The USA Triathlon Women’s Committee is pleased to announce Moira Horan, 59, from Spring Lake Heights, New Jersey, as the winner of the 2015 Spirit of Judy Flannery Award. Established in 1997, the award honors Grand Masters multisport athlete Judy Flannery, who served as the first Women's Commission chair and was killed in a bike accident.“The Women’s Committee is proud to present this award in Judy’s memory and to continue her legacy of outstanding women competing in and serving our sport,” said Tara Comer, Chair of the USA Triathlon Women’s Committee. “We received several outstanding nominations and the committee selected Moira based on the criteria — excellence in multisport, high moral character, and commitment to use triathlon experiences in service to our sport.”
Since 1993, when she quit smoking and started running, Horan has completed more than 20 marathons and raced all triathlon distances ranging from sprints to 10 IRONMAN events. In addition, she is a USA Triathlon Level I Certified Coach and a Level 2 Total Immersion Swim Coach. Horan has inspired many through her work as founder of the Jersey Girls StayStrong Multisport Club that boasts more than 300 members. Her race management resume includes: race coordinator for the Sandy Hookers Triathlon Club Tri series races, War at the Shore in Long Branch and the Red Bank Triathlon. She is the co-founder of the Jersey Girl Triathlon, a premier women’s-only race on the Jersey Shore since 2010. Horan is also a member of the 2015 Women For Tri Board of Advisors, led by IRONMAN and Life Time Fitness.
“Even though I didn’t know Judy personally, I feel like I’ve come to know her since becoming close with a few of her triathlon friends, and it’s an honor to be nominated for this award,” said Horan, who draws inspiration from working with women especially those who are new to the sport. “You’re never too fast or too slow to not encourage everyone else who’s out there participating in the sport,” she added.
Horan joins an impressive list of award winners that include: Cherie Gruenfeld, Clarinda Brueck, Celeste Callahan, Dottie Dorion, Sue Falsey, Melissa Merson and Kate Knight-Perry.
The Spirit of Judy Flannery award will be presented at Athlete of the Year and Multisport Awards Banquet held on Thursday, August 6, 2015, at the USA Triathlon Age Group National Championships in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
About the USA Triathlon Women’s Committee
The USA Triathlon Women’s Committee is focused on creating a resource for female athletes of all levels and socioeconomic backgrounds by mentoring professional growth for women in the sport of triathlon. The Women’s Committee is concentrating on the quality of training as well as opportunities available for women in positions of authority and decision-making within associations that govern the sport. The WC is a national committee of women from all over the U.S. with a variety of professions and diverse levels of participation in triathlon.