Alissa St Laurent dominates Grindstone by UTMB 100 miler
The Edmonton ultrarunner's commanding victory in Virginia over the weekend is the latest in an astounding string of ultra-trail wins
Photo by:
Grindstone by UTMB
Edmonton’s Alissa St Laurent tamed the highly technical 100-mile course at Grindstone by UTMB in Virginia over the weekend, running 24:39:02 to dominate the women’s race and finish more than 90 minutes ahead of her closest competitor.
St Laurent’s commanding win Saturday adds to an astounding string of podium-topping finishes for the 39-year-old. During an ultrarunning career that now spans more than a decade, St Laurent has distinguished herself as the first woman to become the overall winner of the Canadian Death Race in Grande Cache, Alta., which she accomplished in 2015 in 13:51:21.
She’s also been the top women’s finisher at races including Edmonton’s Blackfoot Ultra 50 miler (2013), Edmonton’s Fast Trax 50K (2013), the Lost Soul Ultra 100K in, Lethbridge, Alta., (2013), the Harriers Elk/Beaver 100K in Victoria, B.C. (2014), the Run for the Toad 50K in Cambridge, Ont. (2015), the Capitol Peak Mega Fat Ass 50K (2016), Arizona’s Monument Valley 50K (2019), the Big Chief 50K in North Tahoe, Calif. (2021), the Klondike Ultra 100K in Fort Assiniboine, Alta. (2022) and the Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB in Big Bear Lake, Calif. (2022).
The Canadian’s latest victory unfolded on what has been billed as one of the toughest courses on the U.S. east coast. Beginning Friday from Natural Chimneys Park and Campground in Mt. Solon, Va., the Grindstone Ultra Running Festival by UTMB 100 miler featured more than 6,400 metres of vertical gain over steep ridges and peaks in the Shenandoah Valley.
Following behind St Laurent to round out the women’s podium were Americans Shelby Johnson (26:17:52) and Serena Eley (27:53:39).
With their finishes, St Laurent, Johnson and Eley have secured their spots for next year’s UTMB World Series Finals, as well as a lottery chance to enter next year’s Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run and Hardrock 100.
In the men’s 100-mile race, Mike McMonagle ran 19:10:06 to best fellow American runners Grant Barnette (19:50:53) and Joey Miller (20:54:00).
Americans swept the podiums in Grindstone’s 100K race, which offered over 3,350 metres of vertical gain. Running 8:54:43 to place first overall in the 100K was Caleb Olson. Caleb Bowen ran 8:59:29 to place second and Justin Grunewald placed third, finishing in 9:12:46. Lotti Banks ran 10:37:25 to top the women’s podium, followed by Devon Yanko (10:43:46 ) and Anna Fisher (11:11:51).
The 21K event, meanwhile, saw another Canadian crack the American-dominated podium. Toronto’s Shad Uadiale ran 1:51:09 to finish between winner Brandt Boggs and Steven Larick. Hollyann Swann, who finished second overall in 1:49:18, topped the women’s podium. She was followed by Aimee Kohler 1:55:21 and Brittany Blitzer (2:00:43).
This year’s Grindstone Ultra Running Festival by UTMB featured 800 registered runners from 46 states and 19 countries, regions and territories.
Check out the latest buyer's guide:
