A weekend for record-shattering continues, with both the men’s and women’s course records falling at the 2022 Canyons by UTMB 100k. Adam Peterman (pre-race and post-race interviews) finished in 8:31:58, taking almost 40 minutes off Anthony Costales’s 2021 record of 9:11:40. Canada’s Jazmine Lowther (post-race interview) dominated the women’s race from the get-go, and finished in 10:01:54, shaving just one second off Beth Pascall’s record of 10:01:55, also set at the 2021 event.
The 2022 Canyons 100k had double appeal, as one of the 25 worldwide events on the inaugural UTMB World Series, but, more pressingly, as the final Golden Ticket race for the Western States 100.
The race attracted a stacked field, in both the men’s and women’s races, eager to battle it out for those top three spots.
A lot of eyes were on Jared Hazen (post-race interview), who is no stranger to these trails, albeit more often seen running them in the other direction. His time of 14:26:46 from the 2019 Western States 100 is still the second-fastest time on record. Having yet to secure a place in this year’s Western States 100, the stakes were high for him toeing the line at Canyons. Brittany Peterson (pre-race interview) was also hard to ignore, with a strong resume in similar races to this challenging, uphill course.
The Canyons by UTMB 100k starts in Auburn, California. It at times runs parallel to and at other times tracks on the Western States Trail in the opposite direction, before deviating onto wilder terrain with steep and rocky descents, and ends with a grueling climb out of an upper drainage of Eldorado Canyon to the finish at China Wall.
The gun went off at 5 a.m. on Saturday, April 23, in favorable conditions following a turbulent few days of rain, thunderstorms, and even snow at higher elevations.
Hoka shoes in their native habitat at the 2022 Canyons by UTMB 100k. All photos: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
2022 Canyons by UTMB 100k Women’s Race
Jazmine Lowther (post-race interview) was making moves from the start. The Canadian runner was clearly in fast shape going into the race, coming off a third-place finish at the competitive Chuckanut 50k last month. She covered the first 5.5 miles in 41 minutes and had already extended a two-minute lead at that point on second-place Aroa Sio (post-race interview), winner of the 2019 Madeira Island Ultra-Trail 85k, who was followed in quick succession by Anne George and Carla Molinaro. Jenny Quilty was through a minute later in fifth position.
Positions six to 14 all stuck together for the early part of the race, and the pack included strong contenders Brittany Peterson (pre-race interview), Ladia Albertson-Junkans (pre-race interview), and Anna Mae Flynn (pre-race interview).
By mile 14.8, Lowther and Sio maintained the top-two spots, while Albertson-Junkans had broken away from the pack and moved up to third place. Albertson-Junkans had to be a strong contender following her win at Chuckanut 50k last month, and she has proven herself in the past at longer distances too, including a second-place finish at the Bandera 100k in 2019.
Ladia Albertson-Junkans running happy during the 2022 Canyons by UTMB 100k.
Coming into the Foresthill aid station at mile 32.5, Lowther was still in the lead with 4:47 on the clock. Albertson-Junkans was through 17 minutes later having moved up to second with Sio in hot pursuit. Peterson had also broken away from the chasing pack at this point and moved up to fourth position.
The top-three positions remained unchanged when the race reached Deadwood Cemetery 1, 44.3 miles in, with Lowther continuing to dominate and maintaining her 17-minute lead on Albertson-Junkans, and Sio trailing three minutes back in third.
Peterson had fallen back to ninth position, and later withdrew from the race. She was replaced in fourth by Leah Yingling (post-race interview) — the third-place woman at this year’s Bandera 100k.
Jazmine Lowther won the 2022 Canyons by UTMB 100k and narrowly set a course record in doing so.
While battles were fought for the remaining podium spots, Lowther never faltered in her tour de force. Coming back into Deadwood Cemetery #2 at the final aid station in 7:54:16, now almost 23 minutes clear of the rest of the pack, she appeared to be on course to threaten Beth Pascall’s 2021 course record of 10:01:55.
It was nail-bitingly tight, but with an unbelievable one-second margin, Jazmine Lowther broke the tape in 10:01:54 to claim victory in the 2022 Canyon’s by UTMB 100k, a course record, and a coveted Golden Ticket.
Following a very patient run, where she climbed steadily up through the field all day, Leah Yingling finished in second in 10:24:51.
Aroa Sio, who had a great run and was never out of contention, rounded out the women’s podium in 10:27:42.
Both Yingling and Sio also immediately accepted their Western States 100 Golden Tickets.
Leah Yingling takes second at the 2022 Canyons by UTMB 100k and accepts her Western States 100 Golden Ticket.
