"New" Masters Ultraunner: Daniele Cherniak

July 2002

Daniele Cherniak has the experience of a seasoned masters runner based on her long-term participation in USATF National Ultra Championships since the beginning of her ultra career. Cherniak, who entered the masters division in the fall of 2001, began at the top with her debut as a US team member at the 1990 World Cup 100K. Since that world championship at Edmund Fitzgerald in Duluth, MN, the only world 100K championship raced on US soil, Cherniak has competed in seven USATF ultra championships, winning one and placing in two others. 

Her consistent performances at ultra championships earned her a place on nine US 100K teams that compete against teams from countries throughout the world at the annual IAU World 100K Challenge. Cherniak has raced in Japan, Italy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Russia with her best world 100K championship performance in 1999 when she ran 7:56, for 7^th place in the women’s race. She identifies the 1998 World Challenge 100K at River Shimanto, Japan as a highlight. Inspired by the scenic race course she placed 8^th in the women’s race to assist the US women’s team in winning a Bronze Medal.

"Ultras reward experience and in general teach patience, pacing, and perseverance" Cherniak states with authority. It was experience, patience, pacing, and perseverance that she called on during her most exciting USATF ultra championship race, the 1998 GNC 100K in Pittsburgh. She overcame some mid-race bad patches and hung on to finish in 8:42 for the National Open Championship title.

Cherniak, a road specialist, takes advantage of the road national championships offered by USATF to meet ultrarunners from all over the country and to race with a high-quality field. She is looking forward to competing in her new masters division and believes that "Masters ultrarunners can be competitive overall at national championships placing with open division runners." 

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Last updated: 09/14/05
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