Hans Troyer demolished the course record at the 2026 Black Canyon 100k, finishing in 7:20:00 to beat Seth Ruhling's year-old mark of 7:24:55 by nearly five minutes. The performance cemented Troyer's status as one of the fastest 100k runners in North America and delivered a statement result on one of the most competitive courses in the American ultrarunning calendar.
The Black Canyon course, which traverses the rugged desert terrain between Mayer and Black Canyon City in Arizona, is known for its exposed conditions and relentless terrain that punishes pacing errors. Troyer's approach was characteristically aggressive but controlled, establishing a lead early in the race and extending it through the middle sections as temperatures climbed. His finishing time of 7:20:00 — which works out to approximately 4:42 per kilometre sustained over 100 kilometres — underlines the extraordinary level of fitness required to compete at the front of modern ultrarunning.
Jennifer Lichter matched Troyer's record-breaking performance in the women's race, setting a new women's course record with a dominant front-running display. Lichter has emerged as one of the most versatile female ultrarunners in the US, capable of competing at the sharp end across distances from 50 kilometres to 100 miles, and her Black Canyon result adds another major scalp to an increasingly impressive career resume.
Anthony Costales finished second in the men's race in 7:24:32, a time that would have been a course record in any previous edition. The depth of the men's field reflects the growing competitiveness of the American ultra scene, which has produced a generation of runners capable of pushing the pace from start to finish at distances that were once considered endurance events first and racing events second. Black Canyon's status as a UTMB World Series qualifier adds further incentive for top runners to target the race, and the 2026 edition will be remembered as one of the fastest and most competitive in its history.