Two for Tanner
At the start line of the twentieth UltraChallenge, conditions were slightly humid and in the upper 50s. As the sun rose overhead, temperatures settled into the low 80s in the afternoon.
Jason Tanner returned for his second UltraChallenge and his second win in a row. Four other runners went out faster, putting Jason in 5th place at AS2 (mile 10.3), but less than two minutes behind the leader Jeremy Lawson. By AS4 (mile 22.2), Jason was second behind Lucas Holcomb. Beyond mile 30, ultra distance training reveals itself and by AS6 (mile 33.3) Jason had a twenty minute lead over the second place runner, Phillip Eritz. Jason kept the lead for the rest of the day, finishing twenty six minutes ahead of Phillip. Justyna Wilson managed to beat Lucas Holcombe, taking a commanding lead in the final eight miles of the race, nabbing the third-overall finish spot.
Justyna Wilson was the third overall finisher as well as the first female finisher. Tiffany Hodum landed in fifth overall and secured the second-female finisher spot, running a steady pace the entire day. Veteran Baker Ultra runner Abby Ritter was the third female to cross the line and the nine finisher overall. Rounding out the top ten, we saw Kaitlyn Quimby cross the finish line just a few minutes after Ritter to claim the tenth overall spot. Quimby had spent a respectable amount of time training on the course over the summer and was coming off an epic performance at the 2024 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge. We were not surprised to see her land in the top-ten.
We had 112 solo runners start: - 46% were women - 54% were men - 99 individuals finished within the 14-hour time limit
We are proud to have achieved nearly gender-parity in participation for a race distance (50 miles) that typically averages 20% to 25% women participation.
In the relay race, Peanut Butter Jelly Time trailed Grannies and Geezers until the final leg, finishing about 13 minutes ahead.
These eighteen solo runners earned the the final piece of the medal and the accompanying rolling pin display:
- Scott Baldwin
- Cameron Brookins
- Jim Brosius
- Lisa Gesualdo
- Lucas Holcomb
- Don Knight
- Heather Kulbacki
- Virginia Mannion
- Jamie Martines
- Sean McCartney
- Damir Mujic
- Amy Nelson
- Margueritte Ngami
- Anthony Rosario-Adams
- Ben Shaffer
- Phillip Strano
- Kevin Vargo
- Amanda Wasko
Congratulations to all!
Many thanks to our volunteers, without whom the UltraChallenge would not happen: Alex Baker, Joanie Baker, Dewaine Beard, Judy Bishop, Charlie Brethauer, Paula Brethauer, Patty Brunner, Tony Chick, Lloyd Clarke, Richard Cook, Jim Crist, B Crittenden, Sandy Edgecombe, Sue English, Jeff Fairman, Kate Fissell, Larry Fuksa, Kathleen Ganster, Traci Hanna, Jerry Hoffman, Greg Hood, Andrew Karnavas, Ryan Knecht, Diane Kostka, Joe Kostka, Alynn Kramer, Vera Krekanova, John Krofcheck, Joe Kulbacki, Michael Lotze, Lori Malazich, Elita Marchetti, Karen Marchetti, Frank Matousek, Christina Montemurro, Kara Mostowy, Karen Muirhead, Amy Nelson, Meghan Peterman, Alex Prizzi, Nicole Rella, Paul Sauers, Ken Shirley, Gina Siffri, Kevin Snyder, Donna Stolz, David Syiek, Aimee Tatrn, Dorothy Tatrn, Robert Vickers, and John Watts.
— Steve Mentzer