2001 Ultra Award Winners

December 17, 2001

Running competitively in her new masters division, Ann Trason was recognized by USA Track & Field for her outstanding 2001 ultrarunning year along with fellow Californian, Rich Hanna. Hanna’s gutsy 6:43 silver medal performance at the 2001 World 100 Km Challenge in August in Cleder, France was the highest placing American men’s performance in the history of the International Association of Ultrarunner’s 100K World Challenge. Hanna raced as part of the six-man US team that he was named to in March based on his second place in the USATF 100 Km GNC Championship in Pittsburgh. Hanna was announced the recipient of the Ted Corbitt Award and Trason was awarded the Ruth Anderson Award at the USATF Conference in Mobile, Alabama on November 30, 2001.

Trason’s award-winning year included World Records for the 40 to 44 for 100 Km in 8:22, for 50 Km in 3:47, for 50 miles in 6:25, and for 40 miles in 6:25 set at the Race Across the Years in Phoenix. She won her 12th Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run in 18:33, and won the women’s division of the USATF 50-Mile Trail Championship at White River overall, setting new masters woman’s record in each.

Sue Ellen Trapp, 55 of Florida, and Rudy Afanador 42 of New York, were recognized as USATF Masters Ultrarunners of the Year. Contributing to her selection was Trapp’s multiple US records at the USATF Orlander Park National 24-Hour Championship in September. Trapp set national records 55 to 59 age group records at 100 miles in 18:35 and a 12-Hour record of 69.82 miles to win the women’s championship overall. She also set an age-group World Record by running 190.9 miles in Surgeres, France in May 2001. Performances that contributed to Afanador’s selection included his overall win at USATF Orlander Park 24-Hour Championships in Ohio where he ran 151 miles.

Criteria for this year's Runner of the Year selection included top results in USATF National Championships, performance in other ultradistance races and sanctioned international events, overall performance record during the period of November 1, 2000 - October 31, 2001, and current USATF membership.

US Master’s ultrarunner Roy Pirrung 53 of Wisconsin was inducted to the USATF Masters Hall of Fame for his 26 American Records at events ranging from 50 Km to 48-Hours over his 13-year ultra career. "The longer the event, the better he is, including finishing as the first American four times at the 250 Km Spartathlon (in Greece)," remarks Norm Green, Secretary of the USATF’s Masters Hall of Fame Committee.

In announcing the American Ultrarunning Association as the Ultrarunning Contributor of the Year, Mountain/Ultra/Trail Running Council (MUT) Co-Chair, Lorraine Gersitz says, "The MUT Running Council and the sports we represent are growing in prestige and recognition within USATF. We want to share this recognition with entities that support and strengthen ultrarunning in a significant way." USATF Ultrarunners and Contributor of the Year are selected by the USATF MUT Running Council.

For information about the MUT Running Council, contact Council Co-Chairs Lorraine Gersitz at bruceandlo@earthlink.net or Kevin Setnes at ksetnes@aol.com.

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Last updated: 09/14/05
Web Author: Lorraine Gersitz