Ultra Weekend Recap — April 16

This weekend, in our April 15-16 Ultra Weekend Recap, we have results from 50k races in Colorado and California, a 10-hour race in Pennsylvania and much more.

At the Desert Rats Trail Running Festival in Fruita, Colorado, Friday’s 100k was canceled due to inclement weather and altered into a second 50k race on Saturday, April 15. Thus, we have results for two separate 50k contests from western Colorado. In the originally scheduled 50k, Brian Whitfield from Colorado Springs, Colorado, won the men’s race in a time of 3 hours, 31 minutes and 19 seconds. Arnaud Bronin of France took second in 3 hours, 35 minutes and 6 seconds, and the 2023 Bandera 100k champion from Carbondale, Jeffrey Colt, finished in third in 3 hours, 39 minutes and 15 seconds. For the women, Meghan Cihasky out of Durango, Colorado, won in 4 hours, 14 minutes and 35 seconds, Peyton Thomas from Hampstead, North Carolina, was just over 30 seconds back finishing second in 4 hours, 15 minutes and 9 seconds, and Gabriella Brinkley of Boulder, Colorado, claimed third in 4 hours, 31 minutes and 49 seconds.

Arden Young from Calgary, Alberta, won the alternate 50k in 4 hours, 41 minutes and 19 seconds. Michele Yates of Conifer, Colorado, came in second place in 4 hours, 47 minutes and 26 seconds, and Elena Ormon out of Bakersfield, California, finished in third in 5 hours, 8 minutes and 12 seconds. Craig Hunt from Flagstaff, Arizona, continued his hot start to 2023 by winning the men’s alternate 50k in 3 hours, 39 minutes and 45 seconds. Jonathan Rea of Boulder was not far behind in 3 hours, 41 minutes and 27 seconds, and Japan’s Yutaro Yokouchi was third in 3 hours, 52 minutes and 53 seconds. Full results here when available.

Julian, California, hosted the Oriflamme 50k on Saturday. Ben Townsend from San Marcos, California, won in 5 hours, 4 minutes and 46 seconds. He was followed by two runners from San Diego, California: Christian Gagel in 5 hours, 13 minutes and 9 seconds, and Patrick Stone in 5 hours, 16 minutes and 13 seconds. Anna Henning of Ojai, California, won the women’s race in 5 hours, 48 minutes and 13 seconds. The second and third-place women, like in the men’s race, were also from San Diego. Mary Faligmore was the runner-up in 6 hours and 23 seconds, and Christy Baker came in third in 6 hours, 3 minutes and 35 seconds. Full results here. 

At the April Foolish 10-hour Endurance Trail Race in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, Clare Green from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, won for the women and finished seventh overall, completing 50 miles in 9 hours, 39 minutes and 19 seconds. She was followed by Kristen Karwacki of Macungie, Pennsylvania, in 9 hours, 58 minutes and 47 seconds, and Natalie Cutler out of Newark, Delaware, who completed 48 miles in 9 hours, 45 minutes and 43 seconds. Alex Franko from Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, completed 52 miles in 9 hours, 23 minutes and 7 seconds to take the men’s title, Logan Hutton of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was just over two minutes back in 9 hours, 25 minutes and 15 seconds, and Gary Ehrmann from Perkasie, Pennsylvania, came in third in 9 hours, 39 minutes and 47 seconds. Full results here.

We also have race results from the Serengeti Trails Races 50k in Erda, Utah, the Mile 0 Flint Hills Trail Race 50k in Osawatomie, Kansas, the Ouachita Trail 50/50 in Little Rock, Arkansas, the Loud Thunder 50/50k in Illinois City, Illinois, and more.

Circle back in the coming hours as other race directors upload results or leave a comment with a link and we can get them uploaded. Are you racing somewhere next weekend that we can include in our What’s Up In Ultra column? Drop that information below.