2021 ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Superlative! Its an Adjective! Its a Noun! Any way you want to read it this Nebraskan had quite a year on the track.
Superlative. Adjective: “Of the highest degree or quality”. That describes Angee Henry Nott to the double t. Her remarkable year includes a hat trick of American Records and two World Records.

But first! Angee trains running 220 yards around a parquet basketball court at Boystown where she teaches and coaches. No spikes or starting blocks allowed. The athletes she coaches all run on treadmills. From Angee, “Just want to add its my belief that people need to stop thinking they can’t sprint here. Many sprinters leave or they won’t sprint.”

In February Angee set the American Record and tied the Indoor World Record for W45 at the Herschel Neil Invite at Northwest Missouri State. Her indoor 200 of 25.44 was good enough for the overall win and broke Renee Henderson’s mark of 25.47 that had stood since March 6, 2010. Her time also tied the World Record set by Maryvonne Icarre in Faubonne France, Sept. 1 2011.

In June she competed at the USATF Iowa Association Outdoor Open/Masters Championships in Ames. Her 24.98 the new world standard.

In July Angee took to the USATF Masters T& F National Championships in Ames, IA. Unchallenged from the gun she blazed the oval in an eye popping 56.14. This broke the old AR of 56.82 and also jumped to the top of the all-time World list, besting the old mark (56:15) by a mere hundredth.

And just to gild her lilly, Angee returned to Northwest Missouri State track in Maryville for the Mel Tjeerdsma Classic on December 4th. Making great use of what must be a favorite track she lowered her February mark in the indoor 200 to 25:32. A full year of Superlative performances!

On a personal note it has been a privilege to advocate for Angee for the last 14 years. She represented Team Nebraska from 2008-2012, made the switch to Nebraska Run Guru Elite, and is one of the founders of our newest effort, Nebraska Elite.

Honorable Mentions:
Christina Elder inspires. She juggles being a mom, and teacher, and coach, and one of the top 30-34 athletes in the country. Christina loves to race. Roads, track, cross, and trails. She did it all this year. At the top of her vita are a pair of wins in the 30-34 division at the USATF Masters T&F National Champs. She ran unchallenged for the win at 800 in 2:20.31. Her to-the-wire battle in the 1500 one of the highlights of the meet in my not so humble opinion, taking the win in a spirited 4:56.09. She finished her year traveling to Tallahassee with her LRC Running mates for the USATF Club Cross Country National Championships.

Stacy Stodden committed to getting fit and racing America’s best in her 55-59 age group. As her coach I’m comfortable saying she trained up like never before. Traveling to Ames and the USATF Masters T&F National Championships she ran to her potential! It is worth noting that this age group is peppered with former national and Olympic caliber runners. Stacy finished 6th in the 1500 in a fast 5:28.87. Stacy also raced the USATF Masters 5K Cross Country Championships in Boston this October where she would finish 27th (22:13) overall in the 40+ division.

Tim Meyer has been racing the young guns on his LRC Racing team. And doing quite well since turning 40. Tim traveled to Tallahassee this month for the USATF Club Cross Country National Championships. Racing against America’s best harriers Tim finished 25th (35:37) in the 40-44 age group.