Hayden Hawks captures Black Canyon 100K course record
Hayden Hawks set a new course record of 7:30:18, with Rachel Drake winning the women's race in 8:47:23
Photo by:
Courtesy of Rachel Drake
After a two-hour delay due to snow accumulation on the course, the Black Canyon 100K near Phoenix, Ariz. got underway on Saturday, with a stacked field on both the men’s and women’s sides. 2020 winner Hayden Hawks showed the ultra-trail world he’s back on top at the first major North American event of 2024, crossing the finish line in a speedy seven hours, 30 minutes and 18 seconds, a new course record by two and a half minutes.
Black Canyon 100K is the first North American event in the new World Trail Major Series, which kicked off with the Hong Kong Ultra on Jan. 21. All three podium finishers on both the men’s and women’s sides received Golden Tickets into Western States 100, to be held in Olympic Valley, Calif. on June 29. The race traverses a point-to-point route on the Black Canyon Trail, beginning in the town of Mayer and descending toward Phoenix, with 1,581 metres of elevation gain on a net downhill course.
Jupiter Carera Casas of Mexico took second in 7:39:56 and Chris Myers was third, in 7:43:02.
This was Hawks’s first race after an injury-plagued year in 2023 culminating in knee surgery. “It was a very special day for me. Coming back from knee surgery and being able to do what I love to do at the level I know I am capable of was incredible,” Hawks told Canadian Running post-race. “I had a great day and am very happy about the performance. That being said, this was the semi-final for me and the championship is at the end of June at Western States.”
Fernie, B.C.’s Ethan Peters was the top Canadian, finishing 28th overall (27th male) in 8:52:15, and Reid Burrows of New Brunswick was 43rd overall (36th male), in 9:31:38.
After numerous changes of position, the equally close women’s race was won by Rachel Drake in 8:47:23; she was 24th overall and only two minutes over Keely Henninger‘s 2023 course record of 8:45:30. Oregon-based Drake won the 60K race at Black Canyon in 2021, and has an impressive trail running resume, most recently taking fourth at the Kodiak Ultramarathons by UTMB in October. Becca Windell was second in 8:52:46, with Lauren Puretz rounding out the podium in 9:06:58.
“It was so hard!” Drake told Canadian Running after her 100K triumph.”Becca Windell and I ran hard together for about 20 miles and it was incredible. I was running scared the last 12 miles and am so grateful to her for making me get the most out of myself.”
Vancouver’s Kat Drew was the top Canadian woman, finishing fifth in 9:15:20, with fellow Canadian Geneviève Asselin-Demers close behind in sixth place (9:17:38), and Canmore, Alta.’s Arden Young in 11th (9:46:37). “I loved my experience in the desert,” said Asselin-Demers. (Anne-Marie Madden of Vancouver, who was third in 2022 and who won the masters division at the California International Marathon in December, was considered a potential podium finisher, but did not start due to injury.)
Men’s 100K top 10
- Hayden Hawks – 7:30:18
- Jupiter Carera Casas (Mexico) – 7:39:56
- Chris Myers – 7:43:02
- Craig Hunt – 7:46:39
- Stephen Kersh – 7:47:33
- Tracen Knopp – 7:48:04
- Eric LiPuma – 7:48:48
- Gabriel Kline – 7:51:28
- Nate Jewkes – 8:03:55
- Hans Troyer – 8:03:58
Women’s 100K top 10
- Rachel Drake – 8:47:23
- Becca Windell – 8:52:46
- Lauren Puretz – 9:06:58
- Jenna Bensko – 9:11:18
- Kathryn Drew – 9:15:20
- Geneviève Asselin-Demers (Canada) – 9:17:38
- Tara Dower – 9:19:25
- Anna McKenna (Australia) – 9:28:24
- Riley Brady – 9:33:53
- Marci Klimek – 9:41:02
For full results, click here.
Black Canyon 60K
The field of elite athletes in the 60K race was almost as deep as in the 100K. Short-course trail running star Eli Hemming led from start to finish, setting a new course record of 4:06:39 in only the second ultra of his career. Brad Miles took second in 4:35:14, and Brett Hornig was third in 4:41:22.
Elena Horton led a highly competitive women’s field, winning (and placing seventh overall) in 4:57:19, only two minutes shy of Mimmi Kotka’s 2023 course record (Georgia Porter and 2023 100K champ Keely Henninger ran closely to finish in 5:00:06 and 5:04:37, respectively).
B.C.’s Jenny Quilty was the top Canadian and fourth woman in 5:05:39. Quilty ran in second place for much of the day and was happy with how her race turned out. “As an early season race my goals were to run harder than I usually like to from the start and allow myself the opportunity to see what would happen,” Quilty said.”It was such an incredible day and so fun to do that. I don’t think I have ever finished a race with so little left in the tank and I’m really proud of that!
For full results, click here.
Check out the latest buyer's guide:
