GENESEO, N.Y. — Hunter Brignall, Lindsay Piraino, Marty Butler, and Trisha Byler raced to championship titles Sunday at the 2026 USATF Niagara 5 km Championships, held September 6 in Geneseo as part of the Oak Tree 5K. Brignall and Piraino captured the Open titles, while Butler and Byler topped the age-graded Masters competitions.
The championships marked the sixth race of the 2026 USATF Niagara Runner of the Year Series and Niagara LDR Club Grand Prix.
Hunter Brignall (Bergen Elite) continued his strong season by capturing the Open Men’s title in 15:06, averaging 4:52 per mile. The victory was Brignall’s second consecutive Niagara championship after winning the 1 Mile title three weeks earlier in Buffalo.
Patrick Klinger (Bergen Elite), who also finished second to Brignall at the 1 Mile Championships, earned the runner-up spot in 15:19. Tim Chichester completed the podium, finishing third in 15:33.
Place
Athlete
Time
1
Hunter Brignall
15:06
2
Patrick Klinger
15:19
3
Tim Chichester
15:33
Roadkill Racing swept the Open Women’s podium, led by Lindsay Piraino, who captured the championship in 17:17 following a close battle with teammate Trisha Byler. Piraino crossed the line just three seconds ahead of Byler, who finished second in 17:20, while Marissa Tyler completed the Roadkill Racing sweep with a third-place finish in 17:52.
Lindsay Piraino
17:17
Trisha Byler
17:20
Marissa Tyler
17:52
The Masters championships were determined using age-graded scoring, with Marty Butler (Bergen Elite) producing the top men’s performance. The 41-year-old ran 15:53 to earn an age grade of 85.80.
The battle for the remaining podium positions could hardly have been closer. Jim May (Genesee Valley Harriers), 80, finished second with an age grade of 85.43 after running 24:14, while Mark Assini (Genesee Valley Harriers), 67, was just .02 behind with an 85.41 age grade and a time of 19:47.
Age Grade
Marty Butler
85.80
15:53
Jim May
85.43
24:14
Mark Assini
85.41
19:47
After finishing just three seconds behind Piraino in the Open race, Trisha Byler (Roadkill Racing) topped the Masters Women’s age-graded standings. The 42-year-old’s 17:20 performance earned an age grade of 85.80 and her second consecutive Niagara Masters championship.
Amy McMahon (Checkers AC), 58, finished second with an age grade of 83.50 after running 21:18. Jenny Keenan (Checkers AC), 43, claimed third with an 82.84 age grade and a time of 18:07.
Amy McMahon
83.50
21:18
Jenny Keenan
82.84
18:07
The team competition carried added significance in Geneseo, as each of the four winning clubs also clinched the season-long Niagara LDR Club Grand Prix title in its respective division.
Bergen Elite captured the Open Men's team championship behind a strong performance that included the top two individual finishers. Hunter Brignall, Patrick Klinger, James Dickinson, Nicholas Guarino, and Josh Zubler combined for a winning time of 1:18:08. Roadkill Racing finished second in 1:24:38, with Checkers AC third in 1:30:05. The victory also secured Bergen Elite the 2026 Niagara LDR Club Grand Prix Open Men's title.
Roadkill Racing claimed the Open Women's team title with a combined time of 1:32:56. Lindsay Piraino, Marissa Tyler, Elizabeth Bender, Alexi Bulloch, and Liz Chichester comprised the five scoring members. Checkers AC finished second in 1:38:21, followed by Bergen Elite in 1:59:03. With the victory, Roadkill Racing clinched the season-long Open Women's Club Grand Prix championship.
Genesee Valley Harriers earned the Masters Men's team championship with a cumulative age-graded score of 422.35. Jim May, Mark Assini, Josh Harter, Mike Nier, and Andy Wooding combined for the victory. Roadkill Racing finished second with a score of 380.39, while Bergen Elite was third with 375.10. The win also secured GVH the Masters Men's title in the 2026 Niagara LDR Club Grand Prix.
Checkers AC captured the Masters Women's team championship with 404.76 age-graded points. Amy McMahon, Jenny Keenan, Maura Tyrrell, Jennifer Boerner Selig, and Mary Lebrun Schultz comprised the five scoring members. Genesee Valley Harriers finished second with 382.32 points, followed by Roadkill Racing with 361.89. The victory clinched the season-long Masters Women's Club Grand Prix championship for Checkers AC.
With six races now complete, the 2026 USATF Niagara Runner of the Year Series continues into the final stretch of the season, with athletes still battling for season-long individual honors.