2022 USATF WI Road Runner of the Year Awards

2022 USATF WI Road Runner of the Year Awards
 
The Wisconsin Association of USA Track & Field announced this year’s recipients of the Road Runners of the Year award:
 
Men
1st: Tai Dinger 
Dinger kicked off his racing season with an overall victory at the always competitive Chicago Shamrock Shuffle 8k, leading a runner-up finish for the Wisconsin Runner Racing team. After competing on the track at the USATF 10,000m world team trials, Dinger brought home a pair of top 10 finishes at USATF road national championships (5k & 10k) in New York. 
 
Highlights: 
6th: USATF 10k Road Championships (28:57)
8th: USATF 5k Road Championships (13:45) 
1st: Chicago Shamrock Shuffle 8k (22:56) 
10th: Manchester Road Race (8th American)
 
2nd: Matt Cooper  
Cooper demonstrated tremendous range on the roads, from the mile to the marathon, during 2022. Cooper ran under 4:00 in the mile on two occasions, including a 4th place finish at the Ryan Shay Mile that saw the Middleton resident finish ahead of 2021 Olympian Mason Ferlic. 
 
Highlights: 
4th: Ryan Shay Mile (3:56.4)
1st: Rockford State Street Mile (3:59)
11th: Chicago Shamrock Shuffle 8k (23:40) 
3rd: Bellin 10k (30:43)
8th: Twin Cities Marathon (2:27:07)
1st: Madison Berbee Derby 5k (15:11, Course Record) 
 
 
Women
1st: Kathy (Derks) VanDehy
The former 800m standout at UW-Stevens Point punched her ticket to the 2024 US Olympic Marathon Trials at the 2022 Boston Marathon. Her time of 2:34:54 made her the 8th American finisher. 
 
Highlights: 
18th: Boston Marathon (2:34:54, 8th American) 
3rd: Bellin 10k (34:39)
1st: Fox Cities Half Marathon (1:18:11)
 
2nd: Caitlin Kowalke
Kowalke narrowly missed earning her third US Olympic Marathon Trials qualifying mark, finishing 18th at Grandma’s Marathon. The Badger alum also brought home titles at a number of Wisconsin races in her 2022 campaign. 
 
Highlights: 
18th: Grandma's Marathon (2:37:01)
1st: Cellcom Green Bay Half Marathon (1:18:23)
1st: WaunaFest 5k (17:40)
 
Award winners received a $1,000 stipend to assist with future training and competition expenses.