UltraRunning Magazine Announces Pacheco, Semick as Ultrarunners of the Year

This just in from UltraRunning Magazine:

Pacheco, Semick Named 2008 Runners of the Year

2008 Runner of the Year Kami Semick at the Miwok 100K (Joe McCladdie photo)

Jorge Pacheco of Los Angeles and Kami Semick of Bend, Oregon have been voted the 2008 UltraRunning Magazine North American ultra marathoners of the year.

Pacheco edged Kyle Skaggs of Glenwood, New Mexico by three votes, 185-182, in the closest vote in the award’s 28-year history. Pacheco won six of the eight races he competed in during the year, including the 135-mile Badwater Ultra across Death Valley in July and the Rocky Raccoon 100-Mile run in Huntsville, Texas in February.

Semick won five races during 2008, and placed second in the IAU 100km World Championships in Italy. She was the winner of two of North America’s most competitive events, the Miwok 100km race and The North Face Challenge 50 Mile, both in northern California. Badwater and Umstead 100 Mile winner Jamie Donaldson of Littleton, Colorado polled a close second, with Eugene, Oregon’s Susannah Beck third.

Kyle Skaggs’ stunning course record run at the Hardrock 100 Mile in Silverton, Colorado was voted the men’s outstanding performance of the year. Semick’s 7:33:58 at the IAU World Championship was voted the outstanding women’s performance.

In age group awards, a world age-group record of 133.19 miles in 24 hours set by 60-year-old Roy Pirrung of Kohler, Wisconsin at the IAU World Challenge in Seoul, Korea was honored as the top male performance. Voters had more difficulty choosing which of Diana Fitzpatrick’s runs was the most impressive. Fitzpatrick, 50, of Larkspur, California, won top honors for her 7:30:42 at the American River 50 Mile, with her 19:51:43 at the Vermont 100 placing second.

A board of 20 voters from all regions of North America submitted ballots this year.

2008 UltraRunning Magazine's Runners of the Year
(first-place votes in parentheses)

Men
1. Jorge Pacheco, 41, Los Angeles, CA (7) 185
2. Kyle Skaggs, 23, Glenwood, NM (7) 182
3. Michael Wardian, 34, Arlington, VA (5) 152
4. Anton Krupicka, 25, Colorado Springs, CO (1) 109
5. Scott Jurek, 35, Seattle, WA 86
6. Mark Lundblad, 39, Swannonoa, NC 85
7. Hal Koerner, 32, Ashland, OR 70
8. Leigh Schmitt, 36, Conway, MA 52
9. Erik Skaden, 36, Folsom, CA 34
10. Todd Braje, 32, McKinleyville, CA 33

Also receiving votes: Erik Skaggs, OR, 18; Andy Jones-Wilkins, ID, 17; Nate McDowell, NM, 17; Byron Lane, NY, 10; Eric Grossman, VA, 10; Geoff Roes, AK, 8; Jon Olsen, CA, 8; Dave Mackey, CO, 7; Keith Knipling, DC, 7; Josh Brimhall, NV, 6; Jasper Halekas, CA, 5; Scott Jaime, CO, 5; Joe Ziegenfuss, MN, 5; Matt Carpenter, CO, 4; Karl Meltzer, UT, 3; Sean Andrish, VA, 2; Brian Kistner, SC, 2; Steve Stowers, CA, 2; Graham Cooper, CA, 2.

Women
1. Kami Semick, 41, Bend, OR (10) 217
2. Jamie Donaldson, 34, Littleton, CO (7) 199
3. Susannah Beck, 40, Eugene, OR (3) 147
4. Suzanna Bon, 44, Sonoma, CA 90
5. Connie Gardner, 45, Medina, OH 82
6. Nikki Kimball, 37, Bozeman, MT 79
7. Bev Anderson-Abbs, 44, Red Bluff, CA 52
8. Devon Crosby-Helms, 25, Seattle, WA 50
9. Anne Riddle Lundblad, 41, Swannonoa, NC 34
10. Prudence L'Heureux, 38, Tahoe City, CA 30

Also receiving votes: Justine Morrison, DC, 28; Jenny Capel, NV, 22; Christine Crawford, WI, 21; Laurie McGrath, ON, 17; Michelle Barton, CA, 12; Krissy Moehl, OR, 9; Meghan Arbogast, OR, 8; Anita Ortiz, CO, 7; Helen Cospolich, CO, 6; Betsy Nye, CA, 4; Ronda Sundermeier, OR, 3; Jenn Shelton, OR, 2.

Performance of the Year – Men
1. Kyle Skaggs’ Hardrock 100 Mile, 23:23:30 (14) 122
2. Dave Mackey’s Miwok 100 km, 7:53:19 (1) 61
3. Scott Jurek’s Spartathlon 153.3 Mile, 22:20:01 (1) 41
4. Brian Robinson’s Barkley 100 Mile, 55:42:27 27
5. Erik Skaggs' Quad Dipsea 28.4 Mile, 3:52:16 19

Also receiving votes: Matt Carpenter's The North Face Challenge 50 Mile, 16; Hal Koerner's Angeles Crest 100 Mile, 9; Michael Wardian's Caumsett 50 km, 8; Jorge Pacheco's Leona Divide 50 Mile, 6; Anton Krupicka's American River 50 Mile, 4; Eric Grossman's Tussey Mountainback 50 Mile, 3; Duncan Callahan's Leadville 100 Mile, 2; Jorge Pacheco's Badwater 135 Mile, 1; Michael Wardian's White River 50 Mile, 1.

