2006 Trail Runner Magazine Trophy Series Winners

Lots of New Faces in 2006 TRM Trophy Series Results

Trail Runner Magazine (TRM) announced the winners of the 2006 TRM Trophy Series, the largest trail running series in the world. Once again, the women dominated the Ultra division, with Washington's Van Phan scoring an incredible 1462 points (500 more than 2nd place Tracy Thomas, and double the points of Nikki Kimball). Krissy Moehl placed 5th in this highly competitive group. Graham Cooper used his win at the Western States 100 to eke out a Series win for the men, with perennial ultra favorite Eric Grossman getting second.

(TRM Trophy Series winner Van Phan, photo courtesy of Glenn Tachiyama)

In the Marathon-and-Under division, two runners from Tell City, Indiana battled all year for the top spot - Hugh Davis held on to win the competition, with Brian Beckort coming in second and winning his age group. Annette Van Balen won the Women's Division, heading a list of fresh new names as age group winners. The one exception - speed demon Tania Pacev, who chalks up her third age group TRM Series win.

It's unclear if TRM is giving away a trip to Italy like they did last year (the 2006 rules web page says "2005 rules" and indicates a Grand Prize). If so, Adam Blum of Los Gatos, CA raced 18 races in the Series and would win the package.

Result Completeness Still a Factor, But Getting Better

One of the quirky things about the TRM Series is that some races that are listed in the Series are not counted in the final tally. This is a unique issue among North American trail running series. TRM depends on Race Directors to send in result information with complete contact info for each runner (this is, after all, largely a marketing program for TRM), and sometimes it just doesn't happen. In the previous two years of the Series, uncounted races determined who made (or didn't make) the final podium for age group and overall winners.

This year, 14 of the ~170 races did not get counted. Although 8% of races not counting may sound like a lot, it is an improvement over the last two years, where uncounted races averaged ~12%. A quick check of the results of uncounted races indicate that this year the results would stand even if they had been counted (in fact, Van Phan would have another 400 points for her win at the Lost Soul Ultra in Canada). So congrats everyone!

Great job to all who competed this year. I hope you had a great time!

- SD

(official press release)

Off-Roaders Rage
Trail Runner announces Trophy Series Winners

NOVEMBER 10, 2006, CARBONDALE, COLORADO—The third annual Trail Runner Trophy Series, sponsored by LaSportiva and GoLite, included 107 races ranging from five kilometers to 100 miles, and 20,000 dirt-loving runners who talled points in their quest for trail-running greatness over seven months.

In the Ultramarathon category, which had 4222 competitors, women outscored the men, claiming the top seven positions in the overall standings. Van Phan, 35, of Maple Valley, Washington, participated in 14 races, earning 1462.2 points, far ahead of second-place winner Tracy Thomas, 45, of Champaign, Illinois, with 901.8 points. Third was Western Sates 100 Mile Endurance Run champion Nikki Kimball, 35, of Bozeman, Montana, with 772 points.

Only a dozen points separated the top three point-earners in the men’s Ultramarathon category. Graham Cooper, 36, of Oakland, California, came in first with 574 points, largely due to his win at the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run. Second was last year’s ultra champion, Eric Grossman, 38, of Emory, Virginia, with 572 points, and third was 63-year-old Rainer Schulz of Roy, Washington, with 562 points.

In the Marathon and Shorter category, Hugh Davis, 42, from Tell City, Indiana, took the overall lead in May and held onto top spot all season, finishing with 518.5 points. Second overall was Brian Beckort, 33 years old, also of Tell City, Indiana, with 401.9 points. Adam Blum, 42, from Los Gatos, California, ran the most Trophy Series events in 2006, with 18 finishes earning him 334.3 points for third spot.

Two women from Laramie, Wyoming topped the women’s field in the Marathon and Shorter category. Annette Van Baalen, 38, was first with 351.3 points and Gail Leedy was second (231.8 points). Rounding out the field was last year’s overall winner, Tania Pacev, 47, of Littleton, Colorado, with 209.6 points.

Young marathoners turned on the heat in the 10-19 year old age groups, as five young men scored the same number of points for doing one marathon each, but top honors went to Vito Fazzio for having the fastest time, 3:47:46, at the Haulin Aspen Marathon in Bend, Oregon, in August. Three girls in the 10-19 age category tied at 104.8 points each for completing a marathon, but Allison Stockstell, from Hamburg, Iowa, came out ahead wth her 4:35:16 finishing time at the Deadwood Mickelson Trail Marathon in Deadwood, South Dakota on June 4^th.

