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 2010, the team will compete at Kamnik, Slovenia on September 5th in an uphill event. Click here for more info on the course.
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.
The 2008 WMRT saw the US Men win their first ever team medal. Alex Dunne won the first ever Junior US Women's individual medal with her 3rd place finish.
In 2009, at the World Mountain Running Championships the US women placed 3rd as a team.
2010 Mountain Team
Qualifier Race
June
19 - U.S. Mountain Running Championships
Pinkham Notch, NH
Mount Washington
Running Trophy
26th World Mountain Running Championship in Kamnik, Slovenia on September 5th, 2010
Qualifying for the Team
Open Athletes qualify for the team by competing at the Team Qualifying
Races (In 2010 there is only one qualifying race). 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. (Go
to our blog to see the 2010 team)
Junior team members are not required to compete at the Qualifier races although it is encouraged to help provide them with mountain running experience. To learn more about qualifying for the 2010 Junior Team, please go here. Deadline for submitting resumes is July 21st.
Team manager Nancy Hobbs, Colorado Springs, CO, team leader Richard Bolt, Portland, Oregon, team manager for the juniors Paul Kirsch, Madison, NH, and women’s team manager Ellen Miller, Vail, CO will accompany the team to Slovenia.
The 2010 team will be selected based on the following criteria (Note: Must be current USATF members and US citizens prior to the selection race):
The top six U.S. males and the top four U.S. females at the USA Mountain Running Championships (June 19)
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