Thousands Of Runners from Around the World Converge in Big Bear Lake, California for the 2024 Kodiak Ultra Marathons By UTMB

October 13, 2024

Sam Wood (USA) and Kristina Chang (USA) earn victories in 100-mile race; Nick Hirdt (USA) and Michelle Buncke (USA) top the field in the 100km event

BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. (Oct. 13, 2024) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – The Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB^® will return to Big Bear Lake, California on Oct. 11 – 12 offering a 100-mile, 100K, 50K, 21K, or 10K distances. Just a couple hours from Los Angeles, the Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB^® offered two days of racing across the five distances with each course presenting a unique running experience. Runners started and finished in the heart of downtown Big Bear Lake and ran through high desert, sub alpine, and semi-arid climates to experience unique beauty and challenge throughout the route.

On Friday, the Kodak Ultra Marathons by UTMB® kicked off the racing as runners took to the 100-mile course. With a time of 18:24:08, Sam Wood (USA) took the victory, who was quickly followed by second place finisher, Mike Lavery (USA) who completed the course in 18:27:19. Cordis Hall (USA) came in third with a time of 18:31:33. In the women’s race, Kristina Chang (USA) stormed to a comfortable victory with a finishing time of 21:15:24. Coral Buitenhuis (CAN) placed second with a time of 21:29:51 and Kate Butcher (CAN) rounded out the podium, completing the course in 22:14:23.

The four other competitions took place on Saturday, where runners tackled the 100km, 50km, 21 km, and 10km courses. The 100km competition was the first race to send its competitors off. On the men’s side, Nick Hirdt (USA) cruised to a comfortable victory at a time of 8:25:39. Second-place finisher Gordon Gianniny (USA) crossed the finish line in 8:38:44, followed by Hector Rodriguez (MEX), who came in third place with a time of 8:41:31. The women’s 100km race was a dominant win for Michelle Buncke (USA), who completed the course in 9:21:08. Finishing second place, Priscilla Forgie (CAN) crossed the finish line in 9:45:02, quickly followed by Lindsay Allison (USA) at 9:50:46, which earned her a third-place finish.

In the second race of the day, Ryan Becker (USA) took the top spot in the men’s 50km race in a time of 3:30:56. Helen Mino Faukner (USA) was the female 50km winner with a time of 4:13:09. Jordan Clay (GBR) and Dylan Humberger (USA) rounded the podium in the men’s competition with times of 3:35:22 and 3:50:42. On the women’s side, Klaire Rhodes (USA) finished the course in 4:18:44 taking second, while Kristin Johnson (USA) took third with a time of 4:28:12.

At 1:37:12, Brandon Miller (CAN) took the overall victory in the 21km race. McKennon Woltman (USA) and Matthew Walker (USA) finished neck-and-neck for second and third. Woltman edged out second place with a time of 1:48:25, while Walker took third finishing the race in 1:48:28. In the women’s race, Emily Clarke (USA) ran away with the win, finishing with a time of 1:53:11. Ellie Swemba-Grimmer (USA) and Lorena De Luna Saucedo (MEX) placed second and third with their respective times of 2:19:52 and 2:28:35.

The weekend of racing wrapped up with the 10km competition that took off early Saturday afternoon. Michelle Bowlds (USA) topped the field with a time of 1:02:26. Sarah Chatham (USA) and Janelle Patrick (USA) rounded out the women’s 10km podium with times of 1:12:44 and 1:14:58. Charles Renn (USA) took the top spot in the men’s race in a time of 1:03:50. Chris Caulfield (USA) and Moises Levy Harari (MEX) rounded the podium in the men’s competition with times of 1:03:59 and 1:10:21, respectively.

Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB is a dual qualifier for the 2025 UTMB® World Series Finals and Western States Endurance Run.

