Courtney Dauwalter sets course record at Crown King Scramble 50K

On Saturday in Arizona, the American GOAT of ultrarunning, Courtney Dauwalter, added yet another notch to her belt when she set a new course record at the at the 2025 Crown King Scramble 50K in Arizona. Dauwalter’s time was 4:19:49—seven minutes faster than Ida Nilsson’s 2019 mark of 4:26:44. Canada’s own Arden Young followed Dauwalter in second place, while on the men’s side, Eric Blake of the U.S. won in an impressive 4:12:09 in his first ultra.

The Crown King Scramble 50K, hosted by Aravaipa Running, is a point-to-point race that starts on the shores of Lake Pleasant and climbs through the Sonoran Desert before winding into the cool pines of the Bradshaw Mountains, finishing at the historic Crown King Saloon in the mining town of Crown King. From spines to pines, it’s a grind, with 2,081 metres of elevation and an almost completely uphill race profile.

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But that didn’t seem to faze ultra legend Dauwalter. Dauwalter will be back in Arizona soon, racing the Cocodona 250 in a little more than six weeks. It won’t be her first time challenging a 200-miler—she won the Moab 240 outright in 2017, and was the first woman and second overall finisher at Tahoe 200 in 2018.

Young, who is based in Canmore, Alta., is well known in the North American trail-running community. The dentist and elite runner has won the Quad Dipsea twice (2021 and 2023) and placed second at The Rut 50K in Montana. Before race day, Young posted: “Left snow this morning, landed in the desert this afternoon, going for a jog at the @aravaiparunning Crown King Scramble 50km tomorrow.”

Despite being sick for nearly three weeks leading into the event, Young took on the race as a “training reboot” and still powered her way to second place.” Young is headed to Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB at the end of April, the final Golden Ticket race for the 2025 edition of Western States 100, and a race at which she captured 10th place in 2024.

Men’s race

On the men’s side, Eric Blake claimed victory in his first-ever ultra, finishing in 4:12:09. Blake, who is from Connecticut, is a well-respected short-distance mountain runner with multiple top finishes at the Mount Washington Road Race in New Hampshire and has represented Team USA at the World Mountain Running Championships. Stepping up to the ultra distance, he proved his strength on the tough climb from Lake Pleasant to Crown King.

Second place went to Arizona’s Bryce Brooks, who finished behind Dauwalter in 4:24:09. Blake won the Man Against Horse 25-mile race in 2024, and was second at Copper Corridor 32K earlier this year. He celebrated his fourth consecutive Crown King Scramble finish and his highest placement yet, and shared on Instagram that he’ll be returning next year.

For full results of the Crown King Scramble, head here.