Lundblad, Meltzer Named UltraRunning Magazine’s Runners of the Year 
from: UltraRunning Magazine
January 18, 2007

Asheville, North Carolina’s Anne Lundbald and Sandy, Utah’s Karl Meltzer have been voted the 2006 UltraRunning Magazine’s North American runners of the year. It was the second consecutive year Lundblad was honored as the top female ultrarunner. She sped to a personal best of 7:47:18 in the IAU World Challenge 100 Km in Korea, good for sixth place in the world’s most competitive ultramarathon. It was the third straight year Lundblad led the U.S. women at the IAU 100 Km. Later in the year she won the Sunmart 50 Mile in Texas in 6:33:21, the fastest North American time at that distance in 2006, and second-best all time at Sunmart, behind only her own time from 2005. 

Meltzer turned in perhaps the most prolific 100-mile season ever in North America, winning a total of six 100-mile races during the calendar year. Beginning with the HURT 100 Mile in Hawaii in January and ending with the Arizona’s Javelina 100 Mile in November, Meltzer was a veritable tour de force, winning nearly wherever he went. The tougher the 100-mile, the more Meltzer relished the challenge. “When it is all said and done, I want to have won more 100-mile races than anyone ever has,” said Meltzer of his accomplishments and future goals.  

In the performance of the year category, Lundbald’s World 100 Km was voted as best among the women, while on the men’s side, Scott Jurek’s victory at the 255-km Spartathlon in Greece was the top vote-getter. Jurek, who placed second in the runner of the year category after winning top honors for three consecutive years, took on some of the world’s top ultrarunners at the Spartathlon and scored a decisive victory, clocking the second-fastest time in the history of the event, considered one of the world’s classic ultramarathons. 

Among the age-groupers, 50-year-old Barrie Salisbury’s overall victory at the JFK 50 Mile in 8:00:31 was voted as the top performance among the women. On the men’s side, 51-year-old Mark Richtman’s 8:47:41 at the Miwok 100 Km took top honors. Richtman’s time netted him fourth place overall in this highly competitive event. 

A board of 15 voters from all regions of North America submitted ballots this year. Complete voting results will appear in the March, 2007 issue of UltraRunning and on the UltraRunning web page, www.ultrarunning.com. For further information, please contact publisher Don Allison at editor@ultrarunning.com or call 781-340-0616. 

2006 UltraRunning Magazine’s Runners of the Year

(first-place votes in parentheses) 

Men

      1. Karl Meltzer, 38, UT (7) 154

      2. Scott Jurek, 32, WA (7) 150

      3. Jorge Pacheco, 39, CA (1) 98

      4. Phil Kochik, 28, WA 71

      5. Hal Koerner, 30, OR 56

      6. Howard Nippert, 41, VA 53

      7. Eric Grossman, 38, KY 51

      8. Leigh Schmitt, 33, MA 40

      9. Bob Sweeney, 39, NY 30

      10. Graham Cooper, 36, CA 27

            Josh Brimhall, 31, NV 27 

Performance of the Year

      1. Scott Jurek's Spartathlon 255 Km, 22:52:18 (10) 54

      2. Howard Nippert's World 100 Km, 6:52:56 (2) 50

      3. Jorge Pacheco's Rocky Raccoon 100 Mile, 13:16:56 31

      4. Greg Crowther's Sunmart 50 Mile, 5:37:37 (1) 13

      5. Anton Krupicka's Leadville 100 Mile, 17:01:56 11 

Women 

      1. Anne Lundblad, 40, NC (9) 160

      2. Nikki Kimball, 35, MT (6) 154

      3. Kami Semick, 40, OR 110

      4. Beverly Anderson-Abbs, 42, CA 101

      5. Connie Gardner, 42, OH 73

      6. Darcy Africa, 31, CO 61

      7. Krissy Moehl, 29, WA 59

      8. Julie Udchacon, 36, AK 27

      9. Carolyn Smith, 41, WI 20

      10. Sue Johnston, 41, CA 16 

Performance of the Year   

      1. Anne Lundblad's World 100 Km, 7:47:18 (13) 73

      2. Kami Semick's World 100 Km, 7:56:19 34

      3. Nikki Kimball's Western States 100 Mile, 19:26:51 (1) 26

      4. Beverly Anderson-Abbs Vermont 100 Mile, 16:52:33 16

            Carolyn Smith's Ultracentric 24 Hour, 139.2 Miles 16 

Age Group Performance of the Year

Men

      1. Mark Richtman, 51, CA, Miwok 100 Km, 8:47:41 29

      2. Roy Pirrung, 59, WI, Ultracentric 24 Hour, 139 Miles 24

      3. Jussi Hamalainen, 60, CA, Angeles Crest 100 Mile, 23:43:18 20

Women

      1. Barrie Salisbury, 50, MD, JFK 50 Mile, 8:00:31 28

      2. Kathryn Martin, 54, NY, Camusett 50 Km, 4:00:22 24

      3. Carol LaPlante, 59, CA, Vermont 100 Mile, 23:40:30 20

            Jamie Burns, 55, CA, Quad Dipsea 28 Mile, 4:48:56 20 

UR Runners of the Year

1981-2006

1981 Marcy Schwam Bernd Heinrich

1982 Marcy Schwam Stu Mittleman

1983 Janis Klecker Bernd Heinrich

1984 Donna Hudson Bernd Heinrich

1985 Sandra Kiddy Stu Mittleman

1986 Sandra Kiddy Chuck Jones

1987 Mary Hanudel Charlie Trayer

1988 Ann Trason Stefan Fekner

1989 Ann Trason Sean Crom

1990 Ann Trason Andy Jones

1991 Ann Trason Andy Jones

1992 Ann Trason Eric Clifton

1993 Ann Trason Kevin Setnes

1994 Ann Trason Tom Johnson

1995 Ann Trason Tom Johnson

1996 Ann Trason Tom Johnson

1997 Ann Trason Tom Johnson

1998 Ann Trason Kevin Setnes

1999 Daniele Cherniak Mark Godale

2000 Deb Bollig Dan Held

2001 Ann Trason Rich Hanna

2002 Ann Heaslett Chad Ricklefs

2003 Nikki Kimball Scott Jurek

2004 Nikki Kimball Scott Jurek

2005  Anne Lundblad Scott Jurek

2006 Anne Lundblad   Karl Meltzer