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2021 UTMB Events Women’s Top Runners

The top women’s entrants for the 2021 UTMB, CCC, TDS, and OCC races.
By on February 18, 2021 | Comments
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UTMB logoThe UTMB lottery results are in, and entrants for the 2021 edition of all its events have been selected. Top athletes are considered separately, as the race administration holds places for them. In the weeks before the draw, the race administration made public the top runners who have been given entrance into the 2021 races. A few fast runners gained entrance through the lottery.

Here you can search the full entrants lists for all the UTMB races, six events spread over about a week. Also on this page are lists of the “favorites” for each event singled out by the race administration. In this article, we preview the top women in the four most competitive events. The 171-kilometer UTMB is the festival’s main event, and will see the most competitive field. The CCC is 101k long, TDS tips the scales at 145k, and the OCC is 56k in length.

The entrants lists are certain to evolve as the year progresses, as elites may be allowed late entrance, and, of course, not all who intend to start will be able to. And of course there are the unknowns of the COVID-19 pandemic that could affect the UTMB events. We’ll update these lists sporadically throughout the year.

Let’s look at how these four women’s race fields are shaping up. We list each section in alphabetical order and provide a recent and relevant result or two for each woman to help identify her. Please note that we are leaning on race results from before April of 2020 after which almost every globally competitive race was canceled and the racing of most top runners was limited due to the pandemic.

Be sure to also check out our article on the top men’s runners at the 2021 UTMB events.

2021 UTMB Top Women

[Editor’s Note: We’ve published our updated UTMB women’s preview ahead of the race!]

We divide the top UTMB women’s entrants into a couple categories, “Recent Top-Five Finishers” who’ve finished in the top five since 2010, ” Headliner Women” who have proven performances at long mountainous ultramarathons with deep international competition, and “More Top Women” who we think could finish in a top-25 position.

Recent Top-Five Finishers 

  • Francesca Canepa (Italy) – 1st 2018 & 2nd 2012 UTMB; 1st 2019 Oman by UTMB 130k
  • Courtney Dauwalter (USA) – 1st 2019 UTMB; 1st 2019 Madeira Island Ultra Trail; 1st 2019 Tarawera 100k
  • Uxue Fraile (Spain) – 2nd 2018, 3rd 2016, 2nd 2015, & 5th 2014 UTMB
  • Maite Maiora (Spain) – 3rd 2019 UTMB; 2nd 2017 CCC
  • Kaori Niwa (Japan) – 4th 2017 UTMB; 1st 2019 Oman by UTMB 170k
  • Beth Pascall (U.K.) – 5th 2019 & 4th 2018 UTMB

Headliner Women

  • Hillary Allen (USA) – 2nd 2019 TDS; 3rd 2017 Transvulcania
  • Delphine Avenier (France) – 10th 2019 UTMB; 6th 2017 CCC; 1st 2016 TDS
  • Lucy Bartholomew (Australia) – 3rd 2018 Western States 100; 1st 2017 Ultra-Trail Cape Town
  • Camille Bruyas (France) – 3rd 2019 CCC; 8th 2019 Transvulcania; 5th 2018 Diagonale des Fous
  • Ragna Debats (Netherlands, lives in Spain) – 1st 2019 CCC; 1st 2019 Transvulcania; 1st 2019 Marathon des Sables
  • Elise Delannoy (France) – 7th 2019 UTMB; 9th 2019 Mont-Blanc 90k
  • Azara García (Spain) – 3rd 2020 Transgrancanaria; 2nd 2019 OCC; 1st 2018 Les Templiers
  • Kaytlyn Gerbin (USA) – 1st 2020 & 2nd 2019 Transgrancanaria; 6th 2019 Western States 100
  • Katrin Götz (Switzerland) – 3rd 2019 TDS; 1st 2019 Lavaredo Ultra Trail
  • Camille Herron (USA) – 24-hour world record in 2019; 1st 2019 Tarawera 100 Mile
  • Stephanie Howe (USA) – 4th 2019 CCC; 16th 2017 & 8th 2015 UTMB
  • Mimmi Kotka (Sweden) – 1st 2019 Mont-Blanc 90k; 1st 2017 TDS; 1st 2016 CCC
  • Ailsa Macdonald (Canada) – 1st 2020 Tarawera 100 Mile; 6th 2019 CCC
  • Corrine Malcolm (USA) – 10th 2019 Western States 100; 4th 2018 TDS
  • Mariya Nikolova (Bulgaria) – 9th 2018 & 2017 UTMB
  • Maija Oravamäki (Finland) – 13th 2019 UTMB; 5th 2018 CCC
  • Brittany Peterson (USA) – 2nd 2019 Western States 100; 4th 2018 Transvulcania
  • Katie Schide (USA, lives in France) – 6th 2019 UTMB; 2nd 2018 CCC
  • Sabrina Stanley (USA) – 1st 2019 Diagonale des Fous; 1st 2019 Hardrock 100
  • Audrey Tanguy (France) – 4th 2019 Madeira Island Ultra Trail; 1st 2018 TDS
  • Fu-Zhao Xiang (China) – 2nd 2020 Transgrancanaria; 11th 2019 & 20th 2018 UTMB
  • Kelly Wolf (USA) – 4th 2019 Lake Sonoma 50 Mile; 1st 2018 Lavaredo Ultra Trail; 1st 2018 Tarawera 100k

