Hayden Hawks and Rachel Drake have won the Black Canyon Ultras 100 kilometres race in Mayer, the United States. Eli Hemming and Elena Horton won the 60 kilometres race. The Black Canyon Ultras is the second race of the new World Trail Majors series.
The race was delayed by two hours, because the freshly fallen snow made it impossible to get all the runners on time at the start. But when it started, it became a fierce fight for the victories on the Black Canyon Trail, an ancient Native American trail.
New course record
Hayden Hawks won in style; in a new course record. Pushed on by Jupiter Carera Casas (2nd in 7:39:56) and Chris Myers (3th in 7:43:02) he beat the fasted time to date of Anthony Costales (7:32:50) with more than 2 and a half minutes: 7:30:18.
Rachel Drake finished in style as well; with baby Lewis on her arm in a time of 8:47:23. She made her deciding move when Becca Windell fell during the river crossing. In the end Drake crossed the finish line 5 minutes ahead of Windell (8:52:46). Lauren Puretz came in third in 9:06:58.
For Drake it meant her second victory on the new World Trail Majors. Last month she won The Third at the Hong Kong 100.
The numbers one, two and three – both male and female – were rewarded with a Golden Ticket for Western States (June 29 and 30).
60 Kilometres
Elena Horton (7th overall) was surprisingly the fastest woman over 60 kilometres (4:57:19), after being out most of January, because of a parasite she picked up in India. Georgia Porter came second in 5:00:06. Keeley Henninger, last year’s winner of the 100k, (5:04:37) took the bronze.
Eli Hemming won the 60 kilometres race for men in 4:06:39. Giving Brad Miles, 2nd in 4:35:14 no chance. Brett Hornig finished third in 4:41:22.
Gran Canaria
The next race of the World Trail Majors series is the The North Face Transgrancanaria, February 21-25. Jim Walmsley, Zach Miller, Andreas Reiterer, Courtney Dauwalter and Azara García De los Salmones are on the startinglist of the 126 kilometres race with 6.800 metres of elevation.
