ULTRARUNNER OF THE YEAR: JIM WALMSLEY

Boasting a new American Record in the 100k to start the year in January, his third consecutive win at the world’s most prestigious 100-mile race, Western States, in June, and finishing the season off with a new a win and course record at Ultra-Trail Cape Town (UTCT), the 2021 men’s UltraRunner of the Year award comes as little surprise. Jim Walmsley has now won five consecutive UROYs, becoming the first five-time men’s winner since the award began in 1981, breaking Tom Johnson’s four-year streak from 1994 to 1997, and also separating himself from Scott Jurek who won it four times in the early 2000s.

“It’s nice because it’s kind of acknowledging diversity amongst races and putting together a whole calendar instead of just one particular race,” Walmsley said as he reminisced on his 2021 season. “I think the 100k was my best run this year. I really felt like I got everything