USATF Mountain, Ultra, Trail Council Announces 2019 National Championship Races

Editor’s Note: You can find a list of 2020 USATF MUT National Championships here.

USA Track & Field’s Mountain Ultra Trail (MUT) Council announces the following 12 races scheduled to host National Championships in 2019. A total of $56,000 in prize money will be awarded and medals will be presented to the top 10 overall USATF athletes and top three in each 5 year masters’ age group starting at 40. Above photo by Joe Viger Photography.

Addie Bracy at the 2018 USATF Mountain Running Championships at Loon Mountain.

Here is a list of the 2019 USATF National Championships in mountain, ultra & trail running confirmed as of December 1, 2018.

• February 15 – 100 Mile Ultra Road – Jackpot Ultra – Henderson, NV – $10,000 prize money – Race Director: Ken Rubeli – Championship Liaison: Howard Nippert
• February 16 – 50 km Ultra Trail – FOURmidable 50K – Auburn, CA – $4000 prize money – Race Director: Paulo Medina – Championship Liaisons: Richard Bolt & Lin Gentling
• March 3 – 50 km Ultra Road – Caumsett State Park 50K – Lloyd Harbor, NY – $3000 prize money – Race Director: Carl Grossbard / Mike Polansky – Championship Liaison: Lin Gentling
• April 13 – 100 km Ultra Road – Mad City 100K – Madison, WI – $2250 prize money – Race Director: Timo Yanacheck – Championship Liaison: Lin Gentling
• June 1 – 50 Mile Ultra Trail – Cayuga Trails 50 Mile – Ithaca, NY – $8500 prize money – Race Director: Ian Golden – Championship Liaison: Lin Gentling
• June 9 – Half Marathon Trail – Montage Mountain Trail Half Marathon – Scranton, PA – $6000 prize money – Race Director: Ben Robinson Liaisons: Joe Jurczyk & Nancy Hobbs
• September 14 – 24 Hour Road – North Coast 24 Hour – Cleveland, OH – $5000 prize money – Race Director: Brian Polen – Championship Liaisons: Howard Nippert & Tracy Outlaw
• September 29 – Mountain – Waterville Valley Mountain Race – Waterville Valley, NH – Prize money $3000 – Race Director: Chris Dunn & Jeff Hixon – Championship Liaison: Richard Bolt
• September 29 – 100 km Ultra Trail – J & J Trail Race – Rock Springs, TX – $2000 prize money – Race Director: Chris McWatters – Championship Liaison: Roy Pirrung
• October 27 – 50 Mile Ultra Road – Tussey Mountainback – Boalsburg, PA – $5000 prize money – Race Director: Michael Casper – Championship Liaison: Lin Gentling
• November 2 – Marathon Trail – Moab Trail Marathon – Moab, UT – $4800 prize money – Race Director: Danelle Ballengee – Championship Liaisons: Lin Gentling & Nancy Hobbs
• December 7 – 100 Mile Ultra Trail – Brazos Bend 100 – Needville, TX – $5000 prize money – Race Director: Rob Goyen – Championship Liaison: Joe Prusaitis

For questions about the USATF MUT National Championship races contact Joe Jurczyk ([email protected]), USATF MUT Championship Chair.

Athletes who participate in National Championships and Team USA competitions are subject to drug testing performed by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in accordance with the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing.

Eric LiPuma winning the 2018 USATF 50K Road Championships at Caumsett State Park.

The following 2019 World Championship events will also be contested by top U.S. mountain, ultra & trail runners:

• June 8 – Trail World Championships – Ultra Trilhos Dos Abutres – Mirandha do Corvo, Portugal – U.S. Team Selection Criteria – U.S. Team Leader: TBA
• June TBA – International U18 Mountain Running Cup – Italy – U.S. Team Selection Criteria TBA – U.S. Team Leader: TBA
• July TBA – NACAC Mountain Running Championships – Mexico – U.S. Team Selection Criteria TBA – U.S. Team Leader: TBA
• September 1 – IAU 50 km (Road) World Championships – IAU 50 km World Championship – Brasav, Romania – U.S. Team Selection Criteria – U.S. Team Leader: TBA
• October 26 – IAU 24 Hour (Road) World Championships – IAU 50 km World Championship – Albi, France – U.S. Team Selection Criteria – U.S. Team Leader: Howard Nippert
• November 15 – World Mountain Running Championships (10 km) – Federation Teams Only – Villa La Angostura, Argentina – U.S. Team Selection Criteria (top 4 women/men at the USATF Mountain Running Championships) – U.S. Team Leader: TBA
• November 16 – Long Distance Mountain Running Championships (42 km) – K42 Adventure Marathon – Villa La Angostura, Argentina – U.S. Team Selection Criteria – U.S. Team Leader: TBA

Sabrina Little on her way to winning the USATF 100 Mile Trail Championships in Texas.

American Trail Running Association (ATRA) founder & Executive Director Nancy Hobbs is chairperson of the USATF MUT Council. ATRA’s Director of Marketing, Richard Bolt, is a member of the USATF MUT Council and Executive Committee. Nancy lead three meetings of the MUT Council over two days at last weeks USA Track & Field Annual Meeting in Columbus, Ohio. You can read the complete meeting minutes here.

An explanation of USATF MUT racing disciplines:

• Mountain: The annual USATF Mountain Running Championships is a 10 to 12 km event alternating uphill (even numbered years) and uphill/downhill (odd numbered years) organized in accordance with IAAF Rule 251. Women & men run the same distance and a separate start is preferred. Organizers design a course profile & distance which closely mirrors the World Mountain Running Championships of the same year. Poles are not allowed.
• Ultra Road: These are championships longer than 26.2 miles which are held primarily on roads or a track. Parts of the course could also be on paved paths closed to vehicular traffic or dirt roads. Events follow IAAF Rule 240 (Road Races) with some exceptions for 252.8 (Refreshment Stations) to allow for crewing. Championships which are also IAU label events may be subject to certain IAU rules which could differ from IAAF rules. Consult the race director to determine which rules will apply.
• Ultra Trail: These are championships longer than 26.2 miles which are held primarily off-road where the majority of the course is closed to vehicular traffic. Events generally follow IAAF Rule 252. Crewing at aid stations is allowed. Poles may be allowed.
• (Sub-Ultra) Trail: These are championships at 26.2 miles and shorter which are held primarily off-road and where the majority of the course is closed to vehicular traffic. Events generally follow IAAF Rule 252. Poles may be allowed.