Results USATF Niagara athletes delivered a strong showing on Sunday, Dec. 14, at the USATF Masters Half Marathon Championships in Spicewood, Texas, highlighted by an individual national title and a team championship performance. The championships served as the first event in the 2026 USATF Masters Grand Prix.
In the men’s 60–64 division, Alan Evans (Genesee Valley Harriers, Beaver Dams) led the way with a national championship victory, covering the course in 1:23:03 to claim the gold medal. Evans was backed by two teammates from Genesee Valley Harriers, as Mike Nier (Genesee Valley Harriers, Rochester) finished third in 1:29:00 and Michael Mertens (Genesee Valley Harriers, Farmington) placed fifth in 1:32:48. Together, the trio’s performances combined to secure the men’s 60+ team national title for Genesee Valley Harriers with a winning total time of 4:24:51.
Niagara also earned a podium finish in the men’s 70–74 division, where Daryl Brautigam (Unattached, Fredonia) placed second overall with a time of 1:42:37, rounding out a successful day for the association at the national championships.