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Also of interest: 2005 USA Marathoners of the Year
2nd Annual MarathonGuide.com Outstanding USA Marathoners of the Year - 2006
by MarathonGuide.com Staff
Last year MarathonGuide.com started a tradition of honoring that category of marathoner who we believed contributed the most to the integrity and visibility of the sport. Some think that we should honor those who are the fastest. Some think we should honor those who run the most marathons. Others say we should honor those with the greatest improvement or those who overcame adversity to become a marathoner. But we've thought otherwise.
We applaud anyone who runs a marathon - but we can't honor everyone. So here, as in our first year, we have chosen the members of this list based on two criteria: 1) those who are day-to-day marathoners (at least three marathons in the year) - those who, by participating in multiple marathoners in a single year show that marathoning is and can be part of one's regular routine. And that is something that we aspire to (while one or two marathons a year isn't bad, three or more is really special). 2) those who are our leaders that have placed near the front in their marathons - these are the people who are shaping the races in which they run, and at the end of the day they are the ones whom we all seem to want to talk about, they are the ones who we aspire to be like. Whether a race is small or large does not matter, there need to be leaders.
In the second year of this award, we've used the same criteria to gain entry to this honor, but we've modified the ranking to take into account our main criteria as well as a measure of performance at the front of a race, number of marathons completed and also speed of performance. Runners who were recognized in both 2005 and 2006 are Highlighted.
As we said last year, we think these are the most important marathoners in the USA. With 428 marathon finishes in the USA between them (an average of almost 10 each) in 240 different marathons, we've seen these 44 individuals at a marathon near us - and they've all affected us. With 102 wins between them and 270 top three finishes, these are our leaders. Thank you all for providing inspiration to the rest of us and for proving that marathoning is possible and can be a regular pursuit.
Note: We apologize that our article covers USA marathoning only. We would love to provide a report covering every marathon in the world - but that would be nearly impossible. And, one last caveat, if we forgot someone in this list, please let us know!
2006 Outstanding Marathoners: Male Marathoners | Female Marathoners
2006 Male Outstanding Marathoners of the Year
| Rank | Name (SexAge)
Hometown |
2006 Experience |
2006 Top 3 Finishes |
|---|
| 1 | Engle, Chuck (M35)
Columbus, OH | 50 Marathons
Best: 2:31:34 | 41 Top 3 Finishes:
