One Voter’s Analysis of the 2025 North American Ultrarunner of the Year Awards

The “UltraRunning Magazine” North American Ultrarunner of the Year (UROY) awards, which have been presented since 1981, are arguably the most prestigious in North American ultrarunning, recognizing runners from or living in the region. For the past 17 years, I have been honored and privileged to serve on the panel of voters that selects the award winners. Each voter has their own system for ranking runners, and the final results always include some surprises. This year, as I have done in the past, I thought it would be fun to compare my ballot with the actual award winners and provide some analysis and commentary.

Jim Walmsley wins the 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail. Photo: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks

2025 Men’s Top-10 North American Ultrarunners of the Year

Here is the final top-10 list for the men’s North American Ultrarunner of the Year award:

1. Jim Walmsley
2. Caleb Olson
3. Ben Dhiman (U.S., lives in France)
4. David Roche
5. Hans Troyer
6. Seth Ruhling*
7. Chris Myers
8. Will Murray
9. Mathieu Blanchard (France, lives in Canada)*
10. David Sinclair

*Included in the final top 10 and not on my ballot

Caleb Olson chasing down Chris Myers through Deadwood Cemetery at mile 49.5 of the 2025 Western States 100. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi

Here is the final top-10 list from my ballot:

1. Jim Walmsley
2. Caleb Olson
3. Hans Troyer
4. Ben Dhiman
5. Will Murray
6. David Sinclair
7. Drew Holmen**
8. Kilian Korth**
9. Chris Myers
10. David Roche

**Included in my ballot and not in the final top 10

Ben Dhiman finishing in second at the 2025 UTMB. Photo: iRunFar/Bryon Powell

In comparing my ballot to the final results, a few notable things popped out:

• There were two runners who made the final list, but were left completely off my ballot: Seth Ruhling and Mathieu Blanchard. I weighed Drew Holmen’s third place at CCC and win at the Lavaredo Ultra 80k ahead of Ruhling’s domestic results at the Canyons 50k, Black Canyon 100k, and Western States 100. Additionally, I was very impressed with Kilian Korth’s dominance of the 200-mile distance in 2025 — where he won all three of the triple crown events — which gave him my eighth-place vote over Blanchard.
• The biggest discrepancy in my ballot was with David Roche, whom I had 10th, and the panel had fourth. I suspect this resulted from the way I weigh DNFs in my calculations. Roche’s DNFs at Big Alta 50k and Western States weighed heavily in my ranking.
• I placed Hans Troyer ahead of Ben Dhiman, which went against the panel’s vote. I was simply impressed with Troyer’s depth and breadth of performances in 2025 and felt he deserved a spot on the podium, especially after his dominating win at the JFK 50 Mile.

Hans Troyer crossing the American River during the 2025 Western States 100. Photo: iRunFar/Bryon Powell

2025 Women’s Top-10 North American Ultrarunners of the Year

Here is the final top-10 list for the women’s North American Ultrarunner of the Year award:

• 1. Katie Schide (U.S., lives in France)
• 2. Anne Flower
• 3. Abby Hall
• 4. Rachel Entrekin
• 5. Megan Eckert
• 6. Tara Dower
• 7. (tie) Jade Belzberg (Canada)
• 7. (tie) Riley Brady***
• 9. Careth Arnold
• 10. Courtney Dauwalter

***Brady identifies as non-binary and competes in the women’s race. They were included in the final top 10 and not on my ballot.

Katie Schide on her way to winning the 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi

Here is the final top-10 list from my ballot:

1. Katie Schide
2. Rachel Entrekin
3. Careth Arnold
4. Anne Flower
5. Abby Hall
6. Tara Dower
7. Jade Belzberg
8. Megan Eckert
9. Courtney Dauwalter
10. Emily Hawgood (Zimbabwe, lives in the U.S.)****

****Included in my ballot and not in the final top 10

Rachel Entrekin on her way to winning the 2025 Cocodona 250 Mile. Photo: iRunFar/Bryon Powell

As on the men’s side, there were a few notable differences between the lists:

• I gave Emily Hawgood the nod over Riley Brady in my final analysis. While Brady’s three wins — including a course record at the Black Canyon 100k — were impressive, their Western States DNF placed her behind the always-steady Hawgood, whose only blip was an underwhelming performance at UTMB. I gave Hawgood bonus points for finishing there, even though it was not her day.
• I placed Rachel Entrekin two places higher than the panel, based on her incredible racing volume, and the fact that she won every race she entered and had zero DNFs. I also down-ranked Abby Hall slightly due to her DNF at UTMB.
• While Anne Flower’s year was incredible, I thought both Entrekin and Careth Arnold had more impressive years from start to finish. This may be by virtue of the value I place on volume and not necessarily on the merits of individual performances.

Riley Brady winning the 2025 Black Canyon 100k in course record time. Photo: Howie Stern

John Medinger, the former publisher and owner of “UltraRunning Magazine” who presides over this annual exercise, says to the voters, “Each year we find ourselves comparing apples and oranges (or, as one voter put it: apples versus oranges versus pineapples versus bananas. And maybe kumquats!) How does a fast 50k stack up against a stellar six-day run? A fast road time versus a tough mountain run? While these variables will inevitably inject a degree of subjectivity, just try to be as analytical and objective as you can.”

A final comment: As I look ahead to next year’s balloting, I think I will need to adjust the way in which I weigh DNFs. The sport has clearly changed dramatically since I first became a voter, and I will need to adjust both my expectations and procedures moving forward.

Until next year…

Bottoms up!

Anne Flower setting a new women’s 50-mile world record at the 2025 Tunnel Hill 50 Mile. Photo: Micki Colson/Colson Photography

AJW’s Beer of the Week

This week’s Beer of the Week comes from Marble Brewery in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Marble Cerveza is a deliciously simple take on a classic Mexican lager. Weighing in at a smooth 5% ABV and featuring a crisp and sweet aftertaste, Marble Cerveza is an instant classic.

Call for Comments

• What did you think of the final top 10 of the North American Ultrarunner of the Year awards?
• Who else would you have included?