They say that ultramarathoning mirrors life. If that’s true, then a 200+mile foot-race over days and nights through rugged terrain and constant exposure to the sun and the wind and this year, the rain, must mirror many lives.
The ultrarunning community, a close-knit band of endurance athletes were stunned by the news that a runner had died while on the Cocodona 250 course. The race organizers, Aravaipa Running, released a statement on social media stating that a participant of the race had experienced a medical emergency and had passed away. They said that they would not release any details at this time out of respect for the runner and their family. The statement did say that the runner’s crew and family had been notified and they thanked emergency service providers and race volunteers for their efforts. It was unclear which race this participant was running in. There are several races going on at the same time along the Cocodona course.
There is the marquee event—the Cocodona 250—a 253-mile race that runs from Black Canyon City to downtown Flagstaff, Arizona over several mountains, desert, ranches, pine forests and the red rocks of Sedona. There are several other races that are part of this event ranging from a 40-mile, a 100-mile and a 125-mile race. The organizers extended their deepest sympathies to the runner’s family and friends and asked that they be kept in the ultrarunning communities thoughts and prayers. They also said that the race would continue.
History may be happening as I type. There’s a female charge at the front of race, led by Rachel Entrekin, a two-time champion of Cocodona on the women’s side. At the time of publication, she was at mile 233 and 8-miles ahead of the first male (M1,) Killian Korth. The only time we’ve seen Entrekin sleep in the past 48 hours is a 5-minute dirt-nap on a trail outside of Fort Tuthill. The CocoQueen is simply crushing.
Entrekin, who has won the Cocodona 250 the last two years in a row, is is on pace to possibly win the entire race and to break Dan Green’s course record of 58 hours and 37 minutes from last year. With the exception of Courtney Dauwalter winning the Moab 240 in 2019, I can’t think of another female who has won the over 200+distance.
Entrekin has been flying through the past two days and two nights, making the Hangover
Killian Korth, who has DNF’s Cocodona twice in the past due to severe injury mid-race is finally having the day or days that he has worked for and has been leading the men’s race ever since the 100-mile mark. But they’re not coming without a price. Korth took some time at Fort Tuthill as he’s having shooting pains down his leg. He left the aid-station limping and struggling but still pushing forward to hold onto his lead. Korth has just come off a massive year, winning the Triple Crown, which includes all 3 of Destination Trails 200+mile races. He won all three, the Tahoe 200, the Bigfoot 200 and the Moab 240 in course record time. Korth is just 5 miles ahead of Cody Poskin an accomplished young ultrarunner from Montana and then Joe “Stringbean” McConeghy who won Cocodona in its 2nd year, 2021. Those are the 3 front runners on the men’s side but there is a chase pack not far behind including Edhar Ramirez, DJ Fox and Jeff Browning, one of the most accomplished male ultrarunners in recent memory.
The retired pro-triathlete turned gravel cyclist and ultrarunner, Heather Jackson, has held on to F2 for almost the entire race, with some back and forth between Courtney Dauwalter who has remained in F3 for the majority of the race. Jackson is new to the Cocodona course, as well as the 200+mile distance. Dauwalter has won the Moab 240 outright and set a course record on the Tahoe 200 but last year she had to DNF Cocodona, at mile 108, after establishing the overall lead early on. Last year, similar to day 3 of this year’s Cocodona, included rain, wind, hail and freezing temperatures. It appeared that Dauwalter, last year, was suffering from hypothermia when she had to drop at Mt. Mingus. The Minnesota native is arguably the greatest female ultrarunner of all-time having won Hardrock 100, Western States 100 and UTMB multiple times, setting numerous course records throughout her career.
As a race of this magnitude goes on there are so many ways things can go south. Fatigue is setting in on day 3, food might be hard to get down, there is a much greater risk of injury after moving through rocky terrain and large climbs and descents for 48 hours straight. Basically, it’s not over until the runners cross that line at Flagstaff. Anything can happen as we witnessed in 2024 when Browning, suffering from a pulmonary infection, was passed with only a few miles to go, by Harry Subertas because he could not keep running with such a low blood-oxygen level. He did come in a solid 2nd, but it’s too early to call the 2026 race.
Other newsworthy mentions include Cameron Hanes, the bowhunter, ultrarunner, podcaster, author had to drop out of the race after he smashed his head on some rocks on the climb to Crown King. He was not alone as several of the runners came in blood to Crown King as they attempted to navigate their footing on piles of loose rocks up 10,000ft of gain in the rugged Bradshaw Mountains. Hanes continued to push forward, but appeared to be suffering from a serious concussion as he kept falling and vomiting, signaling a brain injury. Hanes finished 19th overall last year in Cocodona at age 57. He’s the author of the bestselling book, Endure. He’s interviewed many of the front runners in this race and often trains with Dauwalter.
Other DNF’s of veteran ultrarunners include Adam Kimble, Max Jolliffe, Manuela Vilaseca (who recently won the Triple Crown of 200’s.)
Here’s hoping all the runners on the course make it to Flagstaff in good form.
There will be a race report with more compelling storylines to follow as the race continues.
— Erin Quinn
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