The 2025 USATF Niagara Runner of the Year Series wrapped up last month following another highly competitive season that showcased outstanding depth, consistency, and versatility across distances, terrains, and championship formats. The series featured nine Niagara championship events, with each athlete’s best six scores determining their final standings. The 9 races in the 2025 series were:
The division winners were Joseph Whelan (Open Men) of Webster; Gabrielle Orie (Open Women) of Orchard Park; John McMahon (Masters Men) of Williamsville; and Jenny Keenan (Masters Women) of Buffalo.
The Open Men’s division was dominated by Joe Whelan, who delivered one of the strongest series performances in recent memory, finishing with 139 points. Whelan, who previously won the 2023 Runner of the Year title and finished second in 2024, returned to the top of the standings in commanding fashion this season. Remarkably, he achieved his success in Niagara while also competing in five marathons during the year, including a second-place finish at the USATF Marathon Championships in December, with a time of 2:09:41.
Within the RotY series, Whelan claimed victories at the 5 Mile Championship hosted by Runnin’ of the Green (23:52), the 10 Mile Championship hosted by the Mountain Goat 10 Mile (49:55), the 3000m Track Championships (8:43.05), the 4 Mile Championship hosted by the Subaru 4 Mile (18:47), and the Trail Championship at the Ridge Walk & Run 25 km (1:45:22).
Runner-up honors went to Thomas Appenheimer with 98 points, highlighted by his victory in the 5 km Championship hosted by the Oak Tree 5 km (14:51). Hunter Brignall finished third with 96 points, earning his signature win at the 1 Mile Road Championship hosted by the Queen City Mile (4:17). Rounding out the top four was Patrick Klinger with 65 points, whose best performance came with a second-place finish at the 5 km Championship (14:55). Previous RotY standings (Open Men)
2024 - 1st Scott Loforte, 2nd Joseph Whelan, 3rd Armani Merlino 2023 - 1st Joseph Whelan, 2nd Scott Loforte, 3rd Paul Suflita 2022 - 1st Sam Morse; 2nd William Hilbert; 3rd Robert Cooper 2021 - 1st Adam Pacheck; 2nd Greg Selke; 3rd. Steve Haagsma 2019 - 1st. Adam Pacheck; 2nd Sam Morse; 3rd Tim Chichester 2018 - 1st Adam Pacheck; 2nd Garrett Kenyon; 3rd Matthew Herbert 2017 - 1st Omar Boulama; 2nd Elliott Martynkiewicz; 3rd Sam Morse
The Open Women’s division saw a commanding and undefeated series from Gabrielle Orie, who posted a perfect 150-point season while winning six championships. Orie successfully defended her 2024 Runner of the Year title.
This year, Orie once again demonstrated her range and excellence with victories at the 5 Mile Championship hosted by Runnin’ of the Green (27:01), 10 Mile Championship at the Mountain Goat 10 Mile (57:18), 3000m Track Championships (9:33.96), 4 Mile Championship hosted by the Subaru 4 Mile (21:10), 1 Mile Road Championship at the Queen City Mile (5:03), and 5 km Championship hosted by the Oak Tree 5 km (16:45).
Finishing second with 131 points was Lindsay Piraino, whose season included victories at the Mountain Running Championship hosted by the Swain Mountain Race (1:05:23) and the Trail Championship hosted by the Ridge Walk & Run 25 km (2:04:22). Trisha Byler finished third with 118 points, consistently battling at the front of the division with three runner-up finishes in the 3000m Track Championships, 1 Mile, and 5 km championships. Jenny Keenan, who also competed as a masters athlete, finished fourth overall with 111 points, highlighted by her championship victory at the Cross Country Championships (30:03). Previous RotY standings (Open Women)
2024 - 1st Gabrielle Orie, 2nd Jenny Keenan, 3rd Trisha Byler 2023 - 1st Trisha Byler, 2nd Jenny Keenan, 3rd Lindsay Piraino 2022 - 1st Annamaria Kostarellis; 2nd Trisha Byler; 3rd Katie Lembo 2021 - 1st Donna Langerfeld; 2nd Amanda Dole; 3rd Jennifer Boerner Selig 2019 - 1st Trisha Byler; 2nd Laurel Leone; 3rd Ann Ball 2018 - 1st Laurel Leone; 2nd Donna Langerfeld; 3rd Mackenzie Donahue 2017 - 1st Kathryn Potter; 2nd Donna Langerfeld; 3rd Monicah Otwori
The Masters Men’s title was captured by John McMahon, who totaled 135 points following a powerful season at age 59. McMahon also continued his dominance in the division after winning the Runner of the Year titles in both 2023 and 2024. He delivered top age-graded performances at the 3000m Track Championships (85.34%) and the Cross Country Championships (29:17, 87.22%), and secured critical points with strong finishes at the 4 Mile and Oak Tree 5 km events.
