Jennifer Lichter and Hans Troyer were the record-breaking winners of the Black Canyon Ultras 100k in Arizona.
It’s the second race in the World Trail Majors Series and is also a Golden Ticket Race, meaning that three automatic spots for both women and men were up for grabs to this year’s Western States.
It all started at 7am local time from Mayer High School track, with 62 miles ahead of them – 55 of them on the Black Canyon National Recreational Trail – and here’s how both races played out…
Women’s race – top five all heading to Western States
It was a thrilling race all the way and just 70 seconds separated Lichter from Anne Flower at the finish line.
Near the halfway mark Lichter had moved ahead of Molly Seidel, the Olympic bronze medallist in the marathon who was making her 100k debut.
But Flower pushed her all the way, with Lichter setting a new course record of 7:57:05 to earn herself the first Golden Ticket to this summer’s Western States Endurance Run.
Flower stopped the clock in 7:58:15 to earn the second Western States spot but the third one rolled down to fourth place.
That was because third-placed Tara Dower had already booked her spot at the Javelina Jundred back in October.
Seidel was the beneficiary thanks to her fine fourth place on her first attempt at the distance and a stacked top five was completed by reigning Western States champion Abby Hall who will be back to defend her title.
Men’s race – Troyer dominates
Troyer was in a class of his own as he smashed the course record with a 7:20 flat.
He bossed it from the outset and crossed the line with four-and-a-half minutes to spare from Anthony Costales.
To put the performance into context, the 2023 winner Costales beat the old course record as he worked his way up the field in the second half of the race.
Tracen Knopp was third, Canyon Woodward fourth and Jordan Bramblett rounded out the top five and all five will also be at Western States as Troyer and Woodward already had places.
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