By Jeff Merron
Joe Moore dominated the second NC-USATF – Endurance Magazine Men’s Long Distance Championship Series, winning Runner of the Year honors with three race victories and three second-places, while Caitlin Chrisman, who won all three series races she entered, won the women’s honor.
Ulf Andre edged Chad Newton for the honor of being named NC-USATF – Endurance Magazine Masters Men’s Long Distance Runner of the Year, while Jennifer Curtin, a long-distance specialist, took the masters women’s crown for the second year in a row.
The 2011 series consisted of eight races, ranging in length from a mile to a marathon, taking place throughout the year in North Carolina (a ninth event has been added to the 2012 series). From shortest to longest, the events in the 2011 series were The Magnificent Mile in Raleigh, the Beat the Heat 5k in Winston-Salem, the Running of the Bulls 8k in Durham, the Capital City Classic 10k in Raleigh, the Continental Divide 10k in Laurel Springs, the Wachovia Tar Heel 10 Miler in Chapel Hill, the Flying Pirate Half Marathon in Nags Head, and the OBX Marathon in Kitty Hawk.
Joe, the men’s champion, displayed an impressive range, winning the Magnificent Mile, the Continental Divide 10k, and the Flying Pirate Half Marathon, while finishing second in the Capital City Classic 10k and the Beat the Heat 5k. Bobby Mack, who finished second in the series, won the Capital City Classic 10k and the Beat the Heat 5k. Devin Swann, who finished third in the overall men’s scoring, placed first in the Wachovia Tar Heel 10 Miler in Chapel Hill. Tim Surface, who finished fourth among the men, won the OBX Marathon.
Caitlin, the women’s champ, was victorious in the Wachovia Tar Heel 10 Miler, the Running of the Bulls 8k and the Beat the Heat 5k. Just two points back was Heather Magill, who, like Caitlin, raced well over a wide range of distances, finishing second in three races – the Capital City Classic 10k, the Beat the Heat 5k and the OBX Marathon – and third in the Magnificent Mile.
The men’s masters title was closely contested. Ulf, the champion, edged Chad by just one point. Chad won the masters division in two races, the Magnificent Mile and the Wachovia Tar Heel 10 Miler, while Ulf was victorious in the Beat the Heat 5k. Ulf took the masters championship on the strength of second-place finishes in both the Wachovia Tar Heel 10 Miler and the Running of the Bulls 8k.
Jennifer won the women’s masters championship by placing in the top three in five races, including taking the masters title in the OBX Marathon. She displayed her versatility with second-place finishes in the Magnificent Mile, the Running of the Bulls 8k, and the Capital City Classic 10k. Kelly Baity finished second by winning the Beat the Heat 5k and finishing second in two other races. Joan Nesbit Mabe and Alicia Parr, who each finished first in the masters division in two races, tied for third place.
The number of different first-place finishers in many races, and the combination of speed and endurance displayed by some of the top runners, are an indication of the series’ strength, says NC-USATF LDR chair Andrew Allden, who helps organize the competition. “Part of the challenge is the variety of distance and races. It takes a truly well-rounded runner to be a champion in the series. The races cover almost every standard road distance, from the mile to the marathon, and some of the courses are flat while others are hilly and more challenging. “They literally range across the state, from a rural 10k trail race in the mountains, to a mile run downtown in our state’s capital, to a marathon on the coast . That’s why the races, both on their own and as a group, attract not only our best runners, but also thousands of participants from North Carolina and neighboring states. This past year was our most competitive ever, as a number of the state’s top runners in each division made being Runner of the Year one of their competitive goals.”
The 2012 series will kick off on March 17 with the Equinoxalizer 4 Mile in Durham, a new event and distance for this year’s series, followed by eight more exciting races. It will conclude nearly eight months later, with the OBX Marathon, which starts in Kitty Hawk and finishes in Manteo, on Nov. 11. Combined, the series’ races offer more than $25,000 in prize money.