Finishing second with 110 points was Mark Andrews (age 54), who posted the best age-graded marks at the 5 Mile Championship (27:39, 89.09%) and the 10 Mile Championship (59:38, 84.71%). Jose Fuentes (age 61) placed third with 91 points, highlighted by the best age-graded performances at the 4 Mile Championship (22:34, 91.21%), 1 Mile Championship (4:58, 97.27%), and 5 km Championship (17:20, 92.37%). Fuentes also set a Canadian age-group record at the 1 Mile Championship, marking one of the most notable masters performances of the season. Previous RotY standings (Masters Men)
2024 - 1st John McMahon, 2nd Marcus Gage, 3rd Jose Fuentes 2023 - 1st John McMahon, 2nd Jose Fuentes, 3rd Chip O'Hara 2022 - 1st Chip O'Hara; 2nd Mike Nier; 3rd Marcus Gage 2021 - 1st EJ Boyce; 2nd John McMahon; 3rd Mike Nier 2019 - 1st Mark Andrews; 2nd Bill Beyerbach; 3rd Mike Nier 2018 - 1st Mike Nier; 2nd Mark Andrews; 3rd Kevin Clinefelter 2017 - 1st Kevin Clinefelter; 2nd Derrick Jones; 3rd Mike Nier
In one of the most dramatic finishes of the entire series, Jenny Keenan claimed the Masters Women’s title with 138 points, edging Trisha Byler, who finished with 135 points. With the victory, Keenan secured her third straight Masters Runner of the Year crown, adding 2025 to her titles previously earned in 2023 and 2024. Keenan, age 42, produced top age-graded efforts at the 5 Mile Championship (80.57%, 29:51), Trail Championship (63.03%, 2:05:20), and the decisive Cross Country Championships (80.11%, 30:03). Entering the final stretch of the season, Keenan needed to win the final two events to secure the title—and she delivered.
Byler, age 41, closed out her remarkable year with standout age-graded performances of 84.78% at the 3000m Track Championships, 83.07% at the 4 Mile Championship, 83.37% at the 1 Mile Championship (5:13), and 85.50% at the 5 km Championship (17:15). The series finale was expected to feature a direct showdown between Keenan and Byler; however, Byler had recently competed at the TCS New York City Marathon, where she ran a lifetime best of 2:47:57, and elected not to compete at the Cross Country Championships following that outstanding performance.
Finishing third with 129 points was Amy McMahon (age 57), whose season was highlighted by the top age-graded performance at the 10 Mile Championship (81.13%, 1:12:09). Previous RotY standings (Masters Women)
2024 - 1st Jenny Keenan, 2nd Trisha Byler, 3rd Jennifer Boerner 2023 - 1st Jenny Keenan, 2nd Jacalyn Lembo, 3rd Amy McMahon 2022 - 1st Heather Patterson; 2nd Barbara Sauer; 3rd Elizabeth Matthews 2021 - 1st Elizabeth Matthews; 2nd Amy Fakterowitz; 3rd Martha Doody 2019 - 1st Amy Fakterowitz; 2nd Barbara Sauer; 3rd Colleen Magnussen 2018 - 1st Colleen Magnussen; 2nd Karyl Sargent; 3rd Karen Blodgett 2017 - 1st Karyl Sargent; 2nd Heather Webster; 3rd Martha Doody
The 2026 Runner of the Year Series will start on March 14 with the Niagara 5 Mile championships as part of the Running of The Green 5 Miler in Buffalo. Click here for the complete 2026 schedule and details