Race season is upon us, and as with every spring, all eyes gravitate to Chamonix, France, to see who has made it into the various events of the 2024 UTMB Mont-Blanc festival race week.
For several years, this week has been considered the most competitive week of ultramarathon racing of the year, and 2024 looks to follow suit.
In this article, we take a look at the top women in the 170-kilometer UTMB, the 145k TDS, the 100k CCC, and the 55k OCC as of right now.
You can view the race organization’s full list of top runners, too.
As with any race start list, there will be drops and additions of elites, and we’ll keep the list updated as things change.
We’ve compiled a big list of the women who look to be competitive in each of these races and listed them in alphabetical order along with a few of their results in recent years.
You can also check out the other half of the race in our 2024 UTMB Events men’s top runners article.
[Last updated: March 29]
Katharina Hartmuth running to second place in the 2023 UTMB. Photo: iRunFar/Kirsten Kortebein
2024 UTMB Top Women
We’ve divided this incredibly deep list of talent into three main categories, women who’ve got a top-five UTMB finish under their belt in recent years, those who have made a name for themselves in UTMB-style races, and those who have a strong chance of finishing near the top of the field.
Recent UTMB Top-Five Finishers
- Eszter Csillag (Hungary, lives in Hong Kong) – 5th 2022 UTMB; 3rd 2023 Western States 100; 4th 2021 CCC
- Katharina Hartmuth (Germany) – 2nd 2023 UTMB; 2nd 2023 Trail World Championships Long Trail; 1st 2023 Eiger Ultra-Trail
- Marianne Hogan (Canada) – 2nd 2022 UTMB; 3rd 2022 Western States 100; 2nd 2023 Ultra-Trail Cape Town 100k
- Blandine L’Hirondel (France) – 3rd 2023 UTMB; 1st 2022 CCC; 1st 2021 OCC
- Maite Maiora (Spain) – 5th 2023 UTMB; 4th Istria 2023 110k; 4th 2023 Transgrancanaria Marathon
- Fu-Zhao Xiang (China) – 4th 2023 & 7th 2022 UTMB; 5th 2023 Tarawera 100k
Headliner Women
- Hillary Allen (U.S.) – 14th 2022 UTMB; 2nd 2019 TDS; 1st 2019 Lavaredo Ultra Trail 50k
- Claire Bannwarth (France) – 16th 2023 & 21st 2022 UTMB; 5th 2023 Hardrock 100; 3rd 2023 Ultra-Trail Snowdonia 100 Mile
- Lucy Bartholomew (Australia) – 10th 2023 UTMB; 1st 2023 Tarawera 100 Mile; 15th 2019 Western States 100
- Manon Bohard Cailler (France) – 3rd 2023 Trail World Championships Long Trail; 1st 2021 TDS; 2nd Madeira Island Ultra-Trail (MIUT)
- Ruth Croft (New Zealand) – 1st 2024 Tarawera 100k; 1st 2023 Ultra-Trail Cape Town 100k; 1st 2022 & 2nd 2021 Western States 100; 1st 2019 & 1st 2018 OCC
- Ragna Debats (The Netherlands, lives in Spain) – 1st 2022 Transgrancanaria; 3rd 2021 Western States 100; 1st 2019 CCC
- Abby Hall (U.S.) – 2023 6th MIUT; 3rd 2022 & 2nd 2021 CCC
- Emily Hawgood (South Africa) – 6th 2022 UTMB; 2nd 2023 CCC; 5th 2023 & 5th 2022 Western States 100
- Mari Klakegg Fenre (Norway) – 7th 2023 CCC; 8th 2023 Trail World Championships Long Trail
- Helen Mino Faukner (U.S.) – 3rd 2023 & 13th 2022 CCC; 1st 2023 Speedgoat 50k
- Ekaterina Mityaeva (Andorrra) – 4th 2019 UTMB; 4th 2021 TDS; 3rd 2023 Ultra-Trail Cape Town 100k; 4th 2023 Mont-Blanc 90k
