Quebec Mega Trail announces deep elite field for 2024

In an eagerly anticipated reveal, Quebec Mega Trail (QMT) announced its elite lineup on Wednesday for the 12th edition, promising an intense showcase of international talent across various distances. The event, hailed as one of the most challenging and beautiful ultra-trail races in Canada, is gearing up to host 3,300 runners from across Canada and around the world, participating in 10 events ranging from one to 160 kilometres (100 miles).

100-miler records to be challenged

Both men and women will be in a good position to chase the course records held by Sangé Sherpa of Nepal and Newfoundland’s Kelsey Hogan. Hogan will be back to defend her title, having shattered her own record last year by more than three and a half hours. Whitby, Ont.’s Viktoria Brown, the Canadian six-day record holder, will try to steal the honours, as will Polish ultrarunner Dominika Stelmach, who boasts a speedy 2:36 marathon personal best.

“QMT is a world-class event, and I love how it brings together runners of all experiences and backgrounds—there really is something for everyone!” Hogan told Canadian Running.”I’m especially excited to take part in 2024 as it will be the first edition of the World Trail Majors, and a chance to race on some of my favourite trails with a lineup of pretty incredible athletes.”

(The QMT 100-miler event is now part of the World Trail Major Series, a nine-race global running series launched this year that member race directors say aims to steer trail running “in the right direction” by celebrating and preserving the identity of grass-roots races.)

American ultra star Anthony Lee of Boulder, Colo., and Canadian trail phenom Ihor Verys of Chilliwack, B.C., will be lining up against one another for the second time this year. Verys, known for his record-breaking backyard ultra assist (to American runner Harvey Lewis) in October, recently won the HURT 100-mile race in Hawaii, with Lee finishing second. Nelson, B.C.’s Dave Stevens will also be in contention; Stevens is the course record holder at the legendary American ultra Run Rabbit Run, after winning the race in 2023.

“I’m looking forward to checking out Quebec trails and making new trails friends out east,” Verys told Canadian Running.

World Trail Majors spotlight

QMT, launched in 2012, is the sole Canadian stop in this year’s World Trail Major series, which kicked off in Hong Kong in January and continues with races in Arizona, Spain, Japan, Portugal, Switzerland and England before wrapping up in South Africa in November.

The QMT’s inclusion in the World Trail Majors further solidifies its global significance, aligning it with other iconic trail-running events across Asia, Europe, Africa and North America.