The inaugural
Tahoe 200 Endurance Run is closing in on it's 100-hour cutoff, and Australia's Ewan Horsburgh (61:32) and Oklahoma's Gia Madole (75:56, 10th overall) have emerged victorious after 78,000' of climbing and descent that circumvents the great Lake Tahoe in California and Nevada. Nearly 50 finishers made it through the brutal course, including a few like
Inside Trail Racing's Victor Ballesteros (2nd, 63:43) who never even slept! Simply amazing.
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| (Tahoe 200 elevation chart...wowza!) |
Horsburgh came all the way from Katoomba, New South Wales, to test his 100k and 24hr World Championship running skills against the Tahoe mountain course. He stayed in the Top 5 through most of the race, claiming the lead in the final 20 miles as a fading John Burton (3rd, 65:02), who led the race for 130+ miles, slipped back. Victor Ballesteros (63:43), no stranger to Tahoe after years of TRT100 finishes and FKT attempts, climbed steadily through the day from 19th to 2nd place.
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| (Horsburgh celebrates his record run) |
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| (Champagne and Oreos for female winner Gia Madole) |
Harrah, OK's Madole used the Ouchita Trail 50m (1st, 9:38) and Bryce 100m (3rd, 24:48) for her preparation this year, and made a strong second half charge to go from 25th to 10th place overall, with a fast closing Michelle Halsne from Mukilteo, WA, who finished 12th in 77:47. Canadian Claire Perks finished third woman in 81:16 for 22nd overall.
Bravo to the brave starters, finishers, and volunteers of the Tahoe 200! Simply amazing! Lots of great photos on the
Tahoe 200 FB page if you want to see more.
