Athletes with outstanding road, trail, and mountain performances will be recognized at an awards breakfast in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, December 4, during USATF’s annual meeting as USATF’s Mountain Ultra Trail Council Runners of the Year and Contributor of the Year 2014.
Among the award winners are first-time honorees, as well as repeat winners and even a husband and wife team. Colorado, California, Oregon, Texas, Indiana, North Carolina, Virginia, and Arizona are represented among the winners with the Golden State boasting the most award winners with five and the Centennial State close behind with four. Following is the complete list of categories awarded for 2014.
Men’s Mountain Runner of the Year – Lyndon Ellefson Memorial Award: Joe Gray, Colorado
Men’s Master Mountain Runner of the Year: Simon Gutierrez, Colorado
Women’s Mountain Runner of the Year: Allie McLaughlin, Colorado
Women’s Master Mountain Runner of the Year: Nuta Olaru, Colorado
Men’s Sub-Ultra Trail Runner of the Year: David Roche, California
Men’s Master Sub-Ultra Trail Runner of the Year: Jason Bryant, North Carolina
Women’s Sub-Ultra Trail Runner of the Year: Megan Roche, California
Women’s Master Sub-Ultra Trail Runner of the Year: Christine Lundy, California
Men’s Ultra Trail Runner of the Year: Max King, Oregon
Men’s Master Ultra Trail Runner of the Year: Michael Wardian, Virginia
Women’s Ultra Trail Runner of the Year: Nicole Studer, Texas
Women’s Master Ultra Trail Runner of the Year: Magdalena Boulet, California
Men’s Road Ultra Runner of the Year – Ted Corbitt Memorial Award: Max King
Men’s Master Road Ultra Runner of the Year: Michael Wardian
Women’s Road Ultra Runner of the Year – Ruth Anderson Award: Emily Harrison, Arizona
Women’s Master Road Ultra Runner of the Year: Traci Falbo, Indiana
MUT Contributor of the Year: Richard Bolt, California
“It’s exciting to have such a high quality group of athletes,” said USATF Mountain Ultra Trail Council vice chairperson Howard Nippert. “Their performances are truly amazing. This year, with the addition of the sub-ultra trail and ultra trail runner of the year categories, all aspects of the sport can be appropriately awarded and recognized.”
To be considered for the awards, a current USATF membership was required as well as U.S. citizenship. Masters’ category athletes are those at least 40 years of age. Masters’ athletes were also eligible for open awards.
A handful of athletes received automatic nominations based on performances in 2014 national and world championship events. The council conducted an outreach for additional nominations from the mountain, ultra and trail running community through November 23, 2014. Once all nominations were collected, members of USATF’s Mountain Ultra Trail Council voted. Nominees are profiled at this link.
In addition to the awards breakfast, meetings of all the disciplines within USATF are held. As part of the five-day program, the Mountain Ultra Trail Council is slated to conduct two days of meetings to discuss budget, announce championships for 2015 and beyond, provide a recap of the year’s business and share ideas for the coming year. Members of the council include USATF association representatives, athletes, and elected officials.