Texas Marathon(1) Mississippi Marathon(1); Orlando Xtreme Marathon(1); Callaway Gardens Marathon(1); Tybee Marathon(1); Valentine Marathon(1); Pensacola Marathon(1); Cowtown Marathon(2); Sarasota Marathon The Grouper Run(2); Lower Potomac River Marathon(2); Cherry Blossom Festival Marathon(2); Ocean Drive Marathon(1); Whidbey Island Marathon(3); Eisenhower Marathon(3); Charlottesville Marathon(2); Katrina Relief Marathon(1); Avenue of the Giants Marathon(1); Lake Geneva Marathon(1); Delaware Marathon(1); Coeur d' Alene Marathon(2); Sunburst Marathon(3); Lake Placid Marathon(1); Mayor's Midnight Sun Marathon(2); Pacific Crest Marathon(1); Foot Traffic Flat Marathon(1); Paul Bunyan Marathon (1); Gateway To The Pacific Marathon(1); Carrollton Charity Road Races(3); Frank Maier Marathon(1); Paavo Nurmi Marathon (USA)(3); Silver State Marathon(1); Pocatello Marathon(1); Johnstown Marathon(2); Ridge to Bridge Marathon(3); Harrisburg Marathon(3); Oklahoma Marathon(1); North Central Trail Marathon(1); Baton Rouge Beach Marathon(2); Kiawah Island Marathon(1); Christmas Marathon(1); Run for the Ranch Marathon(1); |
| 2 | Smith, Bryan (M44)
Thibodaux, LA | 13 Marathons
Best: 2:41:26 | 11 Top 3 Finishes:
First Light Marathon(2) B&A Trail Marathon(2); Seabrook Lucky Trail Marathon(1); Germany to France Marathon(1); Avenue of the Giants Marathon(2); Coeur d' Alene Marathon(3); North Olympic Discovery Marathon(2); Marathon-to-Marathon(1); Silver State Marathon(2); New Mexico Marathon(2); Montana Marathon(1); |
| 3 | Wardian, Michael (M32)
Arlington, VA | 10 Marathons
Best: 2:22:29 | 7 Top 3 Finishes:
Shamrock Sportsfest Marathon(1); National Marathon(1); Ocean City, MD Marathon(1); Frederick Marathon(1); Vermont City Marathon(2); Steamtown Marathon(2); OBX Marathon(3); |
| 4 | Gillette, Justin (M23)
Niles, MI | 8 Marathons
Best: 2:27:25 | 7 Top 3 Finishes:
Athens Marathon (Ohio)(1) Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon(3); Sunburst Marathon(1); Lake City Marathon(1); Johnstown Marathon(1); Des Moines Marathon(3); Midsouth Marathon(1); |
| 5 | Aldrink, Mike (M30)
Durham, NC | 8 Marathons
Best: 2:30:43 | 6 Top 3 Finishes:
Sarasota Marathon The Grouper Run(3) Hatfield-McCoy Marathon(1); Grandfather Mountain Marathon(1); Carrollton Charity Road Races(1); Erie Marathon at Presque Isle(1); Jacksonville Marathon(2); |
| 6 | Rauschenberg, Dane (M30)
Arlington, VA | 48 Marathons
Best: 3:03:57 | 3 Top 3 Finishes:
Crazy Horse Marathon(3); Drake Well Marathon(1); Run for the Ranch Marathon(3); |
| 7 | Walchli, Gregg (M45)
Seattle, WA | 18 Marathons
Best: 2:52:34 | 9 Top 3 Finishes:
Valentine Marathon(2) Lower Potomac River Marathon(3); Ellerbe Springs Marathon(2); Avenue of the Giants Marathon(3); Walk With Me Marathon(1); Foot Traffic Flat Marathon(3); Gateway To The Pacific Marathon(3); Shore to Shore Marathon(3); Leavenworth Oktoberfest Marathon(3); |
| 8 | Herr, David (M41)
Cannan, VT | 6 Marathons
Best: 2:29:40 | 5 Top 3 Finishes:
Sugarloaf/USA Marathon(2); NipMuck Trail Marathon(1); Jay Mountain Marathon(2); Clarence Demar Marathon(1); Mount Desert Island Marathon(1); |
| 9 | Ndambuki, Jonathan (M30)
Santa Fe, NM | 5 Marathons
Best: 2:14:56 | 4 Top 3 Finishes:
Deseret Morning News/KJZZ-TV Marathon(2); Quad Cities Marathon(2); Hartford Marathon(2); California International Marathon(1); |
| 10 | Njeru Kamindo, Charles (M25)
Boulder, CO | 4 Marathons
Best: 2:18:18 | 3 Top 3 Finishes:
Little Rock Marathon(1) San Antonio Marathon-Marathon of the Americas(1); Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon(1); |
| 11 | Komen, Wilson (M32)
Washington, DC | 5 Marathons
Best: 2:17:05 | 3 Top 3 Finishes:
San Diego Marathon(1) Green Bay Marathon(1); Baltimore Marathon(3); |
| 12 | Tkebuchava, Ruslan (M25)
Vancouver, WA | 12 Marathons
Best: 2:51:14 | 6 Top 3 Finishes:
