There used to be quite a few drama within the 2023 Cocodona 250 Mile — it simply took place over days of operating during the Arizona wilderness.
The 2023 version started on Monday, Would possibly 1, and concludes on Saturday, Would possibly 6. Now in its 1/3 yr, the ultramarathon as soon as once more delivered the products.
The direction starts in Black Canyon Town and finishes in Flagstaff. With just about 40,000 toes of elevation achieve, a most altitude of 9,135 toes, and a cutoff time of 125 hours, the Cocodona 250 Mile calls for each ounce of bodily and psychological energy from its runners.
Michael McKnight, 2023 Cocodona 250 Mile champion, at an assist station with a few of his workforce. Picture courtesy of Michael McKnight.
It’s additionally lengthy sufficient to ship some surprises, and this yr used to be no exception.
Michael McKnight continued a difficult first part of the race, then drew on some hidden reserves to crank again to first position for what match officers referred to as the “final comeback.” Sarah Ostaszewski got here in first for ladies, whilst operating for the Aravaipa Racing Crew.
Runners persisted to trickle over the end line as of Friday afternoon.
Sarah Ostaszewski on her strategy to successful the 2023 Cocodona 250 Mile. Picture courtesy of Sarah Ostaszewski.
2023 Cocodona 250 Mile Males’s Race
After snagging a second-place end ultimate yr, Michael McKnight delivered a time of 69:41:31 to take first position this week — but it surely used to be a rocky street.
“Michael suffered via some tricky patches within the first part of the race however rallied laborious and put the hammer down within the upper elevations to wind his manner as much as the win,” the race group wrote on Instagram.
Josh Perry got here in moment with a end time of 70:57:52. He confirmed the characteristics of a seasoned via hiker by means of turning in a swift and secure efficiency, organizers mentioned.
Coming in 1/3 used to be Michael Greer with a end time of 72:47:07. Greer dropped out of the race line-up ultimate yr after a fall left him with a damaged hip only some weeks sooner than the race. Returning this yr — and making it to the rostrum — marks some other exceptional comeback tale.
Michael McKnight on his strategy to successful the 2023 Cocodona 250 Mile. Picture courtesy of Michael McKnight.
2023 Cocodona 250 Mile Males’s Effects
- Michael McKnight – 69:41:31
- Josh Perry – 70:57:52
- Michael Greer – 72:47:07
- Kevin Goldberg – 76:08:05
- Jeff Garmire – 77:03:46
2023 Cocodona 250 Mile Girls’s Race
Sarah Ostaszewski helps to keep getting quicker. The runner has participated within the Cocodona 250 Mile for all 3 years, and as soon as once more upped her sport. She positioned 5th in 2021 with a time of 99:24:49. She knocked that all the way down to 84:21:24 for a 3rd position ultimate yr.
Then she sliced just about 12 hours off her time for a 72:50:27 end on Thursday, taking first for the ladies.
Aliza Lapierre crossed the end line about 4 hours later, arriving with a time of 77:04:14. She slowed within the ultimate 50k after injuring her neck in a fall.
Then there’s third-place Mika Thewes, who fought via a number of falls, then “again and again rubbed some filth onto the ones wounds and carried on,” the development wrote on Instagram.
She arrived simply an hour and a part after Lapierre, incomes a time of 78:27:13.
Sarah Ostaszewski, 2023 Cocodona 250 Mile champion (heart), together with her workforce. Picture courtesy of Sarah Ostaszewski.
2023 Cocodona 250 Mile Girls’s Effects
- Sarah Ostaszewski – 72:50:27
- Aliza Lapierre – 77:04:14
- Mika Thewes – 78:27:13
- Sally McRae – 87:48:49
- Alicia Jenkins – 92:57:12
