Congratulations Jorge and Kami!
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Moeben Ultrarunner Jorge Pacheco squeezes out the mens Ultrarunner of the Year title by only 3 votes! Kyle Skaggs was right behind, while Mike Wardian took third.
Kami Semick edged Jamie Donaldson (the 100 mile queen) by only 18 votes. Suzannah Beck mopped up 3rd in the voting a couple dozen behind Jamie.
My opinion:
Jorge finally got some love as he’s been running fast for many years. This one could have gone either way with Kyle and Mike. Had Kyle run a few more races he might have edged Jorge, but Jorge stacked them up. I will have to say I think Kyle would beat Jorge at any distance but quantity won the vote this year. Mike also was very impressive stacking up many fast marathon times…but marathons aren’t ultras, and unfortunately don’t count.
Kami’s voting was well deserved. Her run at the 100k world’s was stellar. She then beat other top girls at the North Face 50, which in reality (in my opinion of course) was the championship and the deciding race for 2008. All her other races were fast and solid. Suzannah was close too, and is just as fast as Kami, but failed to dominate when she needed to. Unfortunately the NF 50 course marking took Suzannah off course, had she not made a wrong turn she may have taken home the $10,000. Such is the life of a trail race.
Jamie is the winner of the most durable ultrarunner of the year. Her multiple 100 mile wins, all with very fast times, would put her on top most years, but this year turned out to be a very competitive season.
Speedgoat of the Year????, because goats run on trails, Kyle and Jorge get the nod, now we have to figure out who to give it to. Badwater was a road race……remember that!
I’m working on it, and trying to figure out how to put that ugly skull trophy in a box.