- Marta Molist (Spain) – 1st 2021 CCC; 1st 2022 Swiss Alps 50k; 6th 2021 Transgrancanaria Marathon
- Maryline Nakache (France) – 6th 2021 UTMB; 1st 2023 TDS; 2nd 2023 Lavaredo Ultra Trail; 5th 2019 CCC
- Ida Nilsson (Sweden, lives in Norway) – 7th 2023 Western States 100; 1st 2023 Canyons 100 Mile; 2nd 2022 Trail World Championships Long Trail; 3rd 2018 CCC
- Fiona Porte (France) – 2nd 2023 TDS; 1st 2023 Lavaredo Ultra Trail; 3rd 2022 Les Templiers 80k
- Anne-Lise Rousset (France) – 2nd 2023 Hardrock 100; 2nd 2022 Diagonale des Fous; 4th 2018 CCC
- Aroa Sio (Spain) – 8th 2022 UTMB; 3rd 2023 Canyons 100k; 3rd 2023 Tarawera 100k
- Katarzyna Solińska (Poland) – 6th 2023 & 18th 2022 UTMB; 5th 2021 CCC
- Sabrina Stanley (U.S.) – 9th 2023 UTMB; 2nd 2023 Ultra-Trail Snowdonia 100 Mile; 1st 2021 & 2018 Hardrock 100; 1st 2019 Diagonale des Fous
- Claudia Tremps (Spain) – 9th 2021 UTMB; 2nd 2024 Transgrancanaria; 2nd 2022 TDS
- Martina Valmassoi (Italy) – 4th 2023 Trail World Championships Long Trail; 1st 2023 Transvulcania; 1st 2022 TDS
- Leah Yingling (U.S.) – 8th 2023 UTMB; 9th 2023 & 6th 2022 Western States 100
More Top Women
- Johanna Antila (Finland) – 10th 2022 CCC; 13th 2022 Trail World Championships Long Trail; 1st 2023 Kullamannen 100 Mile
- Amanda Basham (U.S.) – 19th 2023 UTMB; 8th 2023 Tarawera 100k; 2nd 2019 CCC; 4th 2018 Western States 100
- Alessandra Boifava (Italy) – 5th 2023 & 6th 2022 Lavaredo Ultra Traill 7th 2023 Transvulcania;
- Addie Bracy (U.S.) – 5th 2023 Canyons 100k; 3rd 2023 Speedgoat 50k; 1st 2021 Run Rabbit Run 100 Mile
- Naomi Brand (South Africa) – 2nd 2023 Ultra-Trail Cape Town 100 Mile; 15th 2019 UTMB
- Lin Chen (China) – 1st 2023 Doi Inthanon 100 Mile; 2nd 2023 Trans Jeju 100k
- Alyssa Clark (U.S.) – 1st 2023 Canyons 100 Mile; 1st 2021 Ouray 100 Mile; 7th 2019 Eiger Ultra-Trail 101k
- Eleanor Davis (U.K.) – 2nd 2023 Eiger Ultra-Trail 50k; 8th 2022 OCC
- Lindsey Dwyer (U.S.) – 5th 2023 Canyons 100 Mile
- Esther Fellhofer (Austria) – 1st 2023 Trail 100 Andorra 105k; 1st 2022 Eiger Ultra-Trail 155 Mile; 3rd 2022 Lavaredo Ultra Trail
- Ida-Sophie Hegeman (Germany) – 15th 2023 Trail World Championships Long Trail; 3rd 2023 Istria 110k
- Keely Henninger (U.S.) – 3rd 2024 Black Canyon 60k; 1st 2023 Black Canyon 100k; 9th 2021 Western States 100
- Nancy Jiang (New Zealand) – 1st 2023 Tarawera 100k; 8th 2019 & 5th 2018 OCC
- Fiona Pascall (U.K.) – 3rd 2023 Ultra-Trail Snowdonia 50k; 1st Arc of Attrition 100k
- Emma Stuart (Ireland) – 3rd 2024 Transgrancanaria; 3rd 2023 Lavaredo Ultra Trail; 1st 2023 Ultra-Trail Snowdonia 100 Mile
- Yuan-Yuan Wu (China) – 3rd 2024 Anta Hong Kong 100k; 3rd 2023 Doi Inthanon 100 Mile
Eszter Csillag (Hungary) finished fifth at UTMB in 2022. Photo: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
2024 OCC Top Women
We’ve separated the list of top women into two categories for the 55k OCC, those with a race-proven resume of difficult mountainous races, and those with plenty of other strong results who we think have the potential to mix it up at the top.
