Brett Morley and Caitlin Batten have been chosen South Carolina long distance Runners of the Year by U.S.A. Track and Field for 2015.
Morley, 23, becomes the youngest runner to ever win this award. Competing in many of the state's top events he won 10 of 17 races. The Landrum resident took major victories at the Red White and Blue Shoes 5K in 15:07, the Run Downtown 5K in 15:33, the Sunrise Run 8K in 25:37 and the half marathon at the Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon in 1:09:52.
Morley started running in 10th grade at Landrum High School after playing football. His best performance was an 11th place at the Class A state meet as a junior on a victorious team.
Breaking a near 20-year-old state record at the Kiawah Island Marathon, Batten, ran a time of 2:49:03 to win on warmer than usual December day. This made up for a year that started badly as she suffered from chronic fatigue caused by anemia that resulted in subpar performances. The 32-year-old physical therapist returned to form in the fall winning the Charleston James Island Connector 5K in 17:56 and was the top state finisher placing fifth at the Knights of Columbus Turkey Day 5K in 17:43. The North Charleston resident won six of 11 races.
Batten's best high school sports was lacrosse and since age seven she has competed in equestrian. At Wake Forest University she was on the equestrian team for four years. She did not start running seriously until her senior year of college. The former Caitlin Judd married her coach Irv Batten in July. In winning this award for a third straight year she was selected over Alyssa Bloomquist, Sunday Davis, Shawanna White and Michelle Ziegler.
Voting results
MALE
Brett Morley 28
Chris Bailey 27
Michael Banks 26
Eric Ashton 22
Matt Shock 9
FEMALE
Caitlin Batten 48
Alyssa Bloomquist 26
Shawanna White 22
Sunday Davis 15
Michelle Ziegler 2
MALE MASTERS
Marc Embler 52
Eric Ashton 43
Dave Geer 12
Larry Brock 4
Scott Autrey 1
FEMALE MASTERS
Dian Ford 35
Kerry Robinson 35
Sarah Allers 31
Nancy Curry 6
Susi Smith 4
SOUTH CAROLINA RUNNERS OF THE YEAR
MALE
1986 - David Branch, Travelers Rest
1987 - Jeff Wentworth, Columbia
1988 - Dave Geer, Clemson
1989 - Rob Devlin, Columbia
1990 - Rob Devlin, Columbia
1991 - Steve Kartalia, Pendleton
1992 - Steve Kartalia, Pendleton
1993 - Eric Ashton, Columbia
1994 - Eric Ashton, Columbia
1995 - Selwyn Blake, Columbia
1996 - Selwyn Blake, Columbia
1997 - Eric Ashton, Columbia
1998 - Eric Ashton, Mount Pleasant
1999 - Eric Ashton, Mount Pleasant
2000 - Eric Ashton, Columbia
2001 - Eric Ashton, Columbia
2002 - Eric Ashton, Columbia
2003 - Eric Ashton, Columbia
2004 - Orinthal Striggles, Columbia
2005 - Eric Ashton, Columbia
2006 - Eric Ashton, Columbia
2007 - Eric Ashton, Columbia
2008 - Eric Ashton, Columbia
2009 - Orinthal Striggles, Elgin
2010 - Neville Miller, Mount Pleasant
2011 - Eric Ashton, Columbia
2012 - Eric Ashton, Columbia
2013 - Michael Banks, Charleston
2014 - Michael Banks, Charleston
2015 - Brett Morley, Landrum
FEMALE
1986 - Marcia Mansur, Columbia
1987 - Nancy Grayson, Columbia
1988 - Nancy Grayson, Columbia
1989 - Nancy Grayson, Columbia
1990 - Nancy Grayson, Columbia
1991 - Maggie Kraft, Columbia
1992 - Maggie Kraft, Columbia
1993 - Kathy Kanes, Charleston
1994 - Kathy Kanes, Columbia
1995 - Mary Ellen Kelly, Columbia
1996 - Mary Ellen Kelly, Columbia
1997 - Mary Ellen Kelly, Columbia
1998 - Tracy Center, Greenville
1999 - Janice Addison, Columbia
2000 - Janice Addison, Columbia
2001 - Janice Addison, Columbia
2002 - Janice Addison, Columbia
2003 - Janice Addison, Columbia
2004 - Anne Wyman Cipolla, Charleston
2005 - Donna Anderson, Pawleys Island
2006 - Maggie Chan-Roper, Shaw AFB
2007 - Amanda Cannon, Fountain Inn
2008 - Maggie Chan-Roper, Shaw AFB
2009 - Sopagna Eap, Johns Island
2010 - Kristi Arledge, Simpsonville
2011 - Rives Poe, Charleston
2012 - Amy McDonaugh, Irmo
2013 - Caitlin Judd, Charleston
2014 - Caitlin Judd, Charleston
2015 - Caitlin Batten, North Charleston
MALE MASTERS
1986 - Michael McGuiness, West Columbia
1987 - Lansing Brewer, Camden
1988 - Bob Schlau, Charleston
1989 - Lansing Brewer, Camden
1990 - Bob Schlau, Charleston
1991 - Gerry Carner, Clemson
1992 - Bob Schlau, Charleston
1993 - Bob Schlau, Charleston
1994 - Bob Schlau, Charleston
1995 - Dave Geer, Clemson
1996 - Mark Friedrich, Isle of Palms
1997 - Lansing Brewer, Camden
1998 - Gerry Carner, Clemson
1999 - Dave Geer, Clemson
2000 - Ervin Reid, Campobello
2001 - Avery Goode, Jr., Rock Hill
2002 - Ervin Reid, Campobello
2003 - Steve Annan, Mount Pleasant
2004 - Selwyn Blake, Columbia
2005 - Gerry Carner, Clemson
2006 - Tom Mather, Mount Pleasant
2007 - Steve Annan, Mount Pleasant
2008 - Eric Ashton, Columbia
2009 - Ed Hughes, Greenville
2010 - George Luke, Greenville
2011 - Eric Ashton, Columbia
2012 - Marc Embler, Folly Beach
2013 - Marc Embler, North Charleston
2014 - Eric Ashton, Columbia
2015 - Marc Embler, North Charleston
FEMALE MASTERS
1986 - Margaret Wright, Folly Beach
1987 - Margaret Wright, Folly Beach
1988 - Gail Bailey, Charleston
1989 - Libby Neely, Fort Mill
1990 - Pat Rhode, Walterboro
1991 - Nancy Grayson, Columbia
1992 - Catherine Lempesis, Columbia
1993 - Catherine Lempesis, Columbia
1994 - Nonie Hudnall, Spartanburg
1995 - Dian Ford, Piedmont
1996 - Catherine Lempesis, Columbia
1997 - Nonie Hudnall, Spartanburg
1998 - Betty Ryberg, Aiken
1999 - Marge Hoffman, Salem
2000 - Dian Ford, Piedmont
2001 - Marge Hoffman, Salem
2002 - Marge Hoffman, Salem
2003 - Janice Addison, Columbia
2004 - Janice Addison, Columbia
2005 - Dian Ford, Piedmont
2006 - Dian Ford, Piedmont
2007 - Donna Anderson, Pawleys Island
2008 - Lisa Tolley, Seneca
2009 - Dian Ford, Piedmont
2010 - Susi Smith, Greenville
2011 - Kristi Arledge, Simpsonville
2012 - Ruth Marie Embler, Folly Beach
2013 - Ruth Marie Embler, North Charleston
2014 - Dian Ford, Piedmont
2015 - Dian Ford, Piedmont & Kerry Robinson, Meggett