Performance of the Year – Women
1. Kami Semick’s IAU World Championship 100 km, 7:33:58 (16) 138
2. Jamie Donaldson’s Badwater 135 Mile, 26:51:33 (1) 48
3. Susannah Beck’s White River 50 Mile, 7:32:12 (1) 41
4. Susannah Beck’s Way Too Cool 50 km, 3:55:22 30
5. Dipali Cunningham’s Self-Transcendence 6-Day, 467 miles 23

Also receiving votes: Jamie Donaldson's Umstead 100 Mile, 17; Anne Riddle Lundblad's Bull Run Run 50 Mile, 13; Jennifer Pharr-Davis’ Appalachian Trail record, 9; Meghan Arbogast's IAU World Championship 100 km, 7; Connie Gardner's JFK 50 Mile, 4; Nikki Kimball's Tahoe Rim Trail 100 Mile, 3; Anita Ortiz’ San Juan Solstice 50 Mile, 3; Connie Gardner's Burning River 100 Mile, 3; Kami Semick's Miwok 100 km, 2; Suzanna Bon's Quad Dipsea 28.4 Mile, 2; Suzanna Bon’s Cascade Crest 100 Mile, 2; Jenn Shelton's American River 50 Mile, 2.

Age Group Performances of the Year – Men
1. Roy Pirrung, 60, WI, IAU World Challenge 24 Hour, 133.19 miles (9) 88
2. John DeWalt, 72, PA, Hardrock 100 Mile, 47:54:58 (2) 58
3. Bob Hayes, 82, MT, LeGrizz 50 Mile, 11:00:33 (2) 51
4 (tie). Jerry McGath, 70, MS, Arkansas Traveller 100 Mile, 26:39:55 15
4 (tie). Bill Dodson, 73, CA, Firetrails 50 Mile, 10:16:14 15

Also receiving votes: Rick Miller, 61, Wasatch 100 Mile, 13; Richard Webb, 51, IAU World Championship 100km, 12; Mike Tselentis, 82, Quad Dipsea 28.4 Mile, 8; Wally Hesseltine, 65, Angeles Crest 100 Mile, 5; Bill Dodson, 73, Helen Klein 50 Mile, 5; Karsten Solheim, 71, Vermont 100 Mile, 5; Tony Mauro, 65, Rocky Raccoon 100 Mile, 4; Richard Hillestad, 65, Avalon 50 Mile, 4; Ralph Hirt, 70, Javelina 100 Mile, 3; Frank Probst, 65, JFK 50 Mile, 3; Tom Bunk, 66, Ice Age 50 Mile, 3; Roy Pirrung, 59, Mad City 100 km, 3; Leo Lightner, 79, JFK 50 Mile, 3; Michael Kanning, 16, Jed Smith 50 Mile, 3; Nick Bassett, 63, Heartland 100 Mile, 3; Ed Ayres, 67, Helen Klein 50 km, 2; Eric Clifton, 50, Noble Canyon 33 Mile, 2; Dennis Mowbray, 61, Quad Dipsea 28.4 Mile, 1; Don Landry, 61, Self-Transcendence 10-day, 1.

Age Group Performances of the Year – Women
1. Diana Fitzpatrick, 50, CA, American River 50 Mile, 7:30:42 (6) 77
2. Diana Fitzpatrick, 50, CA, Vermont 100 Mile, 19:51:43 (5) 66
3. Kathy Welch, 55, CA, SF One Day, 105.6 miles 23
4. Mae Palm, 68, BC, Comrades 53.8 Mile, 11:46:47 22
5. Nancy March, 61, CA, Quicksilver 50 Mile, 10:12:38 (1) 19

Also receiving votes: Nancy March, 60, Leona Divide 50 Mile, (1) 16; Juliane Scheberies, 74, Ruth Anderson 50 km, 16; Emma Riconda, 51, Caumsett 50 km, 14; Lorraine Bunk, 67, Ice Age 50 Mile, 13; Suprabha Beckjord, 51, Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile, 9; Nancy March, 60, Way Too Cool 50 km, 8; Betty Frankum, 68, Orange Curtain 50 km, 6; Barbara Isom, 61, Mountain Masochist 50 Mile, 4; Eldrith Gosney, 67, Skyline 50 km, 3; Ruth Liebowitz, 66, Caumsett 50 km, 2; Barbara Elia, 63, American River 50 Mile, 2; Hwa Ja Andrade, 67, American River 50 Mile, 1.

UltraRunning Magazine Runners of the Year
1981 - 2008

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 Bolig, 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
2007 Nikki Kimball, Scott Jurek
2008 Kami Semick, Jorge Pacheco