2015 USA Trail Marathon Championships / Moab Trail Marathon Elite Preview
After first hosting the USA ½ Marathon Trail Championships in 2013, Danelle Ballengee’s and her Moab Trail Marathon crew will be hosting the USA Trail Marathon Championships for the 2nd consecutive year this Saturday.
Once again this race will feature a strong elite field including former race winners Megan Kimmel (2014), Joseph Gray (2013 ½ Marathon) and Stevie Kremer (2013 ½ Marathon).
In addition to national championships being up for grabs, the 2015 Moab Trail Marathon is also a qualifier for the 2016 WMRA World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships to be held June 18 in Slovenia. The top 2 men & women will earn automatic spots on Team USA. (Must be USA Track & Field members and US citizens). Learn more about qualifying for the US Long Distance Mountain Running Team here:
https://trailrunner.com/trail-news/2016-world-long-distance-mountain-running-championships-u-s-team-qualification/
Here’s a look at some of the elite runners toeing the start line for the race:
- Joseph Gray – 5th place & top US finisher at the 2015 World Mountain Running Championships this past September in Wales. Former Mountain, Ultra, Trail and Cross Country national champion. Member of over 18 US national teams. Former USATF Mountain Runner of the Year.
- Josh Arthur – Altra sponsored professional ultra/trail runner. 1st place El Vaquero Loco 50k. 1st place 2014 Run through Time Marathon.
- Buzz Burrell – the legend. Long time mountain and trail runner, Buzz pioneered many famous FKT’s and currently leads Ultimate Direction.
- Maria Dalzot – La Sportvia sponsored professional runner. Past member of several US Mountain Running Teams between 2007 and 2014 and the 2014 USA ½ Marathon Trail Champion.
- JP Donovan – Salomon professional runner. Competed for Team USA at the World Mountain Running Championships in Wales. 5th at the 2015 USA Mountain Running Championships in Bend, OR.
- Anna Mae Flynn – Top woman at the Flagstaff Skyrace VK. 5th place at Run the Rut 50k.
- Chris Grauch – 1st master at the USA Mountain Running Championships. 1st master at the USA ½ Marathon Trail Championships. Top 40+ master at the World Masters Mountain Running Championships in Wales.
- Megan Kimmel – 2nd place Sierre-Zinal race. 1st place GoPro Spring Runoff. 1st place Run the Rut 25k and US Skyrunning Champion.
- Stevie Kremer – Salomon professional runner. 2012 World Long Distance Mountain Running Champion. 4th place at the Zermatt Marathon. 1st place at the Crystal Mountain Skyrace. 1st place at the Whiteface Mountain Skyrace VK.
- Amanda Lee – Hoka One One professional runner. 11th place at the USA Mountain Running Championships. 11th place at the USA ½ Marathon Trail Championships.
- Jorge Maravilla – Hoka One One professional runner. 4th place Lake Sonoma 50 Mile. 4th place Way Too Cool 50k. 2nd place Tarawera 100k.
- Mario Mendoza – Nike Trail Team. 2nd place UROC 100k. 1st place Cayuga Trails 50 Mile. 2nd place at the 2014 Moab Trail Marathon.
- Nuta Olaru – 3rd place at the Blue Sky Trail Marathon. 21st at the 2014 Pikes Peak Ascent.
- Tim Parr – Hoka One One professional runner. Past member of the US Mountain Running Team. 1st place Run Rabbit Run. 1st place Imogene Pass Run. 1st place Tushar Trail Run.
- Tayte Pollmann – Freshman at the University of Portland. 18th place at the World Mountain Running Championships (junior men’s 8k). PR’s 3200m 9:55.38 and 3 Mile 15:39.4.
- Justin Ricks – 3rd place at the 2014 Moab Trail Marathon. 3rd place at the Ultimate Direction Dirty 30 50k.
- Aaron Saft – 1st place Bays Mountain Trail Race. 11th place Cayuga Trails 50 Mile.
- Michele Yates – 1st place Gorge Waterfalls 100k. 2nd place Gunnison 100k. 1st place Cimarron 50k.
You can find photos of the 2013 Moab Trail Half Marathon and USA ½ Marathon Trail Championships here: https://goo.gl/photos/yazKg1eBD57nW3AXA
Internet access is limited at the Moab Trail Marathon event site. When available you can get race updates and photos from @usmrt.
……AND, there’s still time to submit nominations for the 2015 USATF Mountain, Ultra, Trail Runner of the Year awards. See the current nominees and submit your own here: https://trailrunner.com/trail-news/usatfs-mut-council-announces-call-for-runner-of-the-year-nominations/
