The Hardrock 100’s clockwise route was about 1.7 miles longer than the last running, back in 2018, because of a reroute through the Animas Forks and the addition of Forest Service trails.
The extra mileage, however, didn’t stop Kilian Jornet and Courtney Dauwalter from setting new course records over the weekend.
Jornet was first overall in the endurance run, finishing just under 15 minutes ahead of Francois D’Haene in 21 hours, 36 minutes and 24 seconds. D’Haene, who set a course record and counter-clockwise record last year, was only about five minutes slower on the new clockwise route this year, and was second in 21:51:19. Dakota Jones placed third in 23:06:17.
“Kilian is just an uber athlete; he’s just that good,” said run director Dale Garland. “With the talent of Dakota and Francois, he was pushed the entire way.”
Garland said the three of them ran together for most of the first half of the race. Jornet and D’Haene, however, eventually ran away from Jones. Then, in the final 4 miles of the race, Jornet pulled away from D’Haene to take the win. He has now won the Hardrock 100 five times.
Daniel Jung (25:53:43) and Jeff Browning (26:17:43) rounded out the top five.
Dauwalter, meanwhile, finished sixth overall and handily won the women’s division in 26:44:36.
Stephanie Case was the second woman to cross in 33:52:40 while Hannah Green of Silverton finished third in 34:26:39.
“Fairly early we knew (Courtney) was having a good day and wasn’t going to be pushed as hard as the guys,” Garland said. “She’s such an excellent athlete that she’s able to not depend on other people pushing her to do well.”
Diana Finkel set the previous women’s course record in 2009 (27:18:24).
Dauwalter’s record came a year after she had to withdraw from the run.
This year, 115 of the run’s 145 participants were able to finish.
“I thought that was really good,” Garland said. “It’s a pretty good testament to the preparedness of the runners.”
Three runners from Durango were able to finish the race. Drew Gunn completed his ninth Hardrock, placing 47th in 38:40:48.
Maggie Guterl, running in her first Hardrock, finished 55th in 39:29:27.
Neal Matosky, running in his sixth total ultra race ever, placed 57th in 39:40:13.
“I had some major issues but got it done,” Guterl said. “And at one point it was cool because all three of us Durango folks were at the Pole Creek Aid station at the same time. And we all got it done!”
Three women from Silverton also finished the endurance challenge: Greene, Meghan Hicks (36:32:52) and Amanda Grimes (46:17:49).
Kirk Apt, meanwhile, completed the Hardrock for the 26th time (105th, 46:42:59).
Paul Sweeney and Jeff List both finished the run for the 10th time.
List placed 64th in 31:03:53. Sweeney finished 92nd in 40:39:00.
John Kelley, who is one of only 15 runners that have completed the Barkley ultra marathon, finished 11th overall in 31:29:32. “That’s a pretty unique double,” Garland said.
The runners also got some good weather this year, with a few showers but no lightning.
“It was a good weekend for ultra running,” Garland said. “Big thanks to the town of Silverton. Big thanks to the 300 volunteers and a big, big thanks to the core run committee for getting us back to what we’re known for: hospitality and treating the runners right.”
