Elite Ultra Runners Join Diversified Field at Jackpot Ultra

February 13, 2020

USATF 100-Mile Road National Championship Highlights the 7 Races Offered at Jackpot

Las Vegas, NV – The 7^th Annual Jackpot Ultra Running Festival, Sin City’s premier endurance running event, returns to Cornerstone Park in Southern Nevada February 14-16, 2020. Jackpot will again feature the USA Track & Field 100-Mile Road National Championship race, along with 6/12/24/48-hour races, a standard 100-mile race and a 50-mile race. The sold-out field of nearly 350 runners will run on a short loop course around a majestic 31-acre bird sanctuary lake on a USATF certified and sanctioned course. All races start at 8:00 AM PST on Saturday, Feb 15, except for the 48-hour race and USATF 100-Mile race, which both begin Friday, Feb 14 at 8:00 AM PST.

Several notable ultra-runners will be competing in the USATF 100-Mile race; including 12-time USATF Champion Connie Gardner (Akron, OH) and Mark Hammond (Mill Creek, UT), the winner of the 2019 Desert Solstice 100-mile Race with a time of 12:35. Jacob Jackson, who helped lead the U.S. National 24-Hour Running Team to a gold medal finish at the 2019 IAU 24-Hour World Championship with his 164 mile performance, returns to Jackpot, as does Jon Olsen, the 2018 Jackpot USATF 100-Mile Road National Champion and the first North American to ever run 100 miles in under 12 hours. Jon Noll, who ran 81 miles to win the 2018 Jackpot 12-Hour race, joins the 100-mile Jackpot field for the first time. Pam Smith, who recently ran 152 miles in 24-hours to help propel the U.S. National 24-Hour Running Team to a gold medal finish at the 2019 IAU 24-Hour World Championship races in her first Jackpot. Marisa Lizak, who won the 2019 Desert Solstice 24-Hour race with 148 miles, also makes her Jackpot debut.  Howard Nippert, USATF 24-Hour National Team Leader stated, “It’s great to attract so many high caliber athletes to one competition.  I can’t wait to hear the gun go off and to see them do battle. USATF is proud to be associated with Stephanie and Ken Rubeli and the Jackpot Ultra Running Festival for the 3rd consecutive year.”

The Fabulous Las Vegas Showgirls, along with Elvis and Lucille Ball’s famous pink Cadillac, will be on-hand both Friday and Saturday to kick-off all races, while local musician Jonny Hazard will perform lakeside on both Friday & Saturday.  For the third straight year, the race offers a prize pool up to $10,000. The public is welcome to watch the full competition and attendance is free.

Ken Rubeli, Jackpot Race Director and co-owner of Beyond Limits Running stated, “We are honored to again bring the USATF100-Mile Road National Championship to Henderson, NV. Jackpot is uniquely different than most ultra-events as it offers world-class competition where newbie ultra-runners compete side-by-side with the world’s best ultra-runners.”

About Beyond Limits Running:

Co-founded 8 years ago by a double organ transplant recipient and her husband, Beyond Limits Running was formed to help all runners, especially average runners, run way past their perceived limits by competing in ultra distance running events. Known for its over-the-top festive events, Beyond Limits Running produces the Jackpot Ultra Running Festival and the Beyond Limits Ultra race.  Learn more at www.BeyondLimitsRunning.com.