Mondays are for fresh starts, and This Week In Running. We’re back with the usual mix of racing from all over the USA. We also preview a pair of Ultra-Trail World Tour events– the Madeira Island Ultra-Trail and Ultra-Trail Mt. Fuji–for the coming weekend.
Hyner Trail Challenge – Hyner, Pennsylvania
Thanks to Julbo for sponsoring this edition of TWIR!
Men
The Quaker State’s favorite son came home. Zach Miller won the 25k Hyner Trail Challenge in 2:06. That is four minutes better than David Roche‘s 2014 course record. 2017 and 2016 winner Matt Lipsey was second in 2:12, and Eric Marshall was third in 2:16.
Wesley Atkinson won the 50k race in 4:41.
Women
This one was close, real close. Carole Dudukovich ran 2:50, and Meira Minard ran 2:50, too. The frontrunners were 16 seconds apart. Minard had previously won here in 2017, 2013, and 2012. Johanna Ohm was third in 2:56.
Katie Hails won the women’s 50k in 5:13.
TARC Spring Classic – Weston, Massachusetts
Friend of the family Chris Wristen was out and about and shared the below words:
Runners at the Trail Animals Running Club Spring Classic have grown accustomed to running in damp, chilly conditions in recent years. The 2018 edition of the race offered a new twist–sunny skies and temperatures in the 50’s Fahrenheit. It was perfect racing conditions by Spring Classic standards, and runners capitalized with strong performances on the five-loop 50k course.
Men
As is his typical routine, Brian Rusiecki spends March and April racing himself into shape so he’s primed for a strong summer on the trails. The Spring Classic was Rusiecki’s fourth race in five weekends, as well as his second-straight weekend with a win. A week after winning the Traprock 50k in Connecticut, Rusiecki earned a first-place finish here in 4:02.
Despite winning by more than 10 minutes, Rusiecki had his hands full with Davis Cutter for the first 20 miles. The pair ran side-by-side for much of the morning, and Cutter eventually surged ahead of Rusiecki during the fourth loop before Rusiecki reeled him in, reclaimed the lead, and then pulled away. Cutter placed second in 4:12, and Marek Telus was third in 4:18.
Brian Rusiecki (left) and Davis Cutter at the 2018 TARC Spring Classic. Photo: Chris Wristen
Women
Kelsey Allen has her sights set on her 100-mile debut next month at the Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 Mile, so the Spring Classic was a glorified training day. Allen maximized the opportunity to prepare in a race-day environment, delivering a steady, focused effort. She took control from the start, ran solo for most of the day, and cruised to the win in 4:33. Allen’s time was the second-fastest in the eight-year history of the race.
Heather Lucas was the runner-up in 5:03, while Lori Wetzel surged into third place during her final loop and rounded out the podium in 5:14.
Kelsey Allen on her way to winning the 2018 TARC Spring Classic. Photo: Chris Wristen
Other Races
Cedro Peak 50k
Welcome back, Rob Krar. Racing in New Mexico at the Cedro Peak 50k, Krar was all alone way out front in 4:07. For perspective, it was five minutes back of 2017’s inaugural year course record. Women’s winner Alyssa Jojola was third overall in 4:38, and that was a new course best. Full results.
Yakima Skyline Run 50k
It’s back to the future?! The same weekend that we have Krar topping race results, so too is Mike Wolfe. He was in Washington state at Rainshadow Running’s Yakima Skyline Run 50k and won in 5:04, eight minutes better than second place. Women’s winner Kaytlyn Gerbin ran 5:48, three minutes ahead of the one-year-old course record. Full results.
Hellbender 100 Mile
North Carolina’s first-year Hellbender 100 Mile calls itself the most challenging 100 miler on the East Coast. The course packs in five major climbs to total 25,000 feet of elevation gain. Karl Meltzer, age 50, won in 21:56. It was his 41st 100-mile win and second of this year. Alyson Kirk won the women’s race ahead of race-everything Kathleen Cusick. The two ladies ran 26:09 and 26:36. This is Kirk’s second 100-mile win of 2018, too, as she won the Lone Star 100 Mile back in February, the same race as Meltzer. Full results.
Sweet H20 50k
Georgia’s Sweet H20 50k and its Sweetwater Creek State Park course turned 12 years old. Andrew Catanese and Alicia Jenkins were victorious with 5:08 and 5:57 winning times. Full results.
