MADISON- Two prominent, long-standing runners from Madison have been recognized by the Huntsville Track Club at the organization’s annual awards banquet. Brandon York and Josh Whitehead each were named among the HTC’s annual award recipients for excellence in the sport of running among Huntsville, Madison and Madison County.

York, 37, was named the recipient of the 2023 HTC Outstanding Performance- Male Award while Whitehead earned the Huntsville Track Club Comeback Award.

“I’m currently suffering from a mild foot injury, but I had what I call a pretty good year,” said York of his 2023 race schedule.

York’s fantastic season of efforts included running three sub-15-minute 5k races with the fastest being a 5K personal best of 14:43 at the Cookie Dash 5K in April. The fourth month of the year also included York run a course record at the Bridge Street Half-Marathon in 1:06.46, which was just 23 seconds off his overall state record. Furthermore, York ran a fifth-place finish of 50:26 at the Army Ten Miler in Washington D.C. in the autumn month of October.

Whitehead posted a remarkable comeback in the last 12 months. At the 2022 Rocket City Marathon the then 44-year old captured the 46^th running of the 26.2-mile race with a time of 2:35:59, which was also a new Alabama state record for that age. The title run was his second Rocket City championship also winning in 2013.

The astonishing accomplishment stemmed from the fact he was a living miracle. In the early morning hours of June 24, 2020, Whitehead was riding his bike south on Zerdt Road and was struck from behind and thrown to the side of the road by a vehicle he never saw. He suffered severe injuries including a broken back in three places. The driver of the vehicle did not stop and has never been located.

The remainder of the awards handed out for the 2023 awards from the HTC, established in 1971, included:

Donna Palumbo- Norman Harris Outstanding Achievement Award, Linda Scavarda- Admiration Award, Greg & Rebecca Reynolds- Tinsley Dedication Award, Harold Tinsley- Tom Bolt President’s Award, Huntsville Sports Commission- Service Award, Marco’s Pizza, Darren Ezzo- Appreciation Award, Tennessee Valley Outsider, Alan Clemons- John Pruett Media Award, Carl Smith- RRCA Rod Steele Memorial Award Nominee, Eric Moore- Outstanding HTC Male High School Cross Country Runner, Anna Pierce- Outstanding HTC Female High School Cross Country Runner and Kathy Harper- HTC Outstanding Performance Female.