It was a weekend of March Madness in the greater sports world, and there were some standout performances at Washington’s Chuckanut 50k, over the half marathon distance by Nienke Brinkman, and there was an uptick in European trail races.
Chuckanut 50k – Bellingham, Washington
It was the 28th running of the Chuckanut 50k. The race is held on a lollipop-style course with a technical section up and down Chuckanut Mountain in the middle.
Women
Ladia Albertson-Junkans won in 4:10, the race’s fourth-best ever. It was seven minutes better than her own win in the 2017 race too. She’s next racing the Canyons 100k in California on April 23. Kimber Mattox and Jazmine Lowther were second and third in 4:13 and 4:15, and Lowther’s next heading to the Canyons 100k too.
Emily Schmitz and Ellie Pell were fourth and fifth in 4:17 and 4:21.
Ladia Albertson-Junkans on her way to winning the 2022 Chuckanut 50k. Photo: Tad Davis
Men
Adam Peterman, a breakout star from 2021, kept rolling. Peterman ran 3:24, won by 10 minutes, and broke Max King‘s 2017 course record by a massive nine minutes. Even if the course has changed some since 2017, and was shorter this year than years previous, that’s an incredible beat. Just like some of the top women’s finishers, Peterman too will race the Canyons 100k next month.
Second- and third-place Anthony Costales and Drew Holmen were just 12 seconds apart at the finish, both in 3:34. Costales was three minutes in front 90 minutes into the race, but Holmen closed hard to nearly complete the comeback.
Stephen Kersh and Tyler Green were fourth and fifth in 3:39 and 3:44, respectively.
Adam Peterman early on in his bid to win the 2022 Chuckanut 50k. Photo: Tad Davis
Additional Races and Runs
Rhylauf Half Marathon – Oberriet, Switzerland
The Rhylauf Half Marathon was the Swiss Half Marathon Championships, and the trail-road crossover runner Nienke Brinkman (Netherlands) won big. She finished in 1:10, six minutes better than any other woman. Brinkman, who raced on the Golden Trail World Series last year and then ran 2:26 at the Valencia Marathon, perhaps has better road speed than any other woman racing trails right now.
Let us know in the comments section if you see any other trail-ultra crossover athletes in these race results!
EcoTrail Paris – Paris, France
Four different distances were part of this global series meant to shine on urban trail systems. Maryline Nakache (France) and Nicolas Duhail (France) topped everyone in the 80k at 6:44 and 5:49.
Maryline Nackache, 2022 EcoTrail Paris champion. Photo: EcoTrail Paris
Nicolas Duhail, 2022 EcoTrail Paris champion. Photo: EcoTrail Paris
Trail Costa Brava – Palamós, Spain
Sheila Avilés (Spain) and Thibaut Baronian (France) won the trail marathon on “the authentic coast.” The two champs finished in 4:15 and 3:42, respectively.
Nine Trails 35 Mile – Santa Barbara, California
Full results aren’t yet online at the time of this article’s writing, but race director Luis Escobar shared the podium finishers on social media. Grace Booth, Helen Payne, and Deanna O’Dell ran 8:26, 8:36, and 8:43 as the top three women’s finishers. Kris Brown, a part-time top obstacle course racing competitor, led the men in 5:48. Jackson Cole and Christopher De La Vega were second and third in 5:55 and 6:26.
Full results (when available).
Greeting the sunrise at the 2022 Nine Trails 35 Mile. Photo: Michelle Evans
Mother Nature delivered a fantastic natural atmosphere at the 2022 Nine Trails 35 Mile. Photo: Michelle Evans
Labor of Love – Las Vegas, Nevada
Julie Bertoia was the first woman in the marathon at 4:01, and Michael Ulrey won the men’s race in 3:52.
Ohio’s Backyard Ultra – Lucasville, Ohio
At the time of this article’s writing on Sunday afternoon, some 14 runners are 30 hours and 125 miles into Ohio’s Backyard Ultra, including last year’s runner-up Jennifer Russo.
Get Lucky 50/50 – Canal Fulton, Ohio
Christine Partain and Jeff Zenger won the 50-mile race in 7:39 and 5:37, and Stephanie Campbell and Brian Polen won the 50k in 4:31 and 3:36.
Rabid Raccoon 100 Mile – Clinton, Pennsylvania
Rick Hohman was the first of only four 100-mile finishers at 24:25. Candice Lockard and Kyle Cameron won the 100k in 15:32 and 13:09, respectively.
NYC Half – New York City, New York
The women’s 50k world record holder Desiree Linden ran 1:13 at the internationally competitive race, and Zachary Ornelas kept his speed season going with a 1:06 run. Did you see any other trail running and ultrarunning crossover runners at this event? Leave a comment to add their results.
Terrapin Mountain 50k – Big Island, Virginia
Jana Fridrichova and Justin Contois won the Terrapin Mountain 50k in 4:55 and 4:39, respectively.
Full results (when available).
Jana Fridrichova, 2022 Terrapin Mountain 50k champion. Photo: eco-x Sports
Justin Contois, 2022 Terrapin Mountain 50k champion. Photo: eco-x Sports
Call for Comments
Friends, catch us up on your weekend racing and spectating below!
