The USATF Mountain, Ultra, Trail (MUT) Council is proud to announce members of Team USATF scheduled to compete at the 15th WMRA Long Distance Mountain Running Championships June 24, in Karpacz, Poland. The double loop course covers 36 kilometers (22.4 miles) with 6890 feet of ascending and descending. The route will challenge the 5 women and 5 men of Team USATF by climbing and descending the peak of Mt. ŚNIEŻKA twice. Mt. ŚNIEŻKA rises just under one mile above sea level at 5250 feet. A profile & map for the race course can be found here. The top three US finishers will score for the team in each gender division.
This is the 15th year for the Long Distance Mountain Running Championship and the fourth year the event has been designated a “world championship” by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), and the fourth year the American team will receive funding from USA Track & Field. A US team first took part in the Long Distance Mountain Running event in 2010. US women’s teams have won gold in 2010, 2012, 2014; silver in 2017 and bronze in 2015. The US men’s teams have won gold in 2010, 2014 and silver in 2012, 2015, 2017. The 2018 Team USATF is strong group who will be looking to bring home more podium hardware.
The 10 members this year’s team range in age from 21 to 36. The women’s Team USATF is comprised of Addie Bracy, Ashley Brasovan, Renee Metivier, Sandi Nypaver and Kathryn Ann Ross. The men of Team USATF will be Anthony Costales, Joseph Gray, Tatye Pollmann, David Sinclair and Andy Wacker.
Athlete Quotes:
2016 World Mountain Running Champion Joseph Gray. Joe won the 2017 USATF Mountain Running Championships.
Joe Gray (Colorado Springs, CO) – Extremely excited to not only represent Team USA for my 26th time but also to return to the beautiful mountains of Poland! I look forward to challenging myself at the World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships as it will be a far different experience than the Classic World Mountain Running Championship distance and I’m a sucker for new challenges. Keep An eye out for this amazing USA team, lots of experience toeing the line together.
Anthony Costales finished 2nd at the 2017 USATF Trail Marathon Championships & has a 2:13.12 road marathon PR.
Anthony Costales (Salt Lake City, UT) – It’s going to be surreal wearing a USA jersey for the first time. Competing as a team against other nations is a new experience I am looking forward too!
David Sinclair qualified for the team by winning the 2017 Flagstaff Skyrace (39K).
David Sinclair (Flagstaff, AZ) – I’m looking forward to my first international trail race and being on my first World Championships Team and helping Team USA to a strong finish.
2017 World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships bronze medalist Tayte Pollmann.
Tayte Pollmann (Sandy, UT) – I’m honored for the opportunity to race with this strong US team in Poland. Last year in Italy was such an amazing adventure for me and I look forward to bringing all my energy and excitement from last year’s success in Premana to Poland. Come il Vento!
Andy Wacker competed for the United States at three World Championship events in 2017.
Andy Wacker (Boulder, CO) – We have an incredible team and an awesome opportunity to compete at the highest level again this year! Personally, this race is my white whale. I have placed 2nd and 3rd, but also 45th and ended up with a DNF in 2016. This year, I am all in! Running fast up Śnieżka, the Gorski Ultramarathon, is my main goal. I recently ran 2:17 in the road marathon, and while I’m very happy with that result, the entire process of getting fit for the roads, was to use that strength on the trails this summer.
Kathryn Ann Ross qualified for the team by winning the 2017 Flagstaff Skyrace (39K).
Kathryn Ross (Durango, CO) – I’m excited to travel and race in Poland while representing the United States and thankful for this opportunity.
Ashley Brasovan won the 2017 USATF Half Marathon Trail Championships.
Ashley Brasovan (Westminster, CO) – I am beyond excited to have the opportunity to represent Team USA at the 2018 World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships. Getting back on the world stage has been a goal of mine since high school, and I am thrilled to be surrounded by some of the world’s most talented mountain runners!
Addie Bracy won the 2017 USATF Mountain Running Championships and was a top 10 finisher at the 2017 World Mountain Running Championships and Long Distance Championships.
Addie Bracy (Longmont, CO) – I am thrilled to be heading back to the World LD Championships for the second year. I’m excited to train hard and work to improve on my 6th place finish last year, and to help the women’s team upgrade our silver medal to a gold!
Sandi Nypaver finished 2nd at the 2017 USATF Trail Marathon Championships.
Sandi Nypaver (Boulder, CO) – For years I’ve enjoyed watching other runners compete at world championship events and have been inspired to work harder to get on the World Long Distance Mountain Running Team. It wasn’t easy to get my ultra running legs into shape for shorter distance, but the process certainly makes being selected on the team more rewarding. It’s a huge honor to represent the USA and I’m looking forward to the big training weeks ahead to make sure I represent my country to the best of my ability.
Renee Metivier won the 2017 USATF Trail Marathon Championships and has competed in 5 IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
Renee Metivier (Bend, OR) – Time to dust off that pack and get back on the trails….I see climbing mountains in my future! World Mountain Championships here I come, back to Poland where we won the Bronze Medal in 2010 at the World XC Championships. Can Team USA medal again? This is my 6th World Championship team, and the feeling and honor of representing your country is one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. I am extremely proud to put on the USA jersey again. Roads, track, trail… #alwaysstriving #goteam
U.S. Long Distance Mountain Running Team staff members will be Jason Bryant (Team Leader) and Richard Bolt (Assistant Team Leader). Jason is an avid mountain/trail runner, member of the USATF Mountain/Ultra/Trail Council and has been a team leader for previous IAU Trail and WMRA Long Distance events. Richard raced in three Olympic Trials in cross country skiing, is a two-time athlete on the US Mountain Running Team and has been a team staff member at 18 World Championship events. Jason and Richard will be posting team updates from Poland on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/usmrt
The 2019 World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships will be held in Argentina on November 16. The 2019 U.S. Long Distance Mountain Running Team selection criteria will be announced soon.
