Anna Gibson and Cole Campbell claimed the 50km honours as Kodiak Ultramarathons by UTMB returned to California’s Big Bear Lake, with six winners crowned across the weekend’s three ultra distances.
Americans Gibson and Campbell topped the 50km podiums, while Cody Poskin and Canada’s Nichole Abma won over 100 miles. Spain’s Jose Angel Fernandez Jimenez and Germany’s Lotti Brinks took the 100km titles.
Held from 8–11 October, the event was the UTMB World Series Americas Major for the second consecutive year, offering double Running Stones towards entry into the UTMB World Series Finals lottery.
The courses took runners through Southern California’s high desert and subalpine landscapes, with the 100-mile race starting on Friday before the 100km and 50km competitions followed on Saturday.
100-mile: Poskin and Abma take convincing victories
Cody Poskin led an all-American men’s podium, completing the course from Rim Nordic Ski Area in 16:46:21.
His winning margin was 36 minutes and 44 seconds over Alex Proctor, who finished in 17:23:05. Max Jolliffe completed the podium in 18:15:45.
There was a Canadian one-two in the women’s race, where Nichole Abma secured victory in 20:43:40.
Abma finished 1:22:10 clear of compatriot Madeline Wighardt, who crossed the line in 22:05:50. American Charlotte Saunders was third in 22:39:31.
Men’s top three
- Cody Poskin (USA) — 16:46:21
- Alex Proctor (USA) — 17:23:05
- Max Jolliffe (USA) — 18:15:45
Women’s top three
- Nichole Abma (CAN) — 20:43:40
- Madeline Wighardt (CAN) — 22:05:50
- Charlotte Saunders (USA) — 22:39:31
100km: Fernandez Jimenez edges Prior as Brinks claims women’s title
The closest winning margin across the three ultra distances came in the men’s 100km, where Jose Angel Fernandez Jimenez finished just 2:31 ahead of Gavin Prior.
The Spaniard clocked 8:33:09, with American Prior following in 8:35:40. Stephen Kersh made it two Americans on the podium with third place in 8:59:04.
In the women’s race, Lotti Brinks, fifth at this year’s Western States Endurance Run, added a Kodiak victory to her season with a winning time of 10:15:44.
The German finished 9:20 ahead of Becca Bramley, who took second in 10:25:04. Fellow American Lindsay Allison was a further 3:04 back in third, finishing in 10:28:08.
Men’s top three
- Jose Angel Fernandez Jimenez (ESP) — 8:33:09
- Gavin Prior (USA) — 8:35:40
- Stephen Kersh (USA) — 8:59:04
Women’s top three
- Lotti Brinks (GER) — 10:15:44
- Becca Bramley (USA) — 10:25:04
- Lindsay Allison (USA) — 10:28:08
50km: Gibson breaks four hours as Campbell leads the men
Anna Gibson topped the women’s 50km standings in 3:59:13, finishing 4:59 ahead of fellow American Carmen Graves.
Graves crossed the line in 4:04:12, while Elizabeth O’Connor completed an all-American podium in 4:06:30.
The men’s race delivered another relatively close result, with Cole Campbell taking victory in 3:20:42.
Spain’s Miquel Corbera Rubio finished 2:33 behind in 3:23:15, while American Cade Michael secured third in 3:27:02.
Men’s top three
- Cole Campbell (USA) — 3:20:42
- Miquel Corbera Rubio (ESP) — 3:23:15
- Cade Michael (USA) — 3:27:02
Women’s top three
- Anna Gibson (USA) — 3:59:13
- Carmen Graves (USA) — 4:04:12
- Elizabeth O’Connor (USA) — 4:06:30
