This week we’re all about Arizona. The Black Canyon 100k and 50k were high spots and the Mesa Half Marathon had some star power too.
You can also check out our race coverage from the weekend:
Black Canyon 100k – Mayer, Arizona
Every year faster. Both the women’s and men’s course records went down on a fast day in the desert.
This year’s women’s winning time was an incredible 30 minutes better than the old course record. And then last year Hayden Hawks set the men’s course record and went on to win the “UltraRunning Magazine” (North American) Ultrarunner of the Year award. Even a little known second-place finisher went faster than that this year though.
The race was both a World Trail Major and a Golden Ticket race with three entries to this year’s Western States 100 awarded to top finishers.
The start of the 2025 Black Canyon 100k. All photos: World Trail Majors
Women’s Results
There’s some magic in the Arizona desert for Riley Brady.
Brady chased down a fast start from Mary Denholm to share the lead near mile 24, dropped Denholm soon thereafter, and then led alone for all of the race’s second half. Brady finished in 8:16 and it was a new course record. That’s incredibly almost 30 minutes better than Keely Henninger’s 2023 previous best. Brady earlier won a Golden Ticket at the October 2024 Javelina Jundred, also in Arizona.
Riley Brady, the 2025 Black Canyon 100k women’s winner. Brady identifies as non-binary and competes in the women’s race.
Tara Dower dropped under the old course best too, and showed some impressive drop-down speed after last year’s Appalachian Trail Fastest Known Time. Dower finished in 8:25.
EmKay Sullivan avenged a DNF at last year’s race to finish third in 8:48.
With Brady having already entered Western States, the third Golden Ticket fell to fourth-place Lin Chen (China). She finished in 8:50.
Tara Dower, the 2025 Black Canyon 100k second-place woman.
Women’s Top 20
- 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
- Lauren Puretz – 9:08:38
- Madison Liechty – 9:11:02
- Emilie Mann – 9:12:18
- Sarah Gage – 9:24:11
- Jessie George – 9:37:46
- Annie Hughes – 9:43:21
- Heather Jackson – 9:45:49
- Michaela Lishakova – 9:47:43
- Aroa Sio (Spain) – 9:51:24
- Lindsay Allison – 9:53:08
- Caitlin Schindel – 9:58:23
- Sarah Allaben – 9:59:35
- Becca Bramley – 10:04:03
Riley Brady identifies as non-binary but competes in the women’s division.
Key drops included Valérie Arsenault, Mary Denholm, Sawyer Magnett, Kristina Mascarenas, and Jane Maus.
Men’s Results
Seth Ruhling leveled up. Ruhling ran down longtime leader Eli Hemming late and won in 7:24. Ruhling broke into the sport with the first of two JFK 50 Mile wins in 2019, but this Black Canyon course record is certainly better than anything he’s done before. He’s now expected to make his 100-mile debut at Western States.
Seth Ruhling, the 2025 Black Canyon 100k men’s winner.
Little-known Will Murray was a shock runner-up in 7:26. Murray, age 30, was fourth at the 2024 Leadville Trail 100 Mile. A high school math and baseball coach, Murray’s only been running ultras since 2023.
Joe McConaughy earned the third prized Golden Ticket in 7:31 with a big come-from-behind second-half push. It was McConaughy’s eighth attempt at earning a Golden Ticket.
Eli Hemming led for much of the 2025 Black Canyon 100k, but ultimately fell back to finish fourth.
Men’s Top 20
- 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
- Zach Perrin – 7:55:48
- Tyler Fox – 8:09:43
- Cole Campbell – 8:10:35
- Darren Thomas – 8:11:04
- Ferdinand Airault (France) – 8:14:27
- Tony Rodriguez – 8:16:34
- Tim Nooney – 8:23:08
- Matt Belus – 8:34:36
- Brandon Gardiner – 8:34:18
- Jean-Philippe Thibodeau (Canada) – 8:35:49
- Cody Jordan – 8:39:27
Notable drops included Makai Clemons, JP Giblin, Mark Hammond, Jared Hazen, Ryan Raff, and Erik Sorenson.
Black Canyon 50k – Mayer, Arizona
Last year’s 60k race gave way to a new 50k distance, and it was part of the first-year World Trail Majors Short Series. The 50k was a day after the marquee 100k race.
Women
Allison Baca led all of the women’s race and won in 3:45.
Second-place Caroline Alcorta came through well under four hours too at 3:53, and Robyn Lesh was just over that mark in third at 4:00.
The top five women were:
- Allison Baca – 3:45:09
- Caroline Alcorta – 3:53:37
- Robyn Lesh – 4:00:38
- Imogen Ainsworth – 4:05:22
- Kristin Schindler – 4:09:33
Allison Baca, the 2025 Black Canyon 50k women’s winner.
Men
Jeshurun Small took the win in 3:22. Eric Lagerstrom and Chris Myers overtook early pacesetter Brian Whitfield late as well to finish second and third in 3:25 and 3:30.
The top five men were:
- Jeshurun Small – 3:22:52
- Eric Lagerstrom – 3:25:41
- Chris Myers – 3:30:50
- Brian Whitfield – 3:34:16
- Chris Leiferman – 3:36:48
Additional Races and Runs
Coyote Wall Trail Races 55k – White Salmon, Washington
Race winners Marianne Wilburn and Peter Buckley finished in 5:46 and 4:33. Full results.
Mesa Half Marathon – Mesa, Arizona
The half marathon is a fast course going point-to-point and with a net downhill. The race paid $1,000 for the win with money three deep. Lauren Gregory won the women’s half in 69:12 and Allie Ostrander was fourth in 71:10. Tabor Hemming was a little further back in 11th in 76:21. 50-mile world record-holder Courtney Olsen ran 78:34.
(In 2023, Ostrander was suspended for four months after testing positive for canrenone, a metabolite of spironolactone, after it was determined that she mistakenly took the drug without first obtaining a World Anti-Doping Agency Therapeutic Use Exemption.)
In the marathon, Addie Bracy was fourth woman in 2:49 and 24-hour all-star Nick Coury ran 2:32 for 12th.
Running Up for Air – Salt Lake City, Utah
There were six-, 12-, and 24-hour times for the charity series run up and down Grandeur Peak. Anna Fisher and Benjamin Stout did four and five laps in six hours, respectively, with 5:28 and 5:50 finish times. Sarah Humble went seven laps in the 12-hour race and Tyler Green and Zachary Garner did nine in 11:28 and 11:38, respectively. Full results.
Rocky 50 – Huntsville, Texas
A week after the Rocky Raccoon 100 Mile, they were back at Huntsville State Park for two shorter races. In the 50 miler, Rosie Rigas and Joshua Getega were tops in 8:58 and 8:17 and in the 50k it was Nicole Bitter and Jordan West leading in 4:26 and 4:16. Full results.
Algonquin 50k – Pocomoke City, Maryland
It took an alliterative name to win this year’s race. Maria Miller and Darrel Dorsey led the group in 4:39 and 4:15. Full results.
Mill Stone 50k – Fort Mill, South Carolina
Heidi Sides and John Olar were the race’s fastest in 4:35 and 4:21. Full results.
Call for Comments
The Jackpot Ultras 100 Mile is up next weekend and it’s the USATF 100-Mile Road Championship. Rajpaul Pannu and Dakota Jones are among the headliners. Will you follow along?
