Ultra-Trail Harricana 125K ends in ultra-unusual three-way tie
Canada's Jean-Philippe Thibodeau made race history by crossing the finish line hand-in-hand with two French competitors; also, a recap of weekend action from Lost Soul Ultra and Haliburton Forest Trail Race
Photo by:
Carl Vignola
High-profile Canadian ultras made for bustling trails over the weekend—and in one case, a unusually crowded top of the podium. Here’s a recap of the latest trail races from across the country:
Ultra-Trail Harricana (UTHC)
Jean-Philippe Thibodeau of Saint-Ferreol-les-Neiges, Que., made race history Saturday when he joined hands with French competitors Antoine Guillon and Cédric Chavet, as the three men crossed the finish line of the 125K in 15:30:43 to share the top spot on the podium and an unprecedented three-way tie for first. The triumphant trio finished more than an hour ahead of their closest competitors, Antoine Moses of Gaspé, Que. (16:40:25) and fellow Canadian Francis Cloutier (17:02:01). The three not only just crossed the finish line together, but ran together over the last 60 km of the race.
Thibodeau’s shared victory on the weekend follows his first-place finish in the Quebec Mega Trail 50K in July (which he also won the previous year) and his performance as the fastest Canadian in the 86.9-km long-trail event at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Innsbruck, Austria in June, which he finished in 46th place.
Taking top spot on the all-Canadian women’s podium was Montreal’s Geneviève Asselin-Demers, improving her third-place finish last year with a winning time of 17:20:48. Asselin-Demers, who finished sixth overall, completed the race more than an hour ahead of Mélina Dubois-Verret (18:21:54), who podiumed after placing fourth in last year’s 125K race and fourth in 2021’s 80K event. Finishing third in the women’s race this year was Claudine Soucie of Rockland, Ont., who took first in the 80K in 2020.
In the men’s 80K, French runners Benjamin Levieux (7:44:23) and Marvin Foucher (7:51:23) edged out Canada’s Samuel Audet (8:02:32), who earlier this year finished third in the Quebec Mega Trail 80K. Canadians Julie Lesage (9:13:21) and Audrey Lepine (9:44:37), meanwhile, captured the top spots on the women’s podium, followed by France’s Maëlle André (9:52:06).
Weaving through through mountains, lakes, rivers, and boreal forests in La Malbaie, Que., UTHC races include a range of events from 10K to 65K. Full results are available here.
Lost Soul Ultra
This annual Lost Soul Ultra in Lethbridge, Alta., offers 100-mile, 100K and 50K races with about 1,100m of elevation gain over the course of each 50-km loop.
Topping the men’s 100 miler was Rob Clemens of Lake Country B.C., (22:22:32), followed by Michael Kirby of Red Deer, Alta. (24:29:33) and Wayne Gaudet of Exshaw, Alta. (26:26:42). Topping the women’s podium was Heidi Frehlich of Lethbridge, whose commanding 23:14:53 win saw her finish second overall. Heather Tuckova, also of Lethbridge, finished second in 24:36:13, and Kimber Snow of Raymond, Alta., ran 26:14:53 to round out the podium.
In the men’s 100K, Rich Forcier of Cochrane, Alta., ran 11:16:08 to take the victory, followed by Travis Epp of Pincher Creek, Alta. (11:31:56), and Daylan Wizniuk of Camrose, Alta. (12:56:04). Susan Reimer of Taber, Alta., ran 13:58:49 to take top spot in the women’s 100K, followed by Canadian Running’s own Keeley Milne of Medicine Hat, Alta., who ran 16:27:51. Rounding out the women’s podium was Brigitte Cooper of Calgary, who finished the 100K in 16:29:36.
You can find a full list of results here.
Haliburton Forest Trail Race
The 100-mile is the signature distance for the Haliburton Forest Trail Race, which marked its 30th year this weekend, but runners also have the option to compete in 12K, 26K, 50K or 50-mile events.
Wade Speirs of Orangeville, Ont., ran 22:48:01 to cruise to victory in the men’s 100-miler, putting more than three hours between himself and Matthew D’Oliveira of Guelph, Ont. (26:06:31). Toronto’s Noel Romain ran 26:15:46 to place third.
Isabelle Simard of Chicoutimi, Que., ran 26:40:29 to win the women’s race and place fourth overall. She was followed by Krystal Lebreton of Peterborough, Ont., who finished in 32:38:38.
Full results from the Haliburton Forest Trail Race are available here.
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