The Durango Running Club crowned local runners Caitlin Jones and Jared Wolf with 2022 Durango Runner of the Year awards Monday at the club’s annual winter meeting.
The annual party recognizes the achievements of local runners, ranging from young to old and from beginners to ultramarathoners.
“It’s a great opportunity for the club to get together to celebrate the miles we have run together,” said Matthew Krichman, Durango Running Club president.
Jones and Wolf each had impressive racing records in 2022, but they weren’t the only runners honored. Liz Haubert was awarded with the performance of the year while Brendan Trimboli was named volunteer of the year and TBK Bank the sponsor of the year.
Jones is a longtime member of the club, and her friendly and down-to-earth demeanor makes her a popular participant in the club’s group runs, the club said. In 2022, Jones won first place in the female division at the Tunnel Hill 50 Miler in Vienna, Illinois. She also was the first female to finish at three local races this year: the Mancos Cowboy Half Marathon, the Kennebec Mountain Run and Thirsty 13 Half Marathon.
Wolf finished near the top at several big local races. He crossed second at the Thirsty 13 Half Marathon, third in the Steamworks Half Marathon, fifth at the Mountain Marmot Trail Run and 12th at the Kennebec Mountain Run.
Although Wolf was new to the club, he was a constant presence at weekly club runs in 2022. “Between Track Tuesday, Wednesday Trail Runs, and Saturday Long Runs, Jared has probably attended more club runs than anyone else this year,” said Tim Funk, the club’s Wednesday night trail run coordinator.
Haubert is the only female finisher and the record holder for the new route of the High Five 100, a notoriously challenging ultra marathon in Lake City. The 100-mile route climbs 40,000 feet of elevation gain and summits five 14,000-foot peaks and five 13,000-foot peaks. Haubert completed the race this year in 37 hours and 55 minutes.
Trimboli is the race director for the Kennebec Mountain Run, a 15-mile race throughout the La Plata Mountains. As the race’s director for many years, Trimboli has volunteered countless hours to make it a great race for Durango’s running community while also raising thousands of dollars for La Plata County Search and Rescue, the beneficiary of the race.
For the last 10 years, TBK Bank has supported Durango’s running community as the presenting sponsor of the Thirsty 13 Half Marathon.
“TBK Bank is the kind of sponsor that every race director dreams of,” said Krichman, who serves as Thirsty 13’s race director. “They love being a part of our community. Every year their employees are out there at the finish line cheering on the runners and handing out finishers’ prizes.”
The Durango Running Club is a nonprofit organization serving runners in southwest Colorado and northwest New Mexico by organizing races, group runs and special events that connect, educate and encourage runners of all ages and abilities. More information at durangorunningclub.org.
