This past weekend the Teva US Mountain Running Team as well as assorted other American mountain runners competed in the 2003 World Mountain Running Trophy (WMRT) in Girdwood, AK. This was the first WMRT held in North America, the home team brought a large delegation that included USATF President Bill Roe and USATF Board Member Jerry Crockett. http://www.usatf.org/about/leadership/Roe_Bill.shtml

Racing started at 11:30 AM Saturday with the 4.2k Junior Women's race which climbed & descended 285 meters. Snow fell throughout the race. While the US runners did not place very high in the results, it must be noted that this is only the 2nd year that the US has fielded a junior team and our juniors were 16 & 17 years old competing against runners up to 19 year old. The 3 US runners (2 score) finished 10th out of 10 teams.

17:24 - Karrissa Hawitt (ENGLAND) - 1st out of 33 21:28 - Maggie McNanigal - 30th out of 33 22:11 - Jessica Pitzer - 32nd out of 33 23:03 - Erika Ross - 33rd out of 33

For complete results see: http://www.wmrt2003.org/WMJW.htm

Racing continued at 1:00 PM Saturday with the 7.7k Junior Men's race climbing and descending 600 meters. Snow fell during the race and accumulated 3 to 4 inches at the top of the course. This is also the 2nd year the US has fielded a junior men's team with our team members being 16, 17 & 18 years old. The 4 US runners (3 score) finished 11th out of 11 teams.

35:41 - Mitja Kosovelj (SLOVENIA) 1st out of 54 40:27 - Andrew Payton - 35th out of 54 40:38 - Eduardo Pasko - 38th out of 54 41:46 - Rory Egelus - 41 out of 54 42:33 - Brett Wilson - 47 out of 54 For complete results see: http://www.wmrt2003.org/WMJM.htm

The Senior Women's 7.7k race with 600 meters of up/down started at 2:30 PM under heavy snowfall. By race time almost 6 inches of snow had fallen on the top of the course. 2002 USATF Mountain Runner of the Year Anita Ortiz went into the race with high expectations for a good result and did not disappoint. As the oldest runner in the race Kari DiStefano had a solid race beating many runners half her age. The 4 US runners (3 score) finished 8th out of 15 teams.

39:02 - Melissa Moon (NEW ZEALAND) 1st out of 66 42:33 - Anita Ortiz - 8th out of 66 44:04 - Nikki Kimball - 24th out of 66 46:05 - Kelli Lusk - 39th out of 66 49:04 - Kari DiStephano - 48th out of 66

For complete results see: http://www.wmrt2003.org/WMSW.htm

While snow was NOT falling during Sundays Senior Men's race, there was still plenty of snow on the course now mixed with mud from the Citizen's race held earlier in the morning. The men ran 11.5k with 900 meters of up and down! Expectations were high as this was the best men's team ever fielded. While not all runners raced up to their ability level, every team member finished the race and pushed team to an 8th place finish out of 18 teams. Holding 5th, 9th and 16th places at the top of the first climb the US men proved they have what it takes to bring home a top 3 team finish in future years.

50:29 - Marco De Gasperi (ITALY) - 1st out of 115 54:21 - Paul Low - 15th out of 115 55:49 - Bill Raitter - 29th out of 115 58:26 - Eric Morse - 60th out of 115 58:31 - Peter De La Cerda - 61st out of 115 1:01:58 - Scott Gall - 78th out of 115 1:02:01 - Simon Gutierrez - 79th out of 115

For complete results see: http://www.wmrt2003.org/WMSM.htm

In addition to the 17 runners who ran in the Trophy races 8 other elite American mountain runners made the trip to Alaska to see how they stacked up against the worlds best. The official team alternates and other runners competed in the Citizen's race Sunday AM on the same courses as the WMRT races.

Junior Men: 42:15 - Ryan Beckett - (Alaska) - 1st out of 9 44:13 - Erik Borschel (alternate) - 2nd out of 9

Senior Women: 44:46 - Julie Bryan (former US Team member) - 1st out of 53 45:47 - Lisa Isom (alternate) - 2nd out of 53

Senior Men: 56:40 - Jason Hodgson (England) - 1st out of 93 58:06 - Mark Werner (alternate) - 2nd out of 93 58:39 - Richard Bolt (former US Team member) - 3rd out of 93 1:00:23 - Bernie Boettcher - 4th out of 93 1:02:56 - Tom Borschel - 7th out of 93 1:10:07 - Jeff Adams (US Junior Team Manager) - 20th out of 93

For complete results see: http://www.wmrt2003.org/WMOR.htm

A few pictures of this years event can be found at: http://www.wmrt2003.org/photos.htm  

For more articles on the 2003 WMRT try these links to KTUU in Anchorage: http://www.ktuu.com/archives/html/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4772

http://www.ktuu.com/archives/html/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4767

http://www.ktuu.com/archives/html/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4723

http://www.ktuu.com/archives/html/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4720

Next years WMRT is to be held at Sauze d’Oulx, ITALY and will be an uphill course. At the WMRA Congress held Friday September 19th, New Zealand beat England 19 to 6 and will host the next up/down WMRT in Wellington, NZL in 2005.