Eighteen prize packages including diverse goodies from Trophy Series sponsors are awarded to the top three male and female winners in the Ultra category and each top age group placer in the Marathon and shorter category. Plus, two lucky Trophy Series participants will receive prize packages through a random drawing. The packages include products from GoLite, LaSportiva, DeFeet, Julbo, Spenco, Injinji, Salomon, Protech, Pro Tech Athletics, Nathan, Mont Bell, Kahtoola, Honey Stinger and Bad to the Bone.

Participants can visit www.trailrunnermag.com for full results on the 2006 Trail Runner Trophy Series. Profiles of the top men and women will appear in the special Trophy Series race issue of Trail Runner magazine, to be released in February, 2007.

Plans for the 2007 Trophy Series is already underway. Interested race directors interesting in being a Trophy Series race should apply online before December 1, 2006 at: http://trailrunnermag.com/surveys/2007TrailRunnerTrophySeries.HTM

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Top Ultramarathon Women

1. Van Phan, Maple Valley, WA, 35, 1462.2 points
2. Tracy Thomas, Champaign IL, 45, 901.8 points
3. Nikki Kimball, Bozeman MT, 35, 772 points

Top Ultramarathon Men

1. Graham Cooper, Oakland CA, 36, 574 points
2. Eric Grossman, Emory WA, 38, 572 points
3. Rainer Schulz, Roy WA, 63, 562 points

Marathon and Shorter Age Group Winners, Women

• 10-19 years old--Allison Stockstell, Hamburg, IA, 19, 104.8 points
• 20-29 years old--Rachel Lynn Post, Plymouth, MI, 26, 183.4 points
• 30-39 years old--Annette Van Baalen, Laramie, WY, 38, 351.3 points
• 40-49 years old--Tania Pacev, Littleton, CO, 47, 200 points
• 50 and over--Gail Leedy, Laramie WY, 52, 231.8 points

Marathon and Shorter Age Group Winners, Men

• 10-19 years old--Vito Fazzio, Vancouver WA, 16, 104.8 points,
• 20-29 years old--Nathan Brown, Littleton CO, 27, 175.3 points
• 30-39 years old--Brian Beckort, Tell City, IN, 33, 401.9 points
• 40-49 years old--Hugh Davis, Tell City, IN, 42, 518.5 points
• 50 and over--Heath Hibbard, Montrose, CO, 53, 185.4 points

Trail Runner is the country’s leading magazine for off-road running enthusiasts and athletes. In-depth editorial and compelling photography informs, entertains and inspires readers of all ages and abilities to enjoy the outdoors and to improve their health and fitness through the sport of trail running. www.trailrunnermag.com

For nearly 80 years, La Sportiva has been leading in technical outdoor-footwear innovation and design. We do this because we believe. We believe your trail-running shoes should never come between you and the planet—they should ground you to it. La Sportiva is always inventing, always rethinking, always dreaming. Trail runners ourselves, we recognize the thin line between dream and belief. And then we erase it by designing the best shoes on the planet. www.sportiva.com

GoLite sparked a lightweight revolution in 1999 when it introduced a full range of ultra-lite equipment and clothing for backpacking and other active outdoor adventures that rocked the outdoor sports world. Today the company sponsors more than 50 professional athletes in trail running, adventuring racing, mountain biking, fast-packing and thru-hiking and regularly shares fast + lite techniques in outreach seminars around the world. For more information on GoLite products, athletes, and outreach programs, visit www.GoLite.com or call 888-5-GoLite toll-free within the U.S.

Trail Runner is the country’s leading magazine for off-road running enthusiasts and athletes. In-depth editorial and compelling photography informs, entertains and inspires readers of all ages and abilities to enjoy the outdoors and to improve their health and fitness through the sport of trail running. www.trailrunnermag.com

For nearly 80 years, La Sportiva has been leading in technical outdoor-footwear innovation and design. We do this because we believe. We believe your trail-running shoes should never come between you and the planet—they should ground you to it. La Sportiva is always inventing, always rethinking, always dreaming. Trail runners ourselves, we recognize the thin line between dream and belief. And then we erase it by designing the best shoes on the planet. www.sportiva.com

GoLite sparked a lightweight revolution in 1999 when it introduced a full range of ultra-lite equipment and clothing for backpacking and other active outdoor adventures that rocked the outdoor sports world. Today the company sponsors more than 50 professional athletes in trail running, adventuring racing, mountain biking, fast-packing and thru-hiking and regularly shares fast + lite techniques in outreach seminars around the world. For more information on GoLite products, athletes, and outreach programs, visit www.GoLite.com or call 888-5-GoLite toll-free within the U.S.