Headliner Women
- Sunmaya Budha (Nepal) – 2nd 2022 CCC; 10th 2022 Trail World Championships Long Trail
- Rachel Drake (U.S.) – 6th 2023 OCC; 1st 2024 Black Canyon 100k; 4th 2023 Kodiak Ultra Marathons 50k
- Caitlin Fielder (New Zealand) – 4th 2023 OCC; 1st 2024 Tarawera 50k; 2nd 2023 Ultra-Trail Cape Town 50k
- Yngvild Kaspersen (Norway) – 1st 2023 CCC; 2nd 2022 Transvulcania; 2nd 2021 MIUT 85k
- Oihana Kortazar (Spain) – 3rd 2023 & 6th 2022 Marathon du Mont-Blanc; 7th 2023 Trail World Championships Short Trail
- Toni McCann (South Africa) – 1st 2023 & 5th 2022 OCC; 1st 2023 Ultra-Trail Cape Town 50k
- Dani Moreno (U.S.) – 1st 2023 Kodiak Ultra Marathons 50k; 1st 2023 Eiger Ultra-Trail 35k; 3rd 2022 OCC; 3rd 2022 Marathon du Mont-Blanc
- Daniela Oemus (Germany) – 5th 2023 OCC; 6th 2023 Marathon du Mont-Blanc; 6th 2023 Trail Running Championships Short Trail; 1st 2023 Zegama Marathon
- Judith Wyder (Switzerland) – 2nd 2023 Pikes Peak Ascent; 2nd 2023 Trail World Championships Short Trail; 2nd 2019 Sierre-Zinal
- Miao Yao (China) – 3rd 2023 OCC; 1st 2018 CCC; 2nd 2018 Lavaredo Ultra Trail
More Top Women
- Valérie Arsenault (Canada) – 3rd 2023 JFK 50 Mile; 4th 2023 Speedgoat 50k
- Kate Avery (U.K.) – 2nd 2024 & 3rd 2023 Tarawera 50k; 6th 2022 ETC
- Renee Cardinaals (Netherlands) – 15th 2022 OCC; 4th 2023 Tarawera 50k; 3rd 2024 Ultra-Trail Australia 50k
- Marina Cugnetto (Italy) – 16th 2023 Trail World Championships Trail Long; 3rd 2022 Lavaredo Ultra Trail 80k
- Elisa Desco (Italy) – 2022 Giir di Mont; 5th 2021 OCC; 7th 2019 Sierre-Zinal [From 2010 to 2012, Elisa Desco served a two-year doping ban from the IAAF after she tested positive for EPO at the 2009 World Mountain Running Championships.]
- Jasmin Nunige (Switzerland) – 8th 2021 OCC; 4th 2023 Eiger Ultra-Trail 50k
- Anna-Stiina Erkkilä (Finland) – 10th 2023 OCC; 17th 2023 Sierre-Zinal; 7th 2023 Marathon du Mont Blanc
- Candice Fertin (France) – 7th 2023 & 7th 2021 OCC; 1st 2022 MCC; 9th 2023 Les Templiers
- Julia Font (Spain) – 3rd 2023 ETC; 7th 2022 Transgrancanaria Marathon
- Tabor Hemming (U.S.) – 10th 2023 Marathon du Mont Blanc, 12th 2022 & 9th 2023 Pikes Peak Ascent; 4th 2022 & 3rd 2023 Broken Arrow Skyrace 26k
- Bailey Kowalczyk (U.S.) – 2nd 2023 Kodiak Ultra Marathons 50k; 5th 2022 Sierre-Zinal; 3rd 2021 Broken Arrow Skyrace 26k
- Holly Page (U.K.) – 4th 2023 Doi Inthanon 50k; 9th 2019 CCC
- Ikram Rharsalla (Spain) – 12th 2023 OCC; 1st 2022 ETC, 1st 2022 Transvulcania 45k
- Kim Schreiber (Germany) – 13th 2023 & 11th 2022 OCC; 4th 2023 Istria 42k
- Louise Serban-Penhoat (France) – 8th 2023 OCC; 10th 2023 Trail World Championships Short Trail
- EmKay Sullivan (U.S.) – 9th 2023 Trail World Championships Short Trail; 3rd 2023 Canyons 50k; 9th 2022 Marathon du Mont-Blanc; 2nd 2021 Broken Arrow Skyrace 26k
- Anna Tarasova (Spain) – 1st 2023 Trail 100 Andorra 50k; 7th 2023 Transgrancanaria Marathon
- Simone Troxler (Switzerland) – 7th 2021 & 6th 2019 Sierre-Zinal; 3rd 2023 Trail Verbier St Bernard
Toni McCann looking absolutely shocked to win the 2023 OCC. Photo: UTMB
2024 CCC Top Women
For the 100k CCC, we’ve separated this list of women into two categories: those with a race-proven resume that includes multiple mountainous races, and the women with other notable results who we think have the potential to run near or at the pointy end of the race.
