David Roche shattered the long-standing men’s course record for the Leadville 100 while Mary Denholm set the second-fastest time as she was a clear-cut women’s winner.
The Leadville 100 is a 100-mile ultra on rugged trails in Colorado. It’s known as the “Race Across the Sky” and was first held in 1983 and has gone on to become one of the most well-known races of its kind in the world.
Roche completed the out-and-back course, which has almost 4,800m of elevation gain, in 15:26:34 to take a huge chunk off the legendary course record time set by Matt Carpenter in 2005 of 15:42:59.
Meanwhile Denholm went closer than anyone else had ever done to Ann Trason’s best mark (1994, 18:06:24) as she clocked 18:23:51.
Men’s race – Roche a class apart
It was a wire-to-wire victory for Roche, having opened up a lead in the very first hour.
By Twin Lakes his advantage was nine minutes over Adrian Macdonald, and through Winfield it was up to 11 minutes and on track for that course record.
And it kept going out – 14 minutes at Twin Lakes (in bound) and he crossed the line in 15:26:34 which was exactly 30 minutes ahead of Macdonald in second and 16 minutes and 15 seconds inside the course best.
Women’s race – Denholm dominates from start to finish
It was a similar all-the-way win for Denholm in the women’s race.
She led early on through Mayqueen, followed by Katelyn McDaniel and Molly Hurford as they prepared for their first big climb.
And as they descended into Twin Lakes Village, Denholm’s advantage was up to 22 minutes.
By the Winfield turnaround it was a whopping 50 minutes, with Julie Wright now second and McDaniel in third.
And Denholm was never remotely threatened as she cruised further and further clear.
When the line came she was more than three hours ahead of her closest rival, with Zoe Rom winning the battle for second.
Leadville 100 results
Saturday 17 August 2024, 100 miles
MEN
- 1. David Roche (USA) – 15:26:34
- 2. Adrian Macdonald (USA) – 15:56:34
- 3. Ryan Sullivan (USA) – 17:21:39
- 4. Will Murray (USA) – 17:29:07
- 5. Robbie Britton (GBR) – 17:56:10
WOMEN
- 1. Mary Denholm (USA) – 18:23:51
- 2. Zoe Rom (USA) – 21:27:41
- 3. Julie Wright (USA) – 21:48:57
- 4. Jaclyn Foroughi (USA) – 22:34:15
- 5. Mickey Davis (USA) – 23:06:52
