, please contact one of the Team Representatives.
If you would like more information on hosting a future Mountain Team
Qualifying Race, please contact the USATF MUT Championships Chair, Paul
Kirsch.
What is Mountain Running?
In the United States, mountain running and trail running
are often used interchangeably and in most cases, refer to the same
type of running in terms of terrain, elevation changes, and running
surface. Since mountain runs are often contested on trails – either
single track or double track – the trail running term fits quite
well. Keep in mind that some mountain runs are staged on paved, or semi-paved
surfaces, but must still have significant (uphill) elevation gains to
be considered mountain runs – this is one element of mountain
running that distinguishes the sport from trail running...Read
more