[Editor’s Note: This article was written by guest writer and runner, Deki Fourcin.]
In one of the deepest fields in the history of the Black Canyon 100k, the anticipation was palpable as runners got underway at 7 a.m. local time on Saturday, February 8, for the 2025 edition. The 62-mile course follows a 55-mile section of the historic Black Canyon National Recreational Trail, once used by Indigenous travelers and traders. The first half of the course is net downhill, with the second half harboring most of the race’s 5,000 feet of elevation gain, calling for gutsy running alongside careful pacing.
The start of the 2025 Black Canyon 100k. Photo: Howie Stern
Seth Ruhling ran a perfect race, taking the lead at the penultimate checkpoint and storming across the finish line in 7:24:55, breaking the men’s course record of 7:30:18, set by Hayden Hawks last year, by more than 5 minutes. Riley Brady shone from start to finish, dominating the race from the halfway point and finishing in 8:16:18, pulverizing Keely Henninger’s course record of 8:45:30 set in 2023 by nearly half an hour. [Editor’s Note: Faster times were run in 2019, though on a significantly different course.]
One of the first deeply competitive events in the U.S. ultrarunning season, the Black Canyon 100k is the second event on the 2025 World Trail Majors calendar and the first Golden Ticket Series event of 2025 in which runners can earn entry into the 2025 Western States 100. Thus, at stake for the top men and women were three entries each into this year’s Western States 100.
2025 Black Canyon 100k Men’s Race
Favorable weather conditions in addition to deep competition made for an extremely rapid race start. The lead group of 34 runners came through the first aid station around 8 miles within a minute of each other. The second aid station at mile 13 told much the same story, with Eli Hemming, winner of last year’s Black Canyon 60k looking to move up in distance this year, and Will Murray, who finished in the top five at last year’s Leadville 100 Mile, leading a group of 30.
As the runners approached mile 20 at the third aid station, the field had started to spread out somewhat, with the lead pack of 10 runners coming through within a minute of each other and the top 15 runners within 2 minutes. Makai Clemons, the 2022 Black Canyon 100k fourth place man, and Hemming were at the head of the pack, followed closely by ascendent trail runner and ultrarunner Blake Slattengren and Seth Ruhling, who had previously finished as high as sixth place at this race in 2022.
The runners continued to push hard through the fourth aid station at mile 24, many barely stopping to rehydrate or cool down. Murray and Hemming passed through first, followed by Ruhling, Jordan Bramblett, and Clemons.
By the halfway point of the race at aid station 5, although the top five positions remained unchanged, Hemming, Murray, and Ruhling were pulling away from the rest of the pack, 6 minutes ahead of course record pace. Canada’s Elliot Cardin moved to take the lead of the chasing group, and Joe McConaughy moved into the top 10 for the first time.
At aid station 6 at mile 37, Hemming appeared to take control of the race, putting nearly 2 minutes between himself and second-place Ruhling. However, this is where Ruhling began to make his move, chipping away at Hemming’s lead and increasing the distance on Murray in third. By aid station 8, at mile 51, Ruhling had worked his way into first place, putting almost 2 minutes between himself and a now tired-looking Hemming. Murray followed close behind, eventually moving past Hemming going into the last aid station at 59 miles.
In a tight men’s race to the tape, Seth Ruhling flew across the line in a course record 7:24:55, less than 2 minutes ahead of second-place finisher William Murray, who was also under the previous course record in 7:26:53. Both executed smartly run races, by running in contact with the lead early before controlling the race later. For their efforts, both were additionally awarded Western States 100 Golden Tickets.
Joe McConaughy ran a tactical race from the start, moving into the top 10 around the halfway point and working his way up the field to round off the podium and bag the last Golden Ticket in 7:31:37.
Eli Hemming and China’s Can-Hua Luo rounded off the top five. Hemming crossed the line a minute after third place in 7:32:41, while Luo finished another 4 minutes after fourth place in 7:36:38.
