INDIANAPOLIS - (July 2, 2007) - USA Track & Field has named the 2007 USA 100K Team that will compete at the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) 100K World Cup on Saturday, September 8 in Winschoten, The Netherlands.

This year's team includes some first-time members and also seasoned team members. The following athletes will represent Team USA.

MEN
Howard Nippert, 43, Fork Union, VA, who competes on his eighth national team was the top U.S. finisher in World Cup competition in 2002-06 including fifth place last year, his best finish ever.
Greg Crowther, 34, Seattle, WA, was a member of the fourth-place men's team that competed in the 2005 World Cup 100K in Japan, where he finished 20th individually.
Bob Sweeney, 40, Rye Brook, NY, his fifth national team
Chad Ricklefs, 40, Boulder, CO, 2002 USA 100K champion and 2004 USA 50 Mile champion

WOMEN
Kami Semick, 41, Bend, OR, 2006 USA 50K Trail champion
Connie Gardner, 43, Medina, OH, a four-time team member, 2006 USA 100 Mile Trail champion and 2003 USA 100 Mile champion
Julie Udchachon, 37, Eagle River, AK, second World team this year, 2007 USA 100K champion and 2005 USA 50K Trail champion
Carolyn Smith, 42, Milwaukee, WI, second national 100K team and 2006 24 Hour national champion
Laura Bleakley, Bedford, NH, holds a course record at the Tahoe Triple (a marathon a day over three days).
Devon Crosby-Helms, 25, San Francisco, CA, her first World team

Staff for this year's squad includes team leader Lin Gentling of Rochester, MN; assistant team leader Mike Spinnler of Hagerstown, MD and team physician Lion Caldwell, Grand Canyon, AZ.

The team receives limited funding and the athletes will pay for the majority of their trip to The Netherlands out of their own pockets. Expenses for team travel (airfare alone) last year totaled more than $15,000. The Fund for National Ultrarunning Teams, Inc. has been set up as the fundraising arm for the team. Donations are welcome and encouraged. Send your donation made payable to: Fund for National Ultraunning Teams, PO Box 1807, Madison, WI 53701-1807.

The USATF Selection Process and the lists of men's and women's performances that MUT used to select the remaining team members and alternates is available at: www.usatf.org/groups/MountainUltraTrail

source RunningUSA