Leadville 100, known as the “race across the sky” for its stunning vistas as it traverses the Colorado Rockies, has been a staple in the ultrarunning community since its inception in 1983. This year’s event saw blistering performances in both the men’s and women’s races, with popular coach and author David Roche taking 16 minutes off the long-standing course record, and women’s race winner Mary Denholm recording the second-fastest time ever at the event.
The 100-mile race has runners climbing nearly 4,800 metres over rugged mountain trails, and runners begin and end in Leadville, Colo.
A huge congratulations to David Roche who just beat the course record! He crossed the finish line at 15:26:34, beating the previous record by 16:15! pic.twitter.com/TXoHnszp7h
— LeadvilleRaceSeries (@LTRaceSeries) August 18, 2024
Women’s race
Denholm took off hot and dominated the competition from start to finish. By the halfway point, she had built an insurmountable 50-minute lead. She crossed the finish line in 18:23:51, securing the second-fastest time ever recorded for the women’s race, just short of the legendary Ann Trason’s mark of 18:06:24, set in 1994. Denholm was followed by fellow American runners Zoe Rom in 21:27:41, and Julie Wright in 21:48:57.
Alberta’s Ailsa MacDonald and Molly Hurford of Collingwood, Ont., were initially in contention for podium positions, but both faced challenges that saw them taking DNFs. Hurford left the race after suffering a badly sprained ankle, and MacDonald after dealing with unrelenting gut issues.
18:23:54…Mary Denholm just dropped the second fastest time in race history 🔥 congrats to our 2024 Life Time Leadville Trail 100 Run presented by @lasportivana women’s champ! #lt100run pic.twitter.com/spya7Tduoe
— LeadvilleRaceSeries (@LTRaceSeries) August 18, 2024
Men’s race
Like Denholm, Roche set a fast pace from the start and built on his lead throughout the race. His time of 15:26:34 took more than 16 minutes off the previous course record set by Matt Carpenter in 2005. He was followed in by U.S. ultrarunners Adrian Macdonald in 15:56:34 and Ryan Montgomery in 16:09:40.
Pete Kostelnick, a well-known ultrarunner famous for completing the fastest transcontinental run of the U.S. in 2016 (42 days, six hours and 30 minutes), made a remarkable return to running earlier this year after recovering from a severe car accident that resulted in multiple pelvic fractures. In May, Kostelnick finished the Cocodona 250, followed by Badwater 135 only a few weeks ago; this weekend, he finished Leadville 100 in 24:30:18.
Calgary’s Reinier Paauwe took the 28th overall position (24th man) in 22:16:59.
For complete results of the 2024 Leadville 100, head here.
