Simon Gutierrez (37 – Alamosa, CO) has been a strong uphill and cross-country runner for many years and has recent proved he is a force to be reckoned with in up/down mountain races. Simon won the Teva Spring Run Off selection race and the famous Mt. Washington Road Race in New Hampshire. Simon finished 2^nd at the USATF National Mountain Running Championships and 6^th at the Barr Trail Race. Simon was a member of the Teva US Mountain Running Team in 2002. Simon recently finished 6^th at the Challenge Stellina – a race in the European Mountain Running Grand Prix.

Bill Raitter (33 – Estes Park, CO) is a first time member of the Teva US Mountain Running Team having won the Alyeska Mountain selection race in Girdwood, AK. This race was held on the same course as this years WMRT in September. Bill finished 4^th at the Teva Spring Run Off and 7^th at the USATF National Mountain Running Championships. Bill has competed in the 2003 World Military Cross-Country Championships as well as the 2003 USATF National Cross-Country Championships.

Peter De La Cerda (31 – Alamosa, CO) is also a first time member of the Teva US Mountain Running Team and won the first annual USATF National Mountain Running Championships in Vail, CO. Peter is a member of Team USA California and won the 2002 USATF Men’s Half-Marathon Championships in a time of 1:05:57 on a very hot day. Peter was also 2^nd at the 2000 US Olympic Marathon Trials and was an 11 time All-American at Adams State.

Eric Morse (38 – Berlin, VT) has been a member of several US Mountain Running Teams and finished 2^nd at the Northfield Mountain selection race. In 2003 Eric won the USATF New England Mountain Running Series for the 6^th time and was USATF Mountain Runner of the Year in 2001. Eric has been a member of the US Mountain Running Team in 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001 & 2002. Eric has also been named Vermont Runner of the Year 10 times.

Scott Gall (29 – Waterloo, IA) finished 2^nd in the Teva Spring Run Off selection race. Scott finished 5^th at the 1999 WMRT in Sabah, Malaysia and 27^th at the 1997 WMRT in Czech Republic. Scott was 2^nd at the Barr Trail Race in 2001 and won the US Sky Running Half-Marathon Championships in 2000.

Mark Werner (31 – Boulder, CO) is a first time member of the Teva US Mountain Running Team and finished 2^nd at the Alyeska Mountain selection race. Mark finished 3^rd at the Barr Trail Race and 6^th at the USATF National Mountain Running Championships. Mark recently traveled to Susa, Italy where he finished 18^th in the Challenge Stellina – a race in the European Mountain Running Grand Prix.

Anita Ortiz (39 - Eagle, CO) makes her second appearance on the team having finished 11^th last year in Austria. She was this year's USA Mountain Running Champion and received her automatic berth after winning the Alyeska Mountain race. She is a three-time winner of the Pikes Peak Ascent ('01, '02, '03). Ortiz was the 2002 USA Snowshoe Champion and 2002 USATF Mountain Runner of the Year showing her versatility and strength in the mountains and on the trails in conditions ranging from snow and ice to dirt, rocks, and grass.

Kelli Lusk (33 – Amherst, MA) makes her first US team after earning a spot with her win at Northfield Mountain. Lusk is a two-time winner of the Barr Trail Mountain Race ('02, '03), and has been racing in Europe this summer to gain international experience before heading to Worlds in Alaska.

Kari DiStefano (44 – Telluride, CO) earned a berth after winning the Teva Spring Run Off. She makes her third appearance on the team (2001, 2002, 2003) having finished as the top American woman in 2001 on an up/down course in Arta Terme, Italy. She was the 2001 USATF Mountain Runner of the Year and the 2002 masters USATF Mountain Runner of the Year.

Nikki Kimball (32 – Elizabethtown, NY) makes her third US team (2001, 2002, 2003). Kimball was second to Lusk at Northfield, but has beaten Lusk in other mountain race meetings this year. Kimball is also an experienced ultra runner having recently won, setting a new women's course record, at the 50 Mile USATF Championships in White River, WA last month. She has been named to the US 100K team to compete in Taiwan this November.

Lisa Isom (31 – Vail, CO) makes her first US team as an alternate having finished third in the Teva Spring RunOff. Isom is best known for her skill as a duathlete in the Xterra series of mountain bike/trail race events. Her tenacity and strength on technical terrain will be an asset should she need to step in to race in Alaska.

Sponsors of this year's team include Teva and SpecialOps Nutrition. Adam Druckman, Teva Sports Marketing Manager, says "Teva is pleased to introduce two new products in the Spring 2004 trail running line. Both shoes will include design features inspired by the Teva US Mountain Running Team."