Seth Ruhling winning the 2025 Black Canyon 100k in course record time. Photo: Howie Stern
2025 Black Canyon 100k Men’s Results
- Seth Ruhling – 7:24:55
- Will Murray – 7:26:53
- Joe McConaughy – 7:31:37
- Eli Hemming – 7:32:41
- Can-Hua Luo (China) – 7:36:38
- Elliot Cardin (Canada) – 7:48:21
- Gavin Prior – 7:53:11
- Canyon Woodward – 7:54:16
- Blake Slattengren – 7:54:18
- Ferdinand Airault (France) – 7:54:27
2025 Black Canyon 100k Women’s Race
The women’s race also went out fast, with Mary Denholm taking an early lead through the first aid station at about 8 miles, around 90 seconds ahead of the rest of the field. Denholm, the 2024 Leadville 100 Mile champion running the Black Canyon 100k for the first time, continued to push the pace toward the second aid station, with race returnees Riley Brady and Heather Jackson hot on her heels. By the third aid station at 19 miles, the field had regrouped somewhat, with Brady and Jackson beginning to close in on Denholm, and the fourth to ninth runners coming through within 30 seconds of each other, 2 minutes behind the leaders.
By aid station 4 at 24 miles, Brady and Denholm ran together, over 2 minutes ahead of Jackson in third, followed by Tara Dower, the 2024 overall Appalachian Trail fastest known time setter, and Lin Chen (China), who has top results at long and difficult ultras around the world in the last few years, making their first appearance in the top five. Brady, looking strong, surged out into the lead on exiting the station.
By the halfway point, the top five looked somewhat different. Brady had extended their lead by a little, Denholm had dropped out of the race, and Dower had moved past Jackson into second position. Chen followed in fourth ahead of EmKay Sullivan, who started but didn’t finish this race last year. By aid station 6 at roughly 37 miles, Brady’s lead had increased, but just barely, to 2 minutes ahead of Dower — this was still a tight race for the lead. Jackson had begun to fade, dropping to fifth place and later out of the top 10, while Sullivan had fought her way up to third place.
Brady continued to fly ahead, putting almost 4 minutes between themselves and Dower by the following aid station at about 46 miles. Dower seemed potentially safe in second place, now a good 9 minutes ahead of third place Sullivan, with Chen following comfortably in fourth.
By aid station 8 at 51 miles, Riley Brady had increased their lead, cruising through ahead of Dower, past the last checkpoint, and across the finish line to win in a course record 8:16:18. This year, Brady was on the Black Canyon 100k course for the fifth time, hoping to avenge a number of challenging results due to injury or illness. With a decisive victory and a place in the race’s history books, it’s safe to say that they were successful.
Tara Dower followed, crossing the line in second in 8:25:08, also well under the previous course record and rounding off a beautifully managed race. She rose through the ranks throughout the first half, definitively carving out her second-place position in the closing miles.
EmKay Sullivan ran a similar race, starting conservatively and pushing the pace during the second half. She rounded off the podium, crossing the line in 8:48:50. Both Dower and Sullivan eagerly accepted their Western States 100 Golden Tickets
Fourth-place finisher Lin Chen was also awarded a Western States 100 Golden Ticket due to Brady having already secured theirs with a victory at the 2024 Javelina 100 Mile, another Golden Ticket race. This was a highly deserved reward for a consistently well-paced race.
Abby Hall was the day’s fifth-place finisher, crossing the tape less than 2 minutes behind Chen, in 8:52:35. For Hall, this finish has to be super sweet, as part of her return from long-term injury, surgery, and rehabilitation.
Riley Brady winning the 2025 Black Canyon 100k in course record time. Photo: Howie Stern
2025 Black Canyon 100k Women’s Results
- Riley Brady – 8:16:18
- Tara Dower – 8:25:08
- EmKay Sullivan – 8:48:50
- Lin Chen (China) – 8:50:40
- Abby Hall – 8:52:35
- Shea Aquilano – 8:53:48
- Erin Clark – 8:57:47
- Amanda Stalwick – 8:58:04
- Lauren Puretz – 9:08:38
- Madison Liechty – 9:11:02
[Editor’s Note: Riley Brady identifies as non-binary, and competes in the women’s division.]
