The first weekend of November delivered one of the most compelling ultra-running programmes of the autumn, with a major prize-money race in China and a Golden Ticket 100-miler in Arizona both producing finishes that were separated by almost nothing. At the Tsaigu Trail in Linhai City, which carried roughly $170,000 in total prize money, American Jim Walmsley won the 105k in 10:53, his first ultra finish of the year. Portugal’s Miguel Arsénio was second in 11:18.
The shorter Tsaigu distances brought their own storylines. Sweden’s Tove Alexandersson, the multiple world champion in ski orienteering and a growing force in trail running, won the women’s 50k in 4:25, with Montenegro’s Varvara Shikanova second in 5:01 and Courtney Dauwalter third in 5:07. In the men’s 50k, China’s Chun-Long Yang won in 4:10 from Xu-Tao Yu (4:15) and Antonio Martínez (4:16). Fu-Zhao Xiang won the women’s 105k in 13:30 ahead of Ling-Jie Chi (14:09) and Jing-Yan Chang (14:13).
At Javelina 100 Mile in Fountain Hills, Arizona, a race that offers Golden Tickets for Western States entry, Rob Molke won the men’s title in 12:11, just 87 seconds ahead of Noah Dusseau (12:12), with Can-Hua Luo third in 12:19. Molke’s time is the second-fastest ever recorded at the event, roughly a minute slower than the course record held by Will Murray. A winning margin of under ninety seconds after a hundred miles is rare even by the standards of ultra racing.
The women’s race was closer still. Heather Jackson won in 13:48, only 55 seconds clear of Carla Molinaro (13:49), while Katie Asmuth took third in 14:06. With Golden Ticket places at stake, the finishing order carried consequences well beyond the podium, and the tight margins will be pored over by those following the Western States entry process closely.
Elsewhere, Sweden’s Kullamannen by UTMB saw Juuso Simpanen win the 104-mile race in 15:39, four minutes ahead of Baptiste Derouin, with Anna Carlsson winning the women’s event in 16:44. At Mallorca by UTMB, Maite Maiora and Lambert Santelli won the 85-mile distance in 18:01 and 14:38 respectively. In Fresno, CJ Albertson also won the Two Cities Marathon in 2:08:28, three weeks after running 2:07:19 at Chicago.