First Timers and Old Timers at YUTC

First time ultra run finish for Bob Prelerson

Jonathan "Scooby" Bolha crossing for the Win

Great weather again favored us for the 8th running of the Youngstown Ultra Trail Classic,  held in Mill Creek Park, Youngstown, Ohio.  Many runners new to the park were surprised at the beauty of the park and technical aspects of trail within the city of Youngstown.

At the finish line, it appeared that we had quite a few numbers of first time ultra finishers.

One special first time finish was Graham Strzelecki 
of Maryland.  He had signed up for the 50K months in advance, in May, with the approval of his father and Race Director Jim Harris.

The ultra community, while expanding rapidly, is still a small world.  Jim Harris was walking down the streets of Silverton, Colorado,  in the days before Hardrock, when a young man excitedly approached him, pointing to Jim’s YUTC shirt he was wearing  “hey I am Running in that Race!”  It turned out Grahm and his family were out on Silverton on vacation, watching the Hardrock 100.

Graham and his dad Michael at the Covered Bridge

Graham finished his first 50K at YUTC,in 7.38.59, age thirteen.

Jonatham Bolha won the 50K in 4.11.54, and Tracey Ross extended her winning streak to two in a row for the Female win in 5.41.32

Jonathan and Tracey, 50K Winners

Our second and third place female winners were running their first ultra!!  Tracie Burnett finished in 6.15.58 and Rachael Aldrich finished in 6.22.25!


Chris Coulston won the 25K Race in 2.06.28 and Valerie Watson won it for the Females in 2.35.12. 

Valerie coming off Pinball Ridge, end of the Monkey Trail

 Coach Hank’s brother, Matt Hanks, finished his first trail race by coming in second overall, in 2.14.53


Many runners return to the trails time after time.  There are now only three legacy runners, that have finished all 8 years of the YUTC: Ron Ross, TJ Hawk, and Dave Peterman.  Dave ran his 8th YUTC the week after finishing Wasatch and the Grand Slam.