Evelyn Marrero of Amsterdam High School and Jeremy McAllister of Fonda-Fultonville High School have been selected as winners of the Fulmont Roadrunners Club’s annual Cross-Country Runner of the Year Awards, according to an announcement by club president Joyce Poulin. The awards honor 2005’s top male and female cross-country runners in Fulton and Montgomery County high schools.

For their achievements, the athletes received specially engraved walnut plaques at the club’s annual Winter Wimp foot race held earlier this month in Hagaman.

Evelyn, a sophomore, was number one runner on Amsterdam High’s four-time undefeated Big 10 Conference championship cross country team. During the year, she was first in all of the school’s Big 10 dual meets. She also was first at the Big 10 Invitational, second in the Troy Invitational, and in the top five at the Fonda. Manhattan, and Grout Invitationals. She set a 5K personal record of 18:41 during the year and was named a first team Big 10 all star.

Jeremy, an 11th grader, was first runner on Fonda-Fultonville High’s cross-country team, the New York State Class C champions for 2005. He placed first in the Section 2, Class C Invitational leading up to the championship and was third in the New York State Class C championship race. He also recorded wins at the Ft. Plain, Grout, Cobleskill, and Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Invitationals during the year, and was named a first team WAC all star.

Outstanding XC Runner Awards

In addition to the overall winners, the Fulmont Roadrunners select the top male and female cross-country runners in each of the Fulton and Montgomery County high schools that field cross-country teams.

Winners of these Outstanding Cross-Country Runner Awards for 2005 were Alex Brooks and Kim Negrich of Mayfield High School, Ryan Blackmon and Emily Leitt of Gloversville High School, Patrick Petty and Kelsey Stockwell of Fort Plain High School, Joe Geniti and Courtney Egelston of Fonda-Fultonville High School, Jonathan Hill and Emily Smith of Canajoharie High School, Jon Wilcox and Lianna Ferguson of Broadalbin-Perth High School, and Alex Wheeler and Krissy Welch of Amsterdam High School.

The club initiated the high school cross-country awards program several years ago as part of its efforts to encourage and reward young runners in Fulton and Montgomery Counties. It also awards scholarships annually to outstanding high school seniors in the area who compete in varsity running programs and are going on to college.