– Canyon Woodward (USA) and Elena Horton (USA) earn victories in the 100-mile race; Rod Farvard (USA) and Katie Schide (USA) top the field in the 100km race
– Eli Hemming (USA) and Dani Moreno (USA) take wins in the 50km race; Talon Hull (USA) and Bailey Cossentine (USA) topped the field in the 25km race
AUBURN, Calif. (April 29, 2024) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – The 2024 UTMB World Series continued with the HOKA Canyons Endurance Runs
by UTMB® on April 26-27. Over 2,500 registered runners made their way to the historic gold-rush town of Auburn, California and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. An area that is an iconic destination for the sport of trail running and considered the birthplace of mountain ultras. For the second year the event served as the UTMB World Series Americas Major and provided finishers with more opportunities to qualify for the UTMB World Series Finals held at UTMB Mont-Blanc. In addition, The HOKA Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB, was a Western States 100 Golden Ticket race and Qualifier 2024.
For the first time, the 100-mile and 100km races both started at China Wall and navigated through the surrounding canyons and finished in downtown Auburn. The 50 and 25-kilometer races both started and finished in downtown Auburn. The festival atmosphere in downtown Auburn provided all runners with a warm welcome as they finished their journey from Friday night through Saturday night. Family, friends, and The Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB team celebrated and cheered on the runners as they entered the finish line in downtown Auburn.
“Year after year, the HOKA Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB continues to bring some of the best runners from around the world together for a truly unique race experience here in the Endurance Capital of the World,” said Chaz Sheya, Founder and Race Director for the Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB®. “We are proud of the work we have done over the past 10 years building this into the world-class event it has become and generating some truly epic performances. This weekend’s race provides some unforgettable performances that showcase why this event has become so special!”
On Friday, The Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB kicked off the racing as runners took to the 100-mile course beginning at China Wall. It was Canyon Woodward (USA) taking the victory outlasting the competition finishing in a time of 18:54:32. Nicholas Lightbody (CAN) finished in second place just under twenty minutes back with a time of 19:14:17 while Nick Orr (USA) took third with a finishing time of 19:55:51. In the women’s race, it was Elena Horton (USA) crowned champion in the 100-mile race with a time of 21:35:56. Jacquie Mannhard (USA) came home in second with a time of 22:35:52 and Sonia Ahuja (USA) completed the course in 23:11:53 finishing in third place in the women’s race.
The racing continued Saturday, where runners took to the High Country in the 100km, 50km, and 25km races. In a breakthrough performance, Rod Farvard (USA) took an early lead and never relinquished it taking the overall victory and the Western States Golden Ticket in the men’s 100km race with a time of 8:44:30. Shortly behind Farvard, Drew Holmen (USA) finished in a time of 8:51:09 to take second while Petter Engdahl (SWE) with a time of 8:55:31 finished in third. In a moment of true sportsmanship, Holman, , who had made the decision not to race Western States this year, decided to decline his Golden Ticket and handed over to Engdahl who graciously accepted his spot in this year’s Western States race.
“I ran a little more aggressively than I thought I would. I didn’t want to be in front, but I found myself in the lead after Devils Thumb a little bit, said Farvard on the finish line in downtown Auburn. “(I) noticed I was really strong on the climbs, so I just needed to capitalize on that.”
When asked if he would accept the Golden Ticket to Western States Farvard proclaimed, “Heck yeah I’m going to States!”
In one of the most impressive performances of the day, Katie Schide (USA) proved to be in a class of her own, dominating the women’s field and finishing sixth overall en route to becoming the winner of the women’s 100km race with a time of 9:10:10. EmKay Sullivan (USA) followed in second with a time of 10:01:26 and Anna Kacius (USA) completed the course in 10:24:37 and finished in third place. With Schide already qualified for Western States, Sullivan and Kacius accepted the two Golden Tickets on offer for the elite women.
“I think in general everything just went pretty smoothly which, yeah, is why I don’t have much to say which I think is saying the most actually,” said Schide following her victory. “Clicked off the aid station and just followed how I was feeling tried to latch on to some guys when I had a chance and not doing anything stupid. Someone said to me ‘oh this is great (Western) States training’. I was like, this is not what I want to think about right now. I’m so tired. I can’t imagine doing another 60K.”
Eli Hemming (USA) took the top spot in the men’s 50km race in a time of 03:25:23. Dani Moreno (USA) was the female 50km winner with a time of 3:52:24. In the 25km race, Talon Hull (USA) ran 1:25:59 while Bailey Cossentine (USA) with a time of 1:55:52, topping impressive field of runners in both men’s and women’s 25km races.
All finishers of the Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB collected Running Stones that can be applied to the UTMB Mont-Blanc draw.
Announced earlier this week, in 2025, the HOKA Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB in Big Bear Lake, Calif. will serve as the UTMB World Series Americas Major, giving all finishers more opportunities to qualify for the iconic UTMB World Series Finals at HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc
Presale for the 2025 Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB taking place on April 25-26, 2025 is currently open through May 5 and can be accessed by visiting https://canyons.utmb.world/.
Next Up for the UTMB® World Series:
The 2024 UTMB® World Series is scheduled to continue in 2024 when the series makes its way to Southeast Asia for the Amazean Jungle Thailand by UTMB on May 3-5 and also to South America with the Valhöll Argentina by UTMB on May 10. To see the full schedule of UTMB® World Series events, visit https://utmb.world/.
For more information about the 2024 Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB visit https://canyons.utmb.world/. For more information about the 2024 UTMB® World Series visit https://utmb.world/. Media-related inquiries may be directed to press@ironman.com.
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UTMB® World Series
UTMB® World Series is the world’s ultimate trail-running circuit that unites the sport’s biggest stars and passionate runners through the best, leading international events in the most stunning locations. Built on a passion for the mountains with sustainability at its heart, UTMB® World Series gives all trail runners the chance to experience the UTMB® adventure across the world, with events taking place across Asia, Oceania, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. It is the only place where runners can begin their quest to Dacia UTMB® Mont-Blanc, France, where the prestigious UTMB® World Series Finals will be held. Launched in May 2021 through the collaboration between the UTMB Group and The IRONMAN Group, the UTMB World Series circuit brings together many of the best international trail-running events on the planet. For more information, visit www.utmb.world.
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