Ruth Croft and Dan Jones Three-Peat at Tarawera 102K
Tarawera recap, USATF ruling reshapes 100-mile championship, more sponsorship moves, a look at Transgrancanaria this weekend, plus all the latest trail and ultra news
The Tarawera by UTMB 102K served as the fourth of six Golden Ticket races for the 2025 Western States Endurance Run (WSER), with four automatic entries—two for men and two for women—up for grabs. The race drew top talent seeking a coveted spot at the legendary 100-mile race in California.
Coming off her runner-up finish at UTMB last year, Ruth Croft bided her time early, letting Beth McKenzie set the pace through the first third of the race before moving to the front alongside Caitlin Fielder in the hillier mid-section. Croft’s experience proved pivotal, as she pulled away in the final miles to cross the line in 8:24:34, nearly 50 minutes faster than last year’s winning time and over 30 minutes under Camille Herron’s 2017 course record.
Fielder, the 2024 Tarawera 50K champion, held strong for second place in 8:30:45, securing her first Golden Ticket to Western States. McKenzie rounded out the podium in 8:46:09.
As the winner, Croft declined her Golden Ticket, citing her focus on UTMB after finishing second there last year and already having a Western States victory in 2022.
The second Golden Ticket initially would have gone to Beth McKenzie, but due to Western States’ Anti-Doping Policy which prohibits entry to athletes who’ve served a doping ban of three or more months. McKenzie had served a two-year sanction from 2016 to 2018 after testing positive for ostarine during Ironman Australia. Although she maintains her innocence, the previous ban renders her ineligible for Western States.
As a result, the ticket was offered to Helen Mino Faukner, who finished fourth, but she declined, citing that she already had other race plans for the summer and did not feel Western States aligned with her goals at this time, as she shared in her latest YouTube video.
With two declines and one ineligible runner, the final Golden Ticket rolled down to Nancy Jiang, who finished fifth in 9:10:13. Jiang, who had set her sights on returning to Western States, initially thought her chances were over when she crossed the line in fifth. Reflecting on the moment, she shared on Instagram, “I had one goal in mind - do what I can to get back into Western States. Sitting in 5th place at the finish line, I had believed it wasn’t going to happen.” But fate had other plans, and with the ticket rolling down, Jiang gladly accepted, securing her spot at Western States.
That battle for the second Golden Ticket turned out to be incredibly close, though the athletes wouldn’t have known it at the time. Jiang, Juliette Soule, and Lotti Brinks finished within 40 seconds of one another. Soule, who finished just 27 seconds behind Jiang, reflected on Instagram: “So stoked to be able to come away with this result in a stacked women’s field of world-class runners, but bittersweet to come so close (27 seconds) away from a golden ticket to WSER.”
In the men’s race, Dan Jones wasted no time asserting his dominance. By the midway point, he had shaken off all chasers, building a lead that only grew as the race went on. He ultimately stopped the clock at 7:17:42, finishing over 30 minutes ahead of second place.
Jones had initially estimated a 7:50 finish but surprised even himself with how fast the race unfolded. “The pace was hot from the start,” Jones said in his post-race interview with Freetrail. “I was looking at my watch, seeing 3:45-3:50 per kilometer on those early gravel roads. I knew it was a risk, but I wanted to test myself.” The aggressive approach paid off as he held strong through the final climbs and delivered what he later called one of his best performances ever.
Looking ahead to Western States, Jones expressed confidence in his fitness, saying he believes he has "leveled up" and is eager to see how that translates to WSER. “I thought I was fit in past years, but I’ve taken another step forward,” Jones told Freetrail. Despite the excitement, Jones is mindful of balancing recovery before shifting his full focus to the June showdown in California.
Hiroki Kai (JPN) took second in 7:48:45, while Adrian Macdonald (USA) placed third in 7:51:05. With Jones already holding a Western States spot from his 4th place finish last year (the top-10 get automatic entries the following year), the two Golden Tickets were awarded to Kai and Macdonald.
More from Tarawera:
T50: Hayden Hawks (USA) and Bianca Tarboton (RSA) won the 50K, with Hawks battling Robbie Simpson to the wire before pulling out about a minute gap over Robbie at the end to win in 3:18:46. Hawks later reflected on Instagram, “It was fast and I was pushed, but I stayed patient, fought hard, and came away with the victory and course record.” I also saw his nutrition sponsor, Precision Fuel and Hydration, post on Instagram about Hawks dropping his salt tabs at the start, and accidentally handing his crew a bottle with flow gel rather than an empty bottle, so apparently he ran the full race without any electrolytes and far fewer carbs than he intended.
TMiler: Sam Harvey (NZL) became the first Kiwi to win the 100-mile event, while Kimino Miyazaki (JPN) took the women’s title after two previous near misses.