Ouachita Trail 50 Mile
Nick and Meghan Lewis outran the competition to win Arkansas’s Ouachita Trail 50k Mile race in 8:16 and 9:28, respectively. Nick also won here in 2012, 2011, and 2009. Matt Pruitt and Rachel Furman won the accompanying 50k in 4:50 and 5:48. Both 50k races were close with Pruitt only three minutes in front of second place, and Furman just two minutes ahead of her closest chaser. Full results.
Ruth Anderson 100k
The longtime Ruth Anderson 100k and series of races date back to 1986. Held in the San Francisco Bay Area on a 4.5-mile loop, fields weren’t deep but that didn’t stop Jean Pommier from chasing a fast 50-mile time. The 54-year-old Pommier ran 6:20 to win the 50-mile race, alongside women’s winner Emi Yasaka in 7:46. 100k winners were Matt Ward and Elizabeth Jones in 8:47 and 11:30, and 50k race winners were Jordan Sakala and Christine Chapon in 4:06 and 4:58, respectively. Full results.
Coyote Trail Run 50 Mile
Zachary Miller won the Trail Racing Over Texas Coyote Trail Run 50 Mile men’s race in 9:02, while Shandra Moore won the women’s race in 9:53. Jeff Ball and Sandie Nathan led the accompanying 50k in 4:49 and 7:02(?). Full results.
Shandra Moore, 2018 Coyote Trail Run 50 Mile champion. Photo: Trail Racing Over Texas
Big Turtle 50 Mile
Named for the nickname the Shawnee Native Americans gave to Daniel Boone–“Sheltowee” reportedly means “big turtle” in Shawnee–in this area over two centuries ago, Kentucky’s Big Turtle 50 Mile runs out and back on Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail. Scott Buser and Sarah Crippen won in 7:53 and 10:09 respectively. In the 50k, it was Josh Elliot winning for the men in 5:05 and Sara Combs topping the women’s 50k field with a 6:00 finish. Full results.
Nimble Bear 50k
Mike Sidic ran 4:39 to win British Columbia’s Nimble Bear 50k in new course-record time. Women’s winner Emily Sabo raced to a 6:08 finish, second-best ever. Full results.
Mendocino Coast 50k
River, ocean, redwoods, waterfall, that’s the Mendocino Coast 50k tagline. It was year three for the northern California race. Alexander Kramer went all in for a 4:12 win, beating Trevor Fuchs by five minutes. Women’s victor Jenn Humberstone turned out a 5:39 first-place run. Full results.
Earth Day 50k
Earth Day everyday, Earth Day 50k. This one was in Illinois and with three race distances. Chris Ragni and Meghan Kennihan won the 50k in 4:25 and 4:41, and Coree Woltering and Melissa Aust won the 15-mile race in 1:43 and 2:20. Full results.
Meghan Kennihan, the Earth Day squirrel, and friends at the 2018 Earth Day 50k. Kennihan won the women’s 50k race. Photo: Earth Day 50k
Next Weekend – Ultra-Trail Mt. Fuji – Kawaguchiko, Japan
Two years ago, the Ultra-Trail Mt. Fuji race was limited to just 50k because of weather, and then last year it wasn’t held at all. It’s back now with a full 168k (104-mile) course, and a world-class field to boot. It’s one of two Ultra-Trail World Tour events for next weekend.
Men
- Justin Andrews (USA, but lives in China) — 10th 2018 Vibram Hong Kong 100k
- Dylan Bowman (USA) — 1st 2018 Tarawera Ultramarathon
- Pau Capell (Spain) — 1st 2018 Transgrancanaria
- Sébastien Chaigneau (France) — 8th 2017 Lavaredo Ultra Trail
- Brendan Davies (Australia) — 4th 2018 Six Foot Track Marathon
- Takashi Doi (Japan) — 2nd 2018 TransLantau 100k
- Antoine Guillon (France) — 2nd 2017 Diagonale des Fous
- Mark Hammond (USA) — 3rd 2017 Western States 100
- Jantaraboon “Jay” Kiangchaipaiphana (Thailand) — 2nd 2017 The North Face 100k – Thailand
- Masatoshi Obara (Japan) — 16th 2016 UTMB
- Tomonori Onitsuka (Japan) — 8th 2017 Tahoe Rim Trail 100 Mile
- Kazafumi Ose (Japan) — 5th 2015 UTMF
Min Qi (China) — 1st 2018 Vibram Hong Kong 100k- Jeremy Ritcey (Canada but lives in Hong Kong) — 1st 2018 TransLantau 100k
- Sange Sherpa (Nepal but lives in France) — 12th 2017 Vibram Hong Kong 100k
- Seth Swanson (USA) — 2nd 2017 Lavaredo Ultra Trail
One should probably expect the winner to come out of the group of Dylan Bowman, Pau Capell, Min Qi, and Seth Swanson. Min Qi had a big breakout at the Vibram Hong Kong 100k earlier this year, but we think this is his 100-mile debut?
Women
- Kaori Asahara (Japan) — 2nd 2017 Izu Trail Journey
- Courtney Dauwalter (USA) — 1st 2018 Sean O’Brien 100k
- Yukari Hoshino (Japan) — 14th 2017 Les Templiers
- Kiyomi Kuroda (Japan) — 2nd 2017 Ultra-Trail Tai Mo Shan 100 Mile
- Kaori Niwa (Japan) — 4th 2017 UTMB
- Yumiko Oishi (Japan) — 1st 2016 Izu Trail Journey
Yukako Takashima (Japan) — 1st 2017 Shinetsu Five Mountains Trail 100k- Corrine Williams (USA but lives in Japan?) — 3rd 2017 Izu Trail Journey
- Yuko Yada (Japan) — 2nd 2018 TransLantau 100k
The women’s elite field is almost exclusively Japanese. Are there any readers closer to this group of ultrarunners who can provide insider intel on how these women might fare? It looks like top contenders should be Courtney Dauwalter and Kaori Niwa.
Next Weekend – Madeira Island Ultra-Trail – Funchal, Portugal
Look for a full house on the starting line of the 115k (71-mile) Madeira Island Ultra-Trail. This one too is a UTWT event.
Men
- Fabien Antolinos (France) — 1st 2017 Lavaredo Ultra Trail
- Javier Dominguez (Spain) — 5th 2016 UTMB
- Aurelien Dunand-Pallaz (France) — 2nd 2017 Ultra SkyMarathon Madeira
- Jordi Gamito (Spain) — 10th 2017 UTMB
- Emmanuel Gault (France) — 2nd 2018 EcoTrail Paris
- Gediminas Grinius (Lithuania) — 8th 2017 UTMB
- Damien Hall (U.K.) — 12th 2017 UTMB
- Scott Hawker (New Zealand) — 11th 2017 UTMB
- Timothy Olson (USA) — 1st 2017 Penyagolosa Trail CSP 115k
- Andris Ronimoiss (Latvia) — 4th 2018 EcoTrail Paris
It’s hard to call a winner from this group. Does anyone have any insider intel on the early season fitness of these gentlemen?
Women
- Juliette Blanchet (France) — 6th 2018 EcoTrail Paris
- Naomi Brand (South Africa) — 3rd 2017 Ultra-Trail Cape Town
- Caroline Chaverot (France) — 1st 2017 Hardrock 100 Mile
- Sylvaine Cussot (France) — 1st 2018 2018 EcoTrail Paris
- Kellie Emmerson (Australia) — 5th 2017 UTMB
- Emilie Lecomte (France) — 2nd 2017 Diagonale des Fous
- Mimmi Kotka (Sweden) — 1st 2017 TDS
Does anyone know if Caroline Chaverot is racing MIUT? She just announced on social media last week that she isn’t racing the Trail World Championships in May given she’s not at 100% physically. If Caroline isn’t around, Mimmi Kotka will probably lead the women and Emilie Lecomte should push the pace also.
Call for Comments
- Earth Day was Sunday; did you mark the occasion with a particular trail run?
- What other race results can you add in the comments?
- Were you at one of the races for which we list results? Can you share some more details from on site?
[Editor’s Note: We spend hours weekly creating this column, often ahead of races publishing results–by combing social media. We can’t cover all trail/ultra races taking place each week, so we try to provide results of the most competitive and a spectrum of other events from around the world. Feel welcome to leave comments with additional race results or more information about the races we did cover. Thank you!]
