The 2025 Black Canyon 100K delivered probably the most aggressive races in its historical past, with course data tumbling and breakout performances making headlines. In near-perfect circumstances, runners charged by the Arizona desert, vying for Golden Tickets (automated entry for the highest three runners in each males’s and ladies’s classes) to Western States 100 (WSER).
Black Canyon 100K is one among two North American occasions (with the opposite being Quebec Mega Path in July) within the World Path Main Sequence, which kicked off with the Hong Kong 100 on Jan. 16. All three podium finishers on each the boys’s and ladies’s sides obtained Golden Tickets into Western States 100, to be held in Olympic Valley, Calif. on June 28. The race traverses a point-to-point route on the Black Canyon Path, starting within the city of Mayer and descending towards Phoenix, with 1,581 metres of elevation acquire on a internet downhill course.
Brady dominates for a historic win
Brady left nothing to likelihood within the ladies’s race, delivering a dominant efficiency and taking the lead from the midway mark to the end. They crossed the road in 8:16:18, obliterating Keely Henninger’s 2023 course document by almost half-hour. Having already secured their spot in Western States 100 after profitable Javelina Jundred in October, all eyes might be on Brady as they head into this yr’s WSER.
Brady’s wasn’t the one jaw-dropping efficiency within the ladies’s race, with Tara Dower, who set an astounding total Appalachian Path FKT in September, ending second in 8:25:08, additionally nicely below the earlier document. Dower ran a wise, constant race, step by step shifting up and solidifying her place within the latter miles. EmKay Sullivan took third in 8:48:50, incomes the ultimate Golden Ticket with a robust damaging break up.
Lin Chen of China completed fourth in 8:50:40 however nonetheless secured a spot at WSER, as Brady had already certified. Canada’s Emilie Mann ran a robust, well-executed race, ending in eleventh place. In September, Mann received and set a course document Run Rabbit Run 100-miler in Steamboat Springs, Colo., in what was her debut race within the distance.
Ruhling smashes course document in tight males’s race
American ultrarunner Ruhling ran a masterful race, surging late to say victory in a blistering 7:24:55—taking greater than 5 minutes off Hayden Hawks‘s earlier course document, set final yr. Ruhling held again early, letting a deep discipline battle by the quick, downhill first half earlier than making his decisive transfer after mile 50. His ending kick secured each the win and a coveted Golden Ticket.
Scorching on his heels, Will Murray completed just below two minutes later in 7:26:53, additionally below the earlier document. He ran aggressively within the first half and held his floor when the race turned tactical. Joe McConaughy rounded out the rostrum in 7:31:37, executing a affected person, well-timed effort to say the third and closing Western States spot.
Quebec ultrarunner Elliot Cardin cracked the highest 10, no small feat in such a extremely aggressive discipline of athletes. Cardin delivered a gutsy efficiency, ending sixth in 7:48:21.
For full outcomes of the Black Canyon Ultras 100K and 50K, head right here.