Looking for Mountain/Ultra Runners of the Year Nominations

Contact: Nancy Hobbs, Chair, USATF Mountain Ultra Trail Running Council

(719) 573-4133 or trlrunner@aol.com

For Release: September 24, 2008

Nominations open for 2008

USATF Mountain Runners of the Year – Open and Masters

USATF Ultra Runners of the Year – Open and Masters

USATF Mountain/Ultra/Trail Contributor of the Year

The Mountain/Ultra/Trail running (MUT) council of long distance running will select the 2008 USATF Mountain Runners of the year and Ultra Runners of the Year based on nominations received from interested athletes, coaches, and administrators involved in the sport. The following is the selection criteria for the 2008 USATF Mountain and Ultra Runners of the Year:

1) Nominated athlete must show top results in US mountain/trail competitions for 2008 (November 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008) - this will include mountain races (these may be on paved/gravel surfaces as long as there is significant elevation loss or gain) and trail races of varying lengths below the ultra distance. USATF ultra runners of the year results on trail and ultra road courses above the marathon distance in both national and international competition.

2) The nomination window includes the period: Nov 1, 2007 through Oct 31, 2008.

3) Show top results in international competitions for 2008

4) Be an ambassador for the sport - athlete promotes and supports mountain running

5) Be a USATF member for 2008 - athlete MUST have a current USATF membership

6) To be considered for the masters category, athlete must be a minimum of 40 years of age.

To nominate an athlete, send BY NOVEMBER 10, 2008, the following information to trlrunner@aol.com and dave.dunham@comcast.net .

Nominated athlete's name, age or birth date (if you know it), athlete contact information, brief bio, reason for nomination in 2008.

Nominations received by November 10 will be considered in the selection process. After all nominations are compiled, the MUT council will vote (by November 20) for the mountain runner and ultra runners of the year from nominations received. The USATF Mountain and Ultra Runners of the Year will be honored at the annual convention in Reno, NV, on Saturday, December 6. Should you have any questions about the procedure, please contact: Dave Dunham at dave.dunham@comcast.net

We also will accept nominations for contributor of the year for mountain, ultra, trail. Past Contributor of the Year recipients have been: American Ultra Running Association, Teva, La Sportiva, North Texas Trail Runners, the Mad City 100 km, and the White Mountain Milers.