Posted: November 29, 2005

Athletics: Top U.S. Mountain & Ultra Runners Named

From David Monti

© 2005 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

Honoring the top U.S. athletes in mountain and ultrarunning, USATF Mountain Ultra Trail Running Council Chair Nancy Hobbs announced yesterday that Simon Gutierrez of Alamosa, Colo., and Laura Haefeli of Del Norte, Colo. have been named U.S. Mountain Runners of the Year, and Dave Mackey of Boulder, Colo., and Anne Riddle Lundblad of Asheville, N.C., have been named U.S. Ultra Runners of the Year.

These four athletes, along with the top masters recipients, will receive their awards on Saturday, Dec. 3 in Jacksonville, Fla., at the USATF convention.

Gutierrez, 39, a physical therapist, was the first American at the past two World Trophy events where he finished 17th in 2004 and tenth in 2005. Haefeli, 38, who works in a family business, was the top American finisher at the World Mountain Running Trophy (8th place). Lundblad, 39, was the top American at the IAU World Cup 100-K finishing with an impressive silver medal, just seconds out of first place. Mackey, 36, a real estate agent, won the 2005 U.S. 50-K trail title, setting a couse record.