Rajpaul Pannu Wins Jackpot 100 Mile, But Disqualified From USATF Championship
The 2025 USATF 100 Mile Road Championship at the Jackpot Ultra Running Festival took an unexpected turn after Rajpaul Pannu crossed the finish line first in 11:52:46, breaking his own course record from last year. However, following a post-race review, Pannu was disqualified from the USATF Championship results due to his shoes exceeding the maximum allowable stack height of 40mm, per USATF Rule 143 Section 3(i) (search “40mm” in the rulebook PDF available here), which aligns with World Athletics regulations.
Pannu competed in the HOKA Skyward X, a max-cushion road shoe featuring a 48mm stack height, exceeding the USATF's limit by 8mm. In a statement on Instagram, Pannu was a class act, owning up to the mistake and clarifying that he was unaware of the rule and had not intentionally violated it.
“I was informed that my 100-mile effort would be moved to an open result, and I’m at peace with that,” he wrote. “My actions weren’t intentional, as I never imagined my shoes wouldn’t allow me to register an official USATF time.”
Pannu further explained that he had only tested the shoes for the first time a week before the race and assumed they were trainers rather than high-stack “super shoes.” He also pointed out that no one on-site, including the USATF official, flagged the issue, and that the protest was filed afterward by someone who watched the livestream.
USATF’s 40mm stack height limit follows World Athletics' regulations, which aim to ensure fair competition by preventing excessive shoe technology from providing disproportionate energy return. The rule was first introduced in 2020 following controversy over carbon-plated, high-stack shoes significantly improving marathon times. While World Athletics governs international events, USATF applies these regulations to national road championships.
With Pannu disqualified from the USATF Championship, Cody Poskin (13:26:03) was named the official 2025 USATF 100 Mile Road Champion. Nathan Brown (13:59:23) and Braden Roggow (15:36:55) moved up to second and third place, respectively.
On the women’s side, Stella Springer put together an incredible performance, winning the women’s USATF 100-Mile Road Championship in 15:29:05 at the age of 54. With Pannu’s time removed from the official results, Springer also moved up to an impressive third overall in the standings. Sierra DeGroff finished second in 17:41:22, with Erin Karara rounding out the podium in 18:14:25.
More from Jackpot:
Dakota Jones, who was also chasing the 100-mile American record, saw his race unravel after stomach issues forced him to drop around mile 50. In a post-race reflection on Instagram, he admitted he could have prepared better for fueling but emphasized the bigger picture—bringing together his Footprints Running community, raising funds for their climate action camp, and supporting fellow runners. “99% of why racing is great is because you’re out in cool places doing something worthwhile with great people,” he wrote.
Your Friday & Saturday Plans: Transgrancanaria
We’re really on a roll right now as we head into our third straight weekend of livestreamed ultrarunning, following Mountain Outpost’s coverage of Black Canyon and Jackpot. This time, the action shifts to Spain for the 26th edition of The North Face Transgrancanaria, taking place on the island of Gran Canaria. The event is the third stop in the Gran Canaria World Trail Majors Series, following Hong Kong 100 and Black Canyon Ultras.
Transgrancanaria features multiple race distances, headlined by the Classic (126km), while the Marathon (47km) is part of the new World Trail Majors Short Series, alongside the Advanced (84km), Starter (21km), and Promo (12km) races.
For a breakdown of the Classic race, including top contenders and course insights, check out Liam Tryon’s race preview. For additional discussion, including coverage of the Marathon distance, listen to Robrunsround’s audio preview.
How to watch
Transgrancanaria is providing live streams on their YouTube channel for both the Marathon and Classic races. The Marathon starts Friday morning local time (very early morning hours in the U.S. - just a few hours after publishing this issue), while the Classic starts later Friday night just before midnight local time (evening hours in the U.S.).
Friday, February 21
9:30 AM GMT (1:30 AM PST / 4:30 AM EST) - Marathon (47km) Livestream
11:59 PM GMT (3:59 PM PST / 6:59 PM EST) - Classic (126km) Livestream
Sponsorship News
Jane Maus has signed with La Sportiva for 2025, joining their Mountain Running Team. In her announcement, Maus shared her excitement about partnering with a brand that aligns with her identity as a mountain athlete, blending running, climbing, and scrambling. “I’ve always identified as a runner, but moreso as a mountain athlete,” she wrote on Instagram.
Damian Hall has joined NNormal, choosing a sponsor that aligns with his climate advocacy. In his announcement on Instagram, the British ultrarunner and Green Runners co-founder called out overconsumption in sports, expanding on his decision in a blog post. “There’s a crucial difference between supporting a brand doing the right thing and being a puppet for the overconsumption machine,” he wrote, praising NNormal’s commitment to sustainability.
Emily Hawgood has joined Hyperlyte Liquid Performance. The Zimbabwean ultrarunner has achieved four consecutive top-10 finishes at the Western States 100, including a personal best of 16:48:43 in 2024, securing 4th place. She also placed 6th at the 2024 UTMB Mont-Blanc.
Rachel Drake, Tabor Hemming, and Eli Hemming have joined Precision Fuel & Hydration. Drake had a standout 2024, with a win at Black Canyon 100k and a course-record victory at the JFK 50 Mile, where she became the first woman to break the six-hour barrier (5:57:32). Tabor, the 2022 US Mountain Running Champion, has shown her versatility across road and trail, including a 2:36 debut marathon last year. Meanwhile, Eli, was the 2024 OCC by UTMB champion.
