But, before I get to the MUT chapter, and for the sake of adding on my historical work, a summary of the whole event (previous editions/seasons: 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021 on Zoom):
- Was great to be back in person after last year's virtual edition! Hopefully that didn't turn to a super spreader event, we were quite packed on the mezzanine of this Chinese restaurant in South San Francisco. More than 130 attendees I believe.
- For several decades we had an LDR-specific celebration. In 2020, just before the pandemic, we switched to a Pacific Association-wide celebration, making for a packed agenda and less time to recognize every participant and discipline. Still, I'm in awe how our President, Charlotte, managed to give time to everybody and still close the event by 8:30 pm; much better time management than in the inaugural 2020 edition! We covered all our disciplines: the Youth, both Cross Country and Track & Field, Open and Masters Track & Field, Race Walking and Long Distance Running with both Road Grand Prix (Short and Long), Cross-Country, and MUT. Plus a presentation on Nancy Ditz, the 2023 Hall of Fame inductee, a recognition of our essential Officials, the Tom Moore award, and more Service Awards.
- And we had a keynote speaker as well, who brought some refreshing change to the line up of speakers: Talia Green (see her World Athletics page). First, Talia is 16 years old but already competing at the top of the U20 (under 20) competitions. Second, she is killing it at the National level in a discipline we don't hear often about, race walking. Third, she started her keynote with some of her poetry work, another passion of hers.
- The Tom Moore award went to Dave Shrock, who has been a super involved contributor to our Pacific Association for 48 years (yes, forty eight)! Like for us, MUT members who were racing at Jed Smith 50K in the morning, it was also a long day for Dave who led his traditional Super Clinic for coaches that same day.
Among the coaches learning from Tom this Saturday was a very special one, both for our association and for our MUT community: Christine Chapon. When she is not running ultras herself, when she is not volunteering at our ultra or trail races, when she isn't coordinating the volunteers at other major events, you'll see Christine giving more of her time by coaching youths, either at the schools she works at or the wonderful Running for a Better Oakland (RBO) initiative. RBO had a whole table at the banquet for the occasion. She received the Legacy Coach Award. One of her remarks stated one thing which she learned from Dave: you may not coach any Olympian, but you never know so every Youth is as important to invest in and care about!
With that, let's get to the revealing of the MUT Volunteer and Runners of the Year for 2022.
This is such both an interesting and tricky exercise to select these top awards. First, there is the challenge to make sure we are exhaustive in our consideration. Then, the difficulty to compare across age groups and races around the world, not just the races of our local Grand Prix. Then there is the depth of quality we have on our association. Shortly after taking over the Chair responsibilities from Hollis and Bill, I tried to increase objectivity by creating a scoring and evaluation framework in this post. I also consult with Richard Bolt from ATRA, who has a great knowledge and appreciation of the National and International scenes, race directors and a few other volunteers. And UltraSignup, the amazing German database DUV, Internet searches (I wish Ultra Running Magazine would publish their yearly awards issue sooner, that would save us time!). As well as cross-checking with our Pacific Association roster as nominees have to be in good standing with their membership. A requirement which is a high bar for our MUT races volunteers, many if not most of them having little incentive to register with USATF.
On the women side, we considered these amazing athletes: Bev Anderson-Abbs who, at 59, doesn't seem to know what age is about (she was our 2021 RoY), Meghan Canfield, also an age-defying ultra runner, Devon Yanko and Anna Kacius (Katie Asmuth, from Mammoth Lakes, wasn't a member in 2022 and Meghan actually changed associations after moving to Oregon). The choice wasn't easy, we picked... Devon Yanko, like Bev, also a returning RoY for our association (she was in the run for the 2010 and 2016 seasons already). Devon has actually moved to Colorado at the beginning of 2022, but she remained a member through the year. Congratulations for an outstanding 2022 season and all the best in your new association, Devon!
A few highlights of Devon's 2022 MUT season:
- 1st at Brazos Bend 50 Miler in 6:25 (2nd fastest women time ever)
- 1st at Javelina Jundred 14:36:10 (Second fastest w time ever, behind Camille Heron’s course record)
- 1st at Continental Divide Trail Run 50K
- 1st at Ram Party 50-mile
- 1st at Umstead 100-mile (improved CR by 44 minutes)
- 1st at Arches Ultra 50K (second best time; only 6 minutes behind CR)
On the men side, an even longer list of nominees: Chikara Omine, Jonah Backstrom, Tim Tollefson (2019 RoY), Rajpaul Pannu (our 2021 RoY) and Ian Sharman (who moved too, to Oregon, but is still listed on my club's roster, Quicksilver). Although he set a new World Record on 50K at one of our PA races, Ruth Anderson, CJ Alertson had only one race on UltraSignup last year. Drum roll... the Male 2022 Runner of the Year is... Chikara Omine, who got this highest distinction in 2009 and 2016.
After an injury in 2021, amazing rebound for Chikara in 2022 as he transitioned from Open to Masters, mid year, yet managed to win the Road Short Open Grand Prix, the XC 40+ Grand Prix and 30-39 MUT Grand Prix at once. On the MUT side alone:
- 1st at Ruth Anderson Memorial Endurance Run - 50M, setting a new American Masters Record at 5:05:41
- 1st at Dick Collins Firetrails 50 - 50 Miler (new course record by 30 minutes)
- 1st at Skyline 50k Endurance Run - 50K
The Volunteer of the Year recognition relies on a completely different dimension, not athleticism but altruism. A person who has given time and energy to enhance our local MUT community and our Grand Prix in particular, contributing to its operations and/or supporting its races. This year, the award goes to one of our Pacific Association members who spent more time assisting racers and RDs from his own side line of injury, as well as helping me on various tasks throughout the year: Shiran Kochavi, from Pamakids.
My teammate Keith Lubliner couldn't both race Jed Smith and attend the banquet, he got his M60-69 plaque delivered in Sacramento in the morning, and will hand over Jim Magill's M70-79 trophy. Our Quicksilver club isn't getting any younger!
As our 2023 season started with Quad Dipsea last November, this event was a late wrap-up of our 2022 season but well deserved opportunity to recognize a year worth of achievements. This Saturday morning, Jed Smith was the 2nd of our 14 events for the season. Next is FOURmidable 50K in Auburn, an event which also serves as a qualifier for Team USA for the World Championships of Mountain Running (the top 2 finishers will make the team). And there are still more than 100 available slots for this great trail party, check it out!
Whatever your favorite Track & Field discipline is, have a great 2023 season all!
PS: a few bonus pictures to continue on the LDR account
Danielle Dominechelli, our Road Women Chair, presenting the Road awards, including the Road Male RoY to Jacob Nur, SRA Elite (who was also selected as the Male XC Co-RoY!):
1 comment:
Congratulations to everyone
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