2022 Canyons by UTMB 100k Women’s Results
- Jazmine Lowther – 10:01:54 (post-race interview)
- Leah Yingling (Salomon) – 10:24:51 (post-race interview)
- Aroa Sio (Craft) – 10:27:42 (post-race interview)
- Ladia Albertson-Junkans (Brooks) – 10:31:36 (pre-race interview)
- Sarah Biehl – 10:31:53
- Abby Levene – 10:53:21
- Anna Mae Flynn (Hoka) – 10:56:28 (pre-race interview)
- Meghan Morgan (La Sportiva) – 11:04:55
- Alexis Crellin (Salomon) – 11:06:13
- Corrine Shalvoy (Aravaipa Running) – 11:26:35
The 2022 Canyons by UTMB 100k women’s podium (l-to-r): 2. Leah Yingling, 1. Jazmine Lowther, and 3. Aroa Sio.
2022 Canyons by UTMB 100k Men’s Race
The men’s race was not run quite so decisively from the start. At 5.5 miles, the elites were tightly packed together, with, it seemed, no one wanting to be the one to make the first move.
By 14.8 miles, the top three were still running together, making good tracks with just 1:54:30 on the clock. The trio was made up of Adam Peterman (pre-race and post-race interviews), Tim Freriks (pre-race interview), David Sinclair (post-race interview), Jared Hazen (post-race interview), and Anthony Lee followed in fourth and fifth, still with the lead pack within sight.
Peterman undoubtedly had the speed to do well at Canyons, with 2021 JFK 50 Mile and 2022 Chuckanut 50k wins under his belt, but it remained to be seen how the step-up in distance would suit him. Tim Freriks has plenty of experience going back as far as the 2016 Lake Sonoma 50 Mile, where he finished second.
Adam Peterman wins the 2022 Canyons by UTMB 100k in course-record time.
At Cal 2 (mile 24.5) it was still anybody’s race. At 3:14 into the race, the lead pack of David Sinclair, Adam Peterman, Daniel Jones, Dave Stevens, Jared Hazen, and Anthony Lee all entered the aid station together. Tim Freriks had fallen back a little and followed in seventh place, four minutes off the leading pack. He would unfortunately later drop from the race.
By Foresthill (mile 32.5) things had finally started to space out a little and the lead pack was reduced to two, Peterman and Sinclair, who ran through looking fresh, 4:17 into the race. Hazen took up position in third, two-and-a-half minutes back from the leaders.
By Michigan Bluff, at mile 38.7, Sinclair had taken the lead by a minute and a half. Peterson did not appear to be panicking and looked happy and relaxed, while Hazen maintained his third-place position, with the pressure beginning to show.
David Sinclair is stoked on second place at the 2022 Canyons by UTMB 100k.
The order was the same coming into Deadwood Cemetery 1, with Peterman now just 30 seconds off Sinclair in front, and Hazen holding his own in third, about 15 minutes ahead of Daniel Jones in fourth.
Peterman took the lead out on the loop and came through the final checkpoint, Deadwood Cemetery 2, four minutes ahead of Sinclair.
He proved the 100k distance was no trouble at all to him, and he continued to distance himself from the chasers through the tough final section to finish in a remarkable 8:31:58.
Sinclair finished second in 8:43:00 and Hazen in third in 8:47:33, with all three coming in under the previous course record of 9:11:40.
After finishing third at the 2022 Canyons by UTMB 100k, Jared Hazen earned a Western States 100 Golden Ticket.
2022 Canyons by UTMB 100k Men’s Results
- Adam Peterman (Hoka) – 8:31:58 (pre-race and post-race interviews)
- David Sinclair – 8:43:00 (post-race interview)
- Jared Hazen (Salomon) – 8:47:33 (post-race interview)
- Rob Farvard (Ultimate Direction) – 9:16:22
- Anthony Lee (Topo) – 9:16:51
- Anthony Fagundes – 9:25:50
- Dave Stevens – 9:28:22
- Garrett Corcoran – 9:37:59
- Caleb Olson – 9:50:08
- Daniel Jones – 9:55:08
Rod Farvard on his way to taking fourth at the 2022 Canyons by UTMB 100k.
Coverage Thanks
Thank you to all the iRunFar volunteers who helped make our coverage of the Canyons 100k happen, including Olivia Rissland, Casey Wyatt, Craig Thornley, Ling Leong, Natalia Amezcua, Rachel Barrington, Kevin Lara, Makiko Yamashita, Emi Yasaka, Zach Miller, and Jess Schueler. iRunFar is and has always been a community endeavor. We are so grateful for you!
