Ultra Weekend Recap — March 12

Results from the USATF National 50k Road Championship in New York, a 50/50 in Arizona, a 50k at Griffith Park in the heart of Los Angeles and a whole lot more highlight our Ultra Weekend Recap for Sunday, March 12.

Two new national champions were crowned at the 2023 Heckscher State Park USATF National 50k Road Championship in East Islip, New York on Sunday. Andrea Pomaranski from Wolverine Lake, Michigan, won the women’s race in 3 hours, 7 minutes and 48 seconds, smashing Emily Torrence’s course record from 2014 by 7 minutes and setting a new masters American record. Second place went to Brittany Charboneau of Denver, Colorado, who also slid under the previous course record by finishing in 3 hours, 13 minutes and 27 seconds. Third place was Melissa Tanner out of Baltimore, Maryland, in 3 hours, 21 minutes and 43 seconds. Taking the men’s title was Kallin Carolous Khan of Iowa City, Iowa, in a time of 2 hours 52 minutes and 47 seconds, the fifth-fastest time the course has seen in its 25-year history. Charles Smogoleski from Eaton Rapids, Michigan, was the runner-up in 2 hours, 55 minutes and 8 seconds, and Mike Katsefaras hailing from Ypsilanti, Michigan, rounded out the podium in 2 hours, 55 minutes and 46 seconds. Check out the full results here.

In Waddell, Arizona, at the Mesquite Canyon 50k and 50-mile races, the #10 2021 UltraRunner of the Year Jeff Browning from Flagstaff, Arizona, won his third ultra of the year, taking the 50-mile title in 8 hours, 47 minutes and 33 seconds. At age 51, there must be something to his Tough 21 Strength Routine. Second place was Tyler Welch also of Flagstaff in 9 hours, 6 minutes and 43 seconds, and third place went to Fred Thompson from Helena, Montana, in 9 hours, 37 minutes and 36 seconds. Deserae Clark from Surprise, Arizona, won the women’s contest in 11 hours, 29 minutes and 9 second, Jessie Marman of Phoenix, Arizona, came in second in 12 hours and 58 seconds, and Shay Haver from Alexandria, Virginia, finished in third in 12 hours, 53 minutes and 25 seconds. Full results here.

Courtne McIntosh from Tucson, Arizona, won the women’s 50k race in 6 hours, 23 minutes and 37 seconds, Taylor Clark of San Diego, California, was 10 minutes back in 6 hours, 33 minutes and 58 seconds, and Madeline Harms out of Duluth, Minnesota, rounded out the podium in 6 hours, 47 minutes and 22 seconds. Nicolas Caruso of Peoria, Arizona, won for the men in 4 hours, 31 minutes and 44 seconds, Gallup, New Mexico’s Jonathan Kuplack was hot on his heels in 4 hours, 35 minutes and 39 seconds, and James Maggio from Mesa, Arizona, came in just a handful of moments later in 4 hours, 41 minutes and 49 seconds to finish in third. Full 50k results here.

At the 4,000-ace Griffith Park in Los Angeles, California, the Griffith Park Trail 50k went down in rainy conditions. Michael Eastburn from nearby Porter Ranch, won the race in 3 hours, 52 minutes and 24 seconds. He was followed by Sheldon Watanabe of Newport Beach, California, in 4 hours, 26 minutes and 53 seconds, and local David Oliver in 4 hours, 59 minutes and 32 seconds. Diona Fulton from Santa Barbara, California, won for the women in 5 hours, 7 minutes and 9 seconds, local Margot Fleming snagged second in 5 hours, 21 minutes and 36 seconds, and Long Beach’s Amelia Valinsky-Fillipow took third in 5 hours, 23 minutes and 43 seconds. Full results here.

Additional Race Results include the Sierra Vista Trail Runs 50k in Las Cruces, New Mexico, the Old West Trail Runs 50k in Julian, California, and the K’s of Convenience 50k in Davenport, Iowa. Check back later for more as they trickle in.

Where’d you race this weekend? Are you racing somewhere next weekend to celebrate the official end of winter? We’ll include it and give you a shout out in Wednesday’s What’s Up In Ultra column if you mention it below.