April 5, 2005

The third annual IAU 24-Hour World Challenge will be held in Worschach, Austria on July 16 - 17, 2005. We are currently seeking athletes interested in participating on the 24-Hour National Team.

To qualify for team consideration the following standards must be met. The top six male and top six female "A" standard performances during this period will be offered spots on the team.

"A" Standard

Men: 140 miles or better in a road or track 24-hour event between July 1, 2003 and April 1, 2005.
Women: 125 miles or better in a road or track 24-hour event between July 1, 2003 and April 1, 2005.

"B" Standard

Additional athletes may also be named, provided they meet the following standards.

Men: 130 miles or better in a road or track 24-hour event between July 1, 2003 and April 1, 2005.
Women: 115 miles or better in a track or road 24-hour event between July 1, 2003 and April 1, 2005.

If there are fewer than three athletes of either gender who meet the "A" standard and accept a position on the team, athletes meeting the "B" standard will be named to the team in rank order based on performance, until three athletes of each gender have accepted positions on the team. Additional athletes meeting the "B" standard may be named beyond those outlined in the previous paragraph, at the discretion of the selection committee.  

For the list of qualifying performances and athletes, click here.

Funding levels for "B" standard athletes have yet to be determined, and may vary depending on which criteria the athlete is named. Performances at uncertified road events will only be considered if there is substantial evidence supporting the accuracy of the course which includes international events where the accuracy of the course is well established.

Team members, once named to the team, are asked to limit events leading up to the 24-Hour World Challenge that would in anyway jeopardize their best performance.

At the 2004 24-Hour World Challenge held in October in Brno, Czech Republic, the women’s 24-Hour National Team earned the bronze led by Stephanie Ehret’s third-place finish. The men finished fourth. The fourth annual IAU 24-Hour World Challenge will be held in Taipei, Taiwan March 3-4, 2006.

For additional information on the event, please visit www.iau.org.tw  or www.24stundenlauf.at 

To apply for the 24-Hour National Team contact Roy Pirrung at ultraone@charter.net  or Scott Eppleman at run2xs@earthlink.net