With multiple standout performances and race victories, Robert Marchinko of Salisbury and Brennan Liming of Apex have earned BigfootRunning.com's 2007 North Carolina Runner of the Year titles.

Robert Marchinko, a 36 year-old elementary physical education teacher at Morgan Elementary School in Gold Hill, posted an outstanding year, winning his fourth Charlotte Grand Prix Series title. Marchinko, who also coaches cross country and track at South Rowan High School, had several first place finishes including a course record (1:22:43) at his first trail race, the 14 mile Run at the Rock in Burlington. He was second place overall and first North Carolina finisher at the OBX Marathon for the second year in a row with a time of 2:25:05. Robert also excelled at shorter distances with wins in many 5K and 10K races including the Ace & TJ's Grin Kids 5K, Panthers BluePoints 5K and Hit the Brixx 10K.

Among women runners, Brennan Liming of Apex dominated the competition in distances from 5K to half marathon. Liming, a 31 year-old stay-at-home mom and part-time running coach, returned to racing in fine form after having a baby last year, winning the Second Empire Grand Prix Running Series, a highly competitive 7-race series in Raleigh, NC. Brennan also beat out her female competitors at the American Tobacco Trail 10 Miler in 1:02:50 and the Battleship Half Marathon in Wilmington in 1:21:36. The former UNC-Wilmington runner finished off her racing year with an impressive victory at the Inside Out Sports Turkey Trot 8K in 29:40.

Marchinko and Liming both traveled around the state to compete, and finished on top of the field wherever they ran. Both runners also enjoyed success in road and trail races.

Regional honors. North Carolina is a big state, and its regions reflect very different kinds of races -- and racers. Aaron Saft and Anne Lundblad earned the title of Western North Carolina Runner of the Year with great performances over mountain trails. Along the coast, Tom Clifford and Melanie Lenk, both of Wilmington, had top finishes to win Eastern North Carolina Runner of the Year honors.

Aaron Saft, 30 year-old co-owner of Asheville's Foot RX, led Western North Carolina runners with several first place finishes including setting the course record in the Dupont Forest Trail Marathon. His finishing time of 2:30:53 in that race -- which served as the 2007 USA National Trail Marathon Championship -- was the fastest trail marathon time in the country in 2007. Saft also set a course record at the Run at the Rock 7-miler in Burlington, NC, with a time of 39:58 and cruised to victory in 31:39 at The Bear, a 5 mile run to the top of Grandfather Mountain in July.

Anne Lundblad of Swannanoa continued to outpace her Western North Carolina competition in trail and road races in 2007, mastering competitors in distances as great as 50 miles and as short as 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). During a year that started with a win at the Salem Lakeshore Frosty 50K in Winston-Salem (with a time of 03:45:26, just shy of her 2003 course record time of 3:42:08), in November Lundblad claimed her 9th USATF title by winning the National Trail Marathon Championship at Dupont Forest in 3:06:01. She also captured her first Mount Mitchell Challenge title this year, winning that grueling 40-mile race in 5:51:44, almost 23 minutes ahead of her closest female competitor. Lundblad won the Umstead 50 Mile race in Raleigh and set a course record of 6:58:02.

Tom Clifford of Wilmington was the man to beat in Eastern North Carolina in 2007. Clifford, a 24 year-old personal trainer and running coach, ran to first place in twelve races ranging from 5K to half marathon. Clifford's victories included the Wilmington Roadrunners Turkey Trot, the NC Oyster Festival 10K and the Seaside Shuffle 5K. Tom was first place in the Battleship Half Marathon in Wilmington, clocking a time of 1:10:47. Clifford, who ran cross country and track at Eastern Michigan University, closed out his year with a win at the Ho Ho Holiday 5K in 15:48.

Eastern North Carolina Female Runner of the Year Melanie Lenk of Wilmington started off 2007 with a victory at the Ocean Isle Beach Run For Food Half Marathon in 1:30:24 in January. Lenk consistently placed among the top female finishers in eastern North Carolina and won several races including the Azalea Festival 5K, the Run the River 8K and the Summer of Love 5 Miler.

Bigfootrunning.com extends congratulations to Brennan, Robert, Anne, Aaron, Melanie and Tom on their tremendous success in North Carolina road and trail races in 2007.