Yakima River Canyon Marathon(3); Pacific Crest Marathon(2); Crater Lake Marathon(2); Mesa Falls Marathon(1); Spokane Series Marathon(2); City of Trees Marathon(3); |
| 13 | Sentinella, Terry (M42)
Anacortes, WA | 15 Marathons
Best: 2:57:51 | 4 Top 3 Finishes:
Hogeye Marathon(1); Triple Crown Trail Marathon(1); Brookings Marathon(3); Central States Marathon(1); |
| 14 | Piggott, John (M41)
Williamsburg, VA | 9 Marathons
Best: 2:34:17 | 4 Top 3 Finishes:
Lower Potomac River Marathon(1); Ocean City, MD Marathon(2); Frederick Marathon(3); Akron Marathon(3); |
| 15 | Pachev, Alexander (M33)
Provo, UT | 5 Marathons
Best: 2:25:32 | 3 Top 3 Finishes:
Moab Marathon(1) Ogden Marathon(2); Deseret Morning News/KJZZ-TV Marathon(3); |
| 16 | White, Gannon (M30)
Greeley, CO | 3 Marathons
Best: 2:30:08 | 3 Top 3 Finishes:
Eisenhower Marathon(1) Lincoln Marathon(2); Mt. Rushmore Marathon(1); |
| 17 | Krupicka, Anton (M23)
Colorado Springs, CO | 3 Marathons
Best: 2:42:47 | 3 Top 3 Finishes:
Estes Park Marathon(1) Leadville Trail Marathon(1); American Discovery Trail Marathon(1); |
| 18 | Torres, Tony (M36)
Cedar Glen, CA | 3 Marathons
Best: 2:30:53 | 3 Top 3 Finishes:
The San Francisco Marathon(2) Lake Tahoe Marathon(1); Long Beach International City Marathon(3); |
| 19 | Krebs, Steve (M44)
Lakewood, CO | 6 Marathons
Best: 2:43:21 | 3 Top 3 Finishes:
Catalina Marathon(2); Colorado Colfax Marathon(2); Boulder Backroads Marathon(1); |
| 20 | Hansen, Pete (M50)
Ferndale, WA | 6 Marathons
Best: 2:51:05 | 3 Top 3 Finishes:
Birch Bay Marathon(1) San Juan Island Marathon(2); Skagit Flats Marathon(1); |
| 21 | Dominie, Dan (M42)
Canton, NY | 4 Marathons
Best: 2:52:25 | 3 Top 3 Finishes:
Hudson Mohawk Marathon(1) Canton-St. Lawrence University Marathon(2); Adirondack Marathon(2); |
| 22 | Whalen, Thomas (M41)
St Louis, MO | 6 Marathons
Best: 2:44:27 | 3 Top 3 Finishes:
Berryman Marathon(3); Steamboat Marathon(3); Lewis & Clark Marathon (MO)(3); |
2006 Female Outstanding Marathoners of the Year
| Rank | Name (SexAge)
Hometown |
2006 Experience |
2006 Top 3 Finishes |
|---|
| 1 | Yanni, Amy (F52)
Rapid City, SD | 34 Marathons
Best: 3:21:54 | 15 Top 3 Finishes:
Martian Marathon(2); Trestle Valley Marathon(2); Journeys Marathon(2); Casper Wyoming Marathon(2); Marathon-to-Marathon(2); University of Okoboji Marathon(1); Crater Lake Marathon(3); Leading Ladies' Marathon(3); Mesa Falls Marathon(3); Montana Marathon(2); Johnstown Marathon(3); Breakers Marathon(2); Blue Springs Trail Marathon(1); Oklahoma Marathon(2); Baton Rouge Beach Marathon(2); |
| 2 | Nishide, Yukiko (F44)
Rye, NY | 15 Marathons
Best: 3:05:36 | 6 Top 3 Finishes:
Mercedes Marathon(3); Potomac River Run Marathon(1); Central States Marathon(1); Wyoming Marathon(2); North Olympic Discovery Marathon(1); Breakers Marathon(1); |
| 3 | Stewart, Tracy (F27)
Golden, CO | 7 Marathons
Best: 2:51:57 | 5 Top 3 Finishes:
Andrew Jackson Marathon(1) First Light Marathon(1); Grand Island Trail Marathon(1); Mississippi Marathon(1); Lincoln Marathon(3); |
| 4 | Yogi, Jennifer (F31)
Seattle, WA | 10 Marathons
Best: 3:03:07 | 6 Top 3 Finishes:
Valentine Marathon(1) Birch Bay Marathon(1); Yakima River Canyon Marathon(3); Wenatchee Marathon(3); Shore to Shore Marathon(2); Leavenworth Oktoberfest Marathon(1); |
| 5 | Phan, Van (F35)
Maple Valley, WA | 17 Marathons
Best: 3:17:09 | 5 Top 3 Finishes:
Valentine Marathon(2) Gateway To The Pacific Marathon(1); Auburn Marathon(2); Spokane Series Marathon(3); Halloween Marathon(2); |
| 6 | Bychkova, Marina (F30)
Ivanova, Russia | 5 Marathons
Best: 2:37:56 | 3 Top 3 Finishes:
Mystic Places Marathon(2); Philadelphia Marathon(1); Memphis Marathon(3); |
| 7 | Akor, Mary (F30)
Gardena, CA | 4 Marathons
Best: 2:33:50 | 3 Top 3 Finishes:
OC Marathon (2); Grandma's Marathon (3); Twin Cities Marathon (2); |
| 8 | McManus, Barbara (F38)
Oakham, MA | 5 Marathons
Best: 2:50:33 | 4 Top 3 Finishes:
Little Rock Marathon(2) Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon(2); Sugarloaf/USA Marathon(1); Cape Cod Marathon(2); |
| 9 | Pacev, Tania (F47)
Littleton, CO | 5 Marathons
Best: 3:14:12 | 5 Top 3 Finishes:
A Run Through Time(2) Colorado Colfax Marathon(1); Wyoming Marathon(1); Run With the Horses Marathon(1); American Discovery Trail Marathon(1); |
| 10 | Vinitskaya, Alena (F33)
Vitegck, Belarus | 4 Marathons
Best: 2:37:16 | 3 Top 3 Finishes:
Austin Marathon(3); Quad Cities Marathon(2); Hartford Marathon(2); |
| 11 | Hanna, Mary (F45)
Maple Valley, WA | 5 Marathons
Best: 2:55:25 | 4 Top 3 Finishes:
Yakima River Canyon Marathon(1) Avenue of the Giants Marathon(1); Newport Marathon(3); SEAFAIR Marathon(3); |
| 12 | Kryza, Wioletta (F38)
Gronity, Poland | 3 Marathons
Best: 2:37:55 | 3 Top 3 Finishes:
Miami Marathon(3) Detroit Free Press International Marathon(2); California International Marathon(3); |
| 13 | Gortmaker, Valerie (F31)
Omaha, NE | 4 Marathons
Best: 2:54:55 | 4 Top 3 Finishes:
Little Rock Marathon(3) Lincoln Marathon(2); Maryville Marathon, The Chamber Country Classic(1); Des Moines Marathon(3); |
| 14 | Nelson, Keri (F)
Gunnison, CO | 5 Marathons
Best: 3:06:33 | 4 Top 3 Finishes:
A Run Through Time(1) Leadville Trail Marathon(1); Pikes Peak Marathon(3); Durango Marathon(2); |
| 15 | Armstrong, Ann (F44)
Poulsbo, WA | 6 Marathons
Best: 3:05:39 | 4 Top 3 Finishes:
Yakima River Canyon Marathon(2) Capital City Marathon(2); Shore to Shore Marathon(1); Seattle Marathon(3); |
| 16 | Lehman, Melissa (F24)
Niles, MI | 4 Marathons
Best: 2:59:43 | 3 Top 3 Finishes:
Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon(2) Midsouth Marathon(1); Rocket City Marathon(2); |
| 17 | Kolpakova, Elvira (F34)
Derwood, MD | 3 Marathons
Best: 2:54:26 | 3 Top 3 Finishes:
New Denver Marathon(2) Mystic Places Marathon(3); Richmond Marathon(2); |
| 18 | Zorrilla, Gayle (F35)
Denver, CO | 9 Marathons
Best: 3:14:34 | 3 Top 3 Finishes:
Green River Marathon(1); Pacific Crest Marathon(3); Gobbler Grind Marathon(2); |
| 19 | Lowrance, Becky (F49)
Branson, MO | 5 Marathons
Best: 3:13:57 | 3 Top 3 Finishes:
Cowtown Marathon(2) Heart of America Marathon(1); Run for the Ranch Marathon(2); |
| 20 | Markley, Katie (F26)
Cary, NC | 7 Marathons
Best: 3:24:57 | 3 Top 3 Finishes:
Umstead Trail Marathon(2); Boogie Marathon(1); Ridge to Bridge Marathon(1); |
| 21 | Brautaset, Jodi (F31)
Mount Vernon, WA | 6 Marathons
Best: 3:24:30 | 4 Top 3 Finishes:
Valentine Marathon(3) San Juan Island Marathon(1); Skagit Flats Marathon(3); Leavenworth Oktoberfest Marathon(3); |
| 22 | King, Tina (F40)
Edmond, OK | 18 Marathons
Best: 3:49:29 | 4 Top 3 Finishes:
Surfside Beach Marathon(3); Andy Payne Marathon(1); Maryville Marathon, The Chamber Country Classic(3); Miracle Match Marathon(3); |
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