Other News and Links
AP News reports that the Trump administration has reinstated 5,000 seasonal National Park Service (NPS) positions while simultaneously terminating approximately 1,000 probationary employees as part of broader federal workforce cuts. Probationary workers, who are in their first year of service, were dismissed without prior notice, raising concerns about staffing shortages as peak season approaches. Among those affected is Alex Wild, a park ranger and first responder, who called the move “reckless,” warning that his dismissal leaves his park without essential emergency medical services.
argues the cuts will cost far more than they save, estimating they could lead to over $42 billion in economic losses, deferred maintenance, and environmental damage.In last week’s issue, we noted that Eli Hemming, a pre-race favorite at Black Canyon 100K, went out aggressively, led early, but faded in the heat to finish fourth and narrowly miss out on a Golden Ticket to Western States. In a Valentine’s Day post on their Substack, Eli and Tabor Hemming shared extra context—and lessons learned. On the same day, Tabor raced the Mesa Half Marathon 90 minutes away, then rushed back to crew Eli, leaving them both exhausted and stretched thin. Eli overheated, Tabor underperformed, and they realized they’d stretched themselves too thin. Their big takeaway? No more splitting focus. “To get great results, you have to WHOLE-ASS it,” they wrote. Moving forward, if one is racing, the other is fully dedicated to support.
Middle-distance star Craig Engels took a crack at Jim Walmsley’s Strava Crown on the Echo Canyon Summit Climb segment up Camelback Mountain (the tallest peak in Phoenix), finishing 2:37 behind Walmsley’s 15:58 mark—which, to add salt to the wound, was set back in 2015 before he became the icon he is today. “One of the hardest things I’ve ever done,” Engels admitted on Instagram, still tying for the seventh-fastest time ever. After asking Walmsley for tips in the comments, Jim replied, “Your GAP started out like a miler on a 16 min effort 🔥 … Fair warning, definitely would try to convert you to more trails.” Whether Engels takes him up on the offer remains to be seen.
The Chuckanut 50K announced on Instagram that they’ve introduced a $3,000 prize purse, supported by sponsors, along with a $200 course record bonus for the top male, female, or nonbinary runner who breaks the current record.
Podcast & YouTube Highlights
Fresh off back-to-back Golden Ticket wins (the first athlete ever to do so) at Javelina Jundred and Black Canyon 100K, Riley Brady joins Women of Distance to reflect on their rise as one of the sport’s top athletes. Brady shares how they’ve evolved as an athlete, and their experience at Black Canyon, where they shattered the course record by 30 minutes. Separately, we’ve learned that Brady is working with Kelly Newlon of RAD Boulder for agent representation—potentially signaling that sponsorship is on the horizon. Apple Podcasts | Spotify
On the Free Outside Podcast, Will Murray shares his rapid rise from relative unknown to Western States Golden Ticket earner after his breakout second-place finish at Black Canyon 100K. A former cyclist, he only recently transitioned to ultras and balances training with his full-time job as a math teacher at a New Jersey boarding school. He avoids rigid plans, instead following a few guiding principles, and fine-tunes self-talk strategies to stay locked in on race day. He also shared his approach to the pain cave, which he calls decision time—the moment suffering sets in, and you either back down or push through. His goal at Black Canyon was simple: recognize decision time and lean in. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube
Tara Dower, who, like Will Murray, finished second at Black Canyon 100K and earned a Golden Ticket, recently uploaded a video on YouTube capturing her full race weekend. She approached the race with a similar mindset—embracing the suffering—but where Murray focused on recognizing decision time and choosing to lean in, Dower’s mantra was going comatose, fully immersing herself in the pain cave. Spoiler alert: she gritted through the late miles and proved to herself she belongs among the sport’s best. Watch on YouTube
In a video Aravaipa posted last week, Jamil Coury and filmmaker Dylan Harris sit down to discuss The Chase, the upcoming film documenting the 2024 Cocodona 250. Harris shares how the project came to life after Coury pitched him the idea, inspired by the all-star men’s field that assembled for last year’s race. They also dive into the challenges of filming a 250-mile event and the deep storytelling approach that captures not just the race but the lives and training philosophies of Michael Versteeg, Joe McConaughy, Mike McKnight, Jeff Browning, and Arlen Glick. One fun highlight? The film’s merch—featuring caricatures of the athletes, were hand-drawn by Browning’s son, Abraham. Pre-order the merch here. Watch the conversation on YouTube.
That’s it this week, folks! I’ll be tuned into the Transgrancanaria livestreams this weekend cheering folks on and hiding from this chilly weather we’re having down here in Austin at the moment (16F tonight - come on y’all, that’s cold for central Texas).
Good luck to everyone racing this weekend and I’ll see y’all here next week. If you enjoyed this issue, consider forwarding it to a friend who might enjoy it too, and encourage them to subscribe here. ✌🏼
Ken