2025 Editon

In 2025, the HOKA Kodiak Ultra Marathons™ by UTMB^® will be designated as the UTMB World Series Americas Major. UTMB World Series Majors are held each year and these pinnacle regional events award double the amount of Running Stones to all finishers that can be used in the UTMB World Series Finals lottery. The Majors events provide direct qualification to the UTMB World Series Finals in 2025 for the top ten men and top ten women in the 100M, 100K, and 50K categories, as well as for the winners of their respective age categories in OCC, CCC®, or UTMB®. In total 210 runners are granted automatic qualification for the UTMB World Series Finals through each Major.

Next Up for the UTMB^® World Series:

The UTMB^® World Series is scheduled to continue in 2024 when the series heads over to East Asia for the Ultra Trail Ninghai by UTMB^® on October 19-20. To see the full schedule of UTMB^® World Series events, visit https://utmb.world/.

For more information about the Kodiak Utra Marathons by UTMB^® visit https://kodiak.utmb.world/. For more information about the 2024 UTMB^® World Series visit www.utmb.world.

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UTMB^® World Series

UTMB^® World Series is the world’s ultimate trail-running circuit that unites the sport’s biggest stars and passionate runners through the best, leading international events in the most stunning locations. Built on a passion for the mountains with sustainability at its heart, UTMB^® World Series gives all trail runners the chance to experience the UTMB^® adventure across the world, with events taking place across Asia, Oceania, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. It is the only place where runners can begin their quest to HOKA UTMB^® Mont-Blanc, where the prestigious UTMB^® World Series Finals will be held. Launched in May 2021 through the collaboration between the UTMB Group and The IRONMAN Group, the UTMB World Series circuit brings together many of the best international trail-running events on the planet. For more information, visit www.utmb.world.

About UTMB Group

Since the creation of HOKA UTMB^® Mont-Blanc in 2003 by a group of passionate friends, UTMB Group has been the driving force behind the development of trail running. The HOKA UTMB^® Mont-Blanc is the sports pinnacle event, and every year, 10,000 runners earn their place on the start line. UTMB Group also pioneered the LiveTrail^® technology, an innovative digital service that supports the management of endurance races. Revered by hundreds of thousands of athletes, UTMB^® has become a global, premium, and leading brand. In May 2021, UTMB Group partnered with The IRONMAN Group to launch the UTMB^® World Series, which brings together many of the best international events on the planet to provide exclusive access to the sport’s pinnacle event, HOKA UTMB^® Mont-Blanc. The UTMB^® World Series is built on the founding principles of HOKA UTMB^® Mont-Blanc: surpassing oneself; fair-play; respect for people and the environment; and solidarity. Find out more at https://utmb.world.

About The IRONMAN Group

The IRONMAN Group operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN^® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN^® 70.3^® Triathlon Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll^® Running Series, IRONKIDS^®, World Triathlon Championship Series, premier running events including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and City2Surf^®, UTMB^® World Series trail-running events including the Canyons Endurance Runs™ by UTMB^®, Tarawera Ultra-Trail™ by UTMB^® and Ultra-Trail Australia™ by UTMB^®, Epic Series™ mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic^®, road cycling events, and other multisport races. The IRONMAN Group is the largest operator of mass participation sports in the world, providing participants the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. Catering to the full athlete experience, the company portfolio also includes FulGaz^® virtual cycling, the most realistic indoor riding experience connected fitness application aimed at preparing athletes for real-world events. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN^® brand and its first event in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE^® by crossing finish lines around the world. Beginning as a single race, The IRONMAN Group has grown to become a global sensation with hundreds of events across 55+ countries. The IRONMAN Group is owned by Advance, a private, family-owned business, and Orkila Capital, a growth equity firm focused on building great brands. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/about-ironman-group.

About Advance 

Advance is a private, family-held business that owns and invests in companies across media, entertainment, technology, communications, education and other promising growth sectors. Our mission is to build the value of our companies over the long-term by fostering growth and innovation. Advance’s portfolio includes Condé Nast, Advance Local, Stage Entertainment, The IRONMAN Group, American City Business Journals, Leaders Group, Turnitin, and Pop. Together these operating companies employ more than 14,000 people in 29 countries. Advance is also among the largest shareholders in Charter Communications, Warner Bros. Discovery and Reddit. For more information visit www.advance.com.