Local runner smashes 100-mile course record at Quebec Mega Trail
For Quebec's Jeff Cauchon, the third time's a charm
Photo by:
Sebastien Durocher
Quebec’s Jean-François (Jeff) Cauchon was running for redemption at the Quebec Mega Trail (QMT), beginning Friday evening. Cauchon finished second in 2022—and in 2023, he led for most of the first half of the race but struggled with stomach issues and ultimately dropped out at 124 km. This year, Cauchon ran a speedy 19:01:25, bettering Nepalese runner Sangé Sherpa’s course record of 19:35, set in 2022.
This year’s edition of QMT brought together a deep field of talented athletes, ready to race against the stunning backdrop of Mont-Sainte-Anne and the Massif de Charlevoix. 3,500 runners from 18 countries tackled some of the most challenging trails in North America. The QMT 100-miler was only added to the event three years ago, but it’s a popular distance—nearly 200 runners headed out into the dark 160K course on Friday night, ready to climb 6,500 metres of elevation during their race. Participants at QMT aren’t limited to ultra distance races—the event also offers 110K, 80K, 50K, 32K, 25K, 15K, 10K, 6K and 1K races.
Cauchon faced some fierce competition. Second-place finisher Ferdinand-Clovis Airault crossed the line in 19:32:02. He’s had an impressive season already, taking 12th place at Black Canyon 100K in Arizona in February and eighth at Madeira Island Ultra-trail. Former course record holder Sherpa, who lives and trains in France, rounded out the podium in 20:23:24. Sherpa took 11th in the 2023 edition of Tor des Géants (330K) and won the LAAN Ultra Trail 100K 2023 in Vietnam.
Homegrown hero crushes women’s course record at Quebec Mega Trail 100-mile race
Cauchon, who is a civil engineer by day, says he loves QMT because it’s in his backyard, where he plays and trains. His family and friends come out to support him—his sister was even his pacer for a stretch of the race. His next race will be the Squamish 50/50, with a slight twist—he’ll be running the 50-miler, on the first day, as part of the Canadian Mountain & Trail Running Championships. He hypes up QMT for those who haven’t tried it: “If you want to experience the beast coast, you have to try that race,” he says. But for now, he says his only goals are rehydrating and eating.
100-mile results
Women
Anne Champagne 24:28:27
Kelsey Hogan 24:58:34
Mélina Dubois-Verret 27:01:36
Mylène Sansoucy 28:57:55
Melissa Ahier 31:05:39
For more on the women’s race, click here.
Men
Jean-François Cauchon 19:01:28
Ferdinand-Clovis Airault 19:32:02
Sange Sherpa 20:23:42
Robin Coinus 21:49:02
Luis Fernandes 22:45:27
110K results
Women
Dania Belisle 16:03:29
Samantha Stimac 16:05:40
Maria de Fátima Buchas 16:19:00
Maëlle André 18:56:22
Karine Loiselle 20:01:59
Men
David Savard-Gagnon 12:29:23
Benoit Gaillard 13:08:29
Matthieu Saliou 13:17:48
Yannick Bernard 13:53:42
Samuel Frigon 14:02:10
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80K results
Women
Geneviève Asselin-Demers 9:35:21
Julie Lesage 11:14:37
Sara Gagné 11:35:22
Camille Girard 11:40:07
Frederique Le Roux 11:40:22
Men
Ryan Sullivan 8:23:49
Samuel Audet 8:57:17
Jeetesh Rao Bhuvish Lukea 9:06:26
Francis Malenfant 9:21:03
Sacha Lacroix 9:35:28
World Trail Majors spotlight
QMT’s inclusion in the World Trail Majors cements its status as a prestigious race that draws from trail running enthusiasts worldwide. As the only Canadian race in this series, QMT stands alongside other iconic races in Asia, Europe, Africa and North America. To learn more about the race, head to the QMT website.
For more on the women’s 100-mile race, click here.
To check out the livestream of the finish line on YouTube throughout the QMT races, click here.
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