More Top Women

  • Alessandra Boifava (Italy) – 25th 2019 UTMB
  • Elisabeth Borgersen (Sweden) – 6th 2019 TDS
  • Lisa Borzani (Italy) – 1st 2017 & 2016 Tor dés Geants
  • Naomi Brand (South Africa) – 3rd 2020 Tarawera 100k; 15th 2019 UTMB
  • Luzia Bühler (Switzerland) – 11th 2019 Western States 100
  • Lou Clifton (Australia) – 2nd 2019 Ultra-Trail Mt. Fuji; 5th 2018 Tarawera 100k
  • Marion Delespierre (France) – 2nd 2019 Diagonale des Fous
  • Emily Hawgood (Zimbabwe, lives in the USA) – 2nd 2019 Ultra-Trail Cape Town; 7th 2019 Transvulcania
  • Lucie Jamsin (France) – 3rd 2019 SaintéLyon; 4th 2018 OCC
  • Jo Meek (U.K.) – 5th 2020 Black Canyon 100k
  • Maryline Nakache (France) – 5th 2019 CCC; 3rd 2019 Mont-Blanc 90k
  • Teresa Nimez (Spain) – 15th 2018 UTMB
  • Angelique Plaire (France, lives in New Caledonia) – 2nd 2019 Ultra-Trail Australia
  • Eva-Maria Sperger (Germany) – 9th 2019 Transvulcania
  • Claudia Tremps (Spain) – 5th 2020 Transgrancanaria
  • Guang-Mei Yang (China) – 3rd 2019 Vibram Hong Kong 100k
Courtney Dauwalter - 2019 UTMB champion

Courtney Dauwalter after winning the 2019 UTMB. Photo: iRunFar

2021 CCC Top Women

Here are the top CCC women’s entrants.

  • Sarah Bard (USA) – 8th 2018, 6th 2017, & 4th 2016 Comrades Marathon
  • Amanda Basham (USA) – 2nd 2019 CCC; 4th 2018 Western States 100
  • Ruth Croft (New Zealand) – 1st 2019 & 2018 OCC; 2nd 2019 Trail World Championships; 1st 2015 CCC
  • Rachel Drake (USA) – 7th 2019 CCC
  • Cecilia Flori (Italy, lives in New Zealand) – 10th 2018 CCC
  • Eli Gordón (Spain) – 2nd 2018 & 1st 2017 OCC
  • Abby Hall  (USA) – 8th 2019 CCC
  • Meg Mackenzie (South Africa) – 3rd 2019 Pikes Peak Marathon
  • Emily Schmitz (USA, lives in Colombia) – 5th 2019 OCC
  • Dominika Stelmach (Poland) – 3rd 2019 Ultra-Trail Cape Town; 5th 2019 Comrades Marathon
  • YiOu Wang (USA) – 1st 2019 The North Face 50 Mile Championships
Ruth Croft - 2019 Trail World Championships 2nd place

Ruth Croft taking second at the 2019 Trail World Championships. Photo: iRunFar

2021 TDS Top Women

The top TDS women’s entrants:

  • Meghan Arbogast (USA) – 5th 2019 Tarawera 100k
  • Juliette Blanchet (France) – 6th 2018 UTMB
  • Manon Bohard (France) – 4th 2019 Mont-Blanc 90k
  • Rory Bosio (USA) – 8th 2019, 1st 2014 & 2013, & 4th 2012 UTMB; 2nd 2018 TDS
  • Meredith Edwards (USA) – 2nd 2019 & 3rd 2018 Oman by UTMB 130k
  • Sonia Locatelli (Italy) – 6th 2018 TDS
  • Camelia Mayfield (USA) – 5th 2019 & 2018 Western States 100
  • Ekaterina Mityaeva (Russia) – 4th 2019 UTMB; 4th 2019 Transvulcania
  • Holly Page (U.K.) – 9th 2019 CCC; 9th 2018 Trail World Championships
  • Mira Rai (Nepal) – 4th 2018 Lavaredo Ultra Trail
  • Simone Schwarz (Germany) – 11th 2019 CCC
  • Giuditta Turini (Italy) – 5th 2019 Mont-Blanc 90k
  • Martina Valmassoi (Italy) – 2nd 2019 Mont-Blanc 90k
  • Anna-Marie Watson (U.K.) – 7th 2017 UTMB
  • Ildikó Wermescher (Hungary) – 9th 2019 & 7th 2018 UTMB
Rory Bosio - 2018 TDS 2nd place

Rory Bosio taking second at the 2018 TDS. Photo: Kirsten Kortebein

2021 OCC Top Women

These are the top OCC women’s entrants.

  • Sheila Avilés (Spain) – 3rd 2019 Trail World Championships
  • Anna Comet (Spain) – 4th 2019 OCC; 9th 2017 CCC
  • Elisa Desco (Italy) – 6th 2019 Transvulcania; from 2010 to 2012, Desco served a two-year doping ban from the IAAF after she tested positive for EPO at the 2009 World Mountain Running Championships
  • Eli Anne Dvergsdal (Norway) – 1st 2019 Zegama Marathon
  • Yngvild Kaspersen (Norway) – 2nd 2019 Pikes Peak Marathon
  • Taylor Nowlin (USA) – 2nd 2019 Speedgoat 50k
  • Jasmin Nunige (Switzerland) – 6th 2019 Vibram Hong Kong 100k
  • Miao Yao (China) – 1st 2018 CCC
  • Yuri Yoshizumi (Japan) – 3rd 2019 OCC

Top Runners Not on Any 2021 UTMB Event Entrants List

Notably, some of the top ladies in the UTMB festival’s recent history are not on the entrants list of any 2021 races. 

  • Caroline Chaverot (France) – 1st 2016 UTMB
  • Andrea Huser (Switzerland) – 2nd 2017 & 2016 UTMB; 1st 2015 TDS; in memorium of Andrea as she passed away suddenly in November 2020
  • Fernanda Maciel (Brazil, lives in France) – 11th 2018, 4th 2014, 7th 2012, & 4th 2009 UTMB
  • Nathalie Mauclair (France) – 1st 2015 & 3rd 2014 UTMB
  • Núria Picas (Spain) – 1st 2017 UTMB; 2nd 2014 & 2013 UTMB

Call for Comments

  • Who do you think will be competing for the women’s wins in the UTMB, CCC, TDS, and OCC events?
  • That’s a lot of fast runners and an incredible list of results! With so many names and races on so many lists, we surely missed a couple top runners or made a couple data mistakes. Let us know if you think someone should be included on these lists or if you see an error.
Mont Blanc Massif

The Mont Blanc Massif at sunset. Photo: iRunFar

Related articles:

  1. 2021 UTMB Events Men’s Top Runners The top men's entrants for the 2021 UTMB, CCC, TDS, and OCC races....
  2. 2020 UTMB Events Top Runners Lists of the top entrants for the 2020 UTMB events....
  3. 2019 UTMB Events Top Runners Announced A list of the top entrants for the 2019 UTMB events....
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Meghan Hicks

Meghan Hicks is the Editor-in-Chief of iRunFar. She’s been running since she was 13 years old, and writing and editing about the sport for around 15 years. She served as iRunFar’s Managing Editor from 2013 through mid-2023, when she stepped into the role of Editor-in-Chief. Aside from iRunFar, Meghan has worked in communications and education in several of America’s national parks, was a contributing editor for Trail Runner magazine, and served as a columnist at Marathon & Beyond. She’s the co-author of Where the Road Ends: A Guide to Trail Running with Bryon Powell. She won the 2013 Marathon des Sables, finished on the podium of the Hardrock 100 Mile in 2021, and has previously set fastest known times on the Nolan’s 14 mountain running route in 2016 and 2020. Based part-time in Moab, Utah and Silverton, Colorado, Meghan also enjoys reading, biking, backpacking, and watching sunsets.