Headliner Women
- Kirsten Amundsgård (Norway) – 1st 2023 Grossglockner Ultra-Trail 100k; 2nd 2021 MIUT 115k; 4th 2019 Lavaredo Ultra Trail
- Riley Brady (U.S.) – 9th 2024 Black Canyon 100k; 3rd 2023 & 2nd 2022 Javelina 100 Mile; 14th 2023 Western States 100
- Azara García (Spain) – 1st 2023 Transgrancanaria Advanced; 1st 2021 Ultra Pirineu 100k; 1st 2021 Transgrancanaria
- Kathrin Götz (Switzerland) – 16th 2023 CCC; 2nd 2023 Wildstrubel 110k; 3rd 2022 MIUT 115k; 4th 2022 Transgrancanaria
- Thị Hậu Hà (Vietnam) – 4th 2023 CCC; 1st 2023 Doi Inthanon 100k; 1st 2023 Ultra-Trail Australia 50k
- Meg Mackenzie (South Africa, lives in France) – 8th 2022 & 9th 2021 CCC; 3rd 2023 Transvulcania
- Meghan Morgan (U.S.) – 10th 2023 Western States 100; 3rd 2023 Black Canyon 100k; 8th 2022 Canyons 100k
- Sylvia Nordskar (Norway) – 12th 2022 CCC; 13th 2023 (Short Trail) & 12th 2022 (Long Trail) Trail World Championships
- Emily Schmitz (U.S., lives in France) – 5th 2023 & 19th 2022 CCC; 7th 2023 Trail World Championships Long Trail; 4th 2022 Ultra Pirineu 100k
- Emmiliese Von Avis (U.S.) – 8th 2023 CCC; 5th 2023 Broken Arrow Skyrace 46k; 6th 2022 Speedgoat 50k
- Yuri Yoshizumi (Japan) – 14th 2023 CCC; 6th 2024 Transgrancanaria; 5th 2023 Doi Inthanon 100k
Riley Brady identifies as non-binary but is listed in the women’s race.
More Top Women
- Malin Barrulf (Sweden) – 5th 2024 Transgrancanaria Advanced; 3rd 2023 & 3rd 2021 Ultravasan 90k
- Lotti Brinks (U.S.) – 1st 2023 Grindstone 100k; 8th 2023 Broken Arrow Skyrace 46k; 1st 2022 Javelina 100k
- Sarah Keyes (U.S.) – 3rd 2023 Lake Sonoma 50 Mile; 12th 2021 Western States 100; 3rd 2021 Black Canyon 100k
- Anna McKenna (Australia) – 4th 2023 Canyons 100k; 4th 2023 Tarawera 100k; 1st 2022 Ultra-Trail Australia 100k
- Laure Paradan (France) – 7th 2023 & 8th 2021 Les Templiers; 21st 2022 Trail World Championships Long Trail
- Aurélie Paul (France) – 7th 2022 Les Templiers; 3rd 2022 Val d’Aran 50k; 19th 2021 OCC
- Virginia Perez (Spain) – 6th 2023 Les Templiers; 2nd 2023 MCC; 10th 2021 OCC
- Virginie Quinodoz (Switzerland) – 15th 2022 CCC; 2nd 2023 Eiger Ultra-Trail 100k; 13th 2019 OCC
- Katarzyna Wilk (Poland) – 15th 2023 CCC; 17th 2022 Trail World Championships Long Trail
Azara García, 2021 Ultra Pirineu 100k champion. Photo: Ultra Pirineu
2024 TDS Top Women
Again, we’ve split this group of top women into two categories, those who have mountain racing resumes that point toward a top finish in the 145k TDS, and a few more who we think will also run near the front of the field.
Headliner Women
- Elisabeth Borgersen (Norway) – 6th 2019 & 7th 2018 TDS; 22nd 2023 UTMB; 5th 2022 MIUT; 6th 2019 Mont Blanc 90k
- Anna Carlsson (Sweden) – 3rd 2022 Diagonale des Fous; 4th 2019 TDS
- Elisabetta Negra (Italy) – 3rd 2023 MIUT 60k; 4th 2019 Tor de Géants
- Jocelyne Pauly (France) – 4th 2022 & 3rd 2018 UTMB; 3rd 2023 Eiger Ultra-Trail 101k; 17th 2023 Trail World Championships Long Trail
- Ariane Wilhem (Switzerland) – 1st 2022 Transgrancanaria Advanced; 17th 2021 Marathon du Mont-Blanc
- Wen-Fei Xie (China) – 1st 2023 Swiss Alps 100 Mile, 4th 2023 Doi Inthanon 100 Mile, 1st 2023 Golden 100 Hong Kong 100k
More Top Women
- Morgane Cretton (France) – 11th 2021 TDS; 1st 2023 Swiss Alps 50k; 6th 2018 OCC
- Marie Dohin (France) – 5th 2021 TDS; 2nd 2023 Endurance Trail des Templiers 100k
- Ingrid Lid (Norway) – 7th 2023 TDS
Anna Carlsson racing in Val d’Aran. Photo courtesy of Anna Carlsson.
Call for Comments
- With a wide open field this year for UTMB, who do you think will come out on top?
- Will the lack of a dominant returning champion for UTMB affect the race strategy of the others?
- Ok, that’s a lot of women and many race results! See an error? Let us know in the comments!
Blandine L’Hirondel finishing third at UTMB in 2023. Photo: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
