Kalr+Meltzer%2C+ultrarunner+2006
Kalr Meltzer, ultrarunner 2006
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Asheville, North Carolina’s Anne Lundbald and Sandy, Utah’s Karl Meltzer have been voted the 2006 UltraRunning Magazine’s North American runners of the year. It was the second consecutive year Lundblad was honored as the top female ultrarunner. She sped to a personal best of 7:47:18 in the IAU World Challenge 100 Km in Korea, good for sixth place in the world’s most competitive ultramarathon. It was the third straight year Lundblad led the U.S. women at the IAU 100 Km. Later in the year she won the Sunmart 50 Mile in Texas in 6:33:21, the fastest North American time at that distance in 2006, and second-best all time at Sunmart, behind only her own time from 2005.

Meltzer turned in perhaps the most prolific 100-mile season ever in North America, winning a total of six 100-mile races during the calendar year. Beginning with the HURT 100 Mile in Hawaii in January and ending with the Arizona’s Javelina 100 Mile in November, Meltzer was a veritable tour de force, winning nearly wherever he went. The tougher the 100-mile, the more Meltzer relished the challenge. “When it is all said and done, I want to have won more 100-mile races than anyone ever has,” said Meltzer of his accomplishments and future goals.

In the performance of the year category, Lundbald’s World 100 Km was voted as best among the women, while on the men’s side, Scott Jurek’ victory at the 255-km Spartathlon in Greece was the top vote-getter. Jurek, who placed second in the runner of the year category after winning top honors for three consecutive years, took on some of the world’s top ultrarunners at the Spartathlon and scored a decisive victory, clocking the second-fastest time in the history of the event, considered one of the world’s classic ultramarathons.

Among the age-groupers, 50-year-old Barrie Salisbury’s overall victory at the JFK 50 Mile in 8:00:31 was voted as the top performance among the women. On the men’s side, 51-year-old Mark Richtman’s 8:47:41 at the Miwok 100 Km took top honors. Richtman’s time netted him fourth place overall in this highly competitive event.

A board of 15 voters from all regions of North America submitted ballots this year. Complete voting results will appear in the March, 2007 issue of UltraRunning and on the UltraRunning web page, www.ultrarunning.com

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