What really happened at Black Canyon 100k?
The fight for those Golden Tickets was dramatic
Black Canyon 100k is the most competitive 100k race in North America. 1200 runners signed up to run from Mayer High School south for 62(ish) miles. The top three get Golden Tickets into Western States, and probably 50 runners had some shot at doing it. As for context, Western States is a race so impossible to get into that I coach athletes who no longer care about qualifiers. Anyways, here’s what happened here… because it was dramatic.
The Start
Like clockwork, Black Canyon kicked off with its usual dose of 1200 runner chaos and absurdity. The starting gun hadn’t even cooled before the top 40 runners flew down the trail at sub-six-minute-mile pace. Yes, 40 humans, not gazelles or a CGI rendering of what runners could look like in the Olympics. This was real life, and it was completely unhinged—yet somehow perfectly on-brand for Black Canyon. Leading the pack of adrenaline-fueled maniacs were Eli Hemming and Makai Clemons, who decided to take the concept of a "hot start" and throw it into the ultra-running stratosphere. By the 20-mile mark, they had clocked the fastest splits in course history. Would it pay off for them? That is the real question at Black Canyon, a course too fast for its own good.
The temperatures were surprisingly friendly for February in Arizona, and the trail was in pristine condition, setting the stage for an all-out slugfest. Derrick Lytle and I were there to capture every glorious, sweat-soaked moment for the film we’re making about this event (in our own style). Going in, the buzz was all about Eli Hemming. He was the odds-on favorite despite being as untested at this distance as a pair of brand-new trail shoes. "Fast but fragile" felt like the unofficial tagline for his race, and we were curious to see if he could live up to the hype.
At Bumblebee aid station, we caught the lead trio—Eli, Makai, and Will Murray—looking smooth, fast, and very confident. From there, we shifted our focus to the second wave, which I like to call "The Golden Ticket Dreamers." This group was stacked with seasoned veterans and ambitious underdogs, all vying for a chance to punch their ticket to Western States. Among them was Joe McConaughy, aka "Stringbean," whose trail name led us into a hilarious tangent about whether he’s vegan. Spoiler: He’s not. But as he cruised through Bumblebee in 20th place, right alongside previous Golden Ticket winner Blake Slattengren, he looked like a guy with a plan.
Meanwhile, on the women’s side, Mary Denholm was throwing down like she was late to the men’s race, commanding a solid lead a third of the way into the race. Behind her was a feisty pack of contenders, including Tara Dower, who was already rocking a few fresh battle scars. Seriously, every time we saw her, there was more blood. But she doesn’t let it slow her down. Covered in dirt and cuts but brimming with determination, Tara stayed in the mix while Mary cruised below course-record pace. Things were fast, fierce, and wide open—classic Black Canyon.
Halfway
By the time the race hit the halfway mark, the chaos had started to take shape. Eli Hemming was still in the mix but had company now in the form of Seth Ruhling, who looked annoyingly unbothered by the effort. The gaps between the frontrunners and the rest of the field were growing, and the duo was already five minutes ahead of Hayden Hawks’ 2023 course record. Sure, last year had some snow at the start, but still, these guys were flying.
Our boy Joe "Not-Actually-Vegan" McConaughy had climbed his way into 10th, and we couldn’t help but root for him. After seven failed attempts at snagging a Golden Ticket, it felt like this could finally be his day. We stuck with him, filming more of the tenth-place runner than a producer would let us do (if we had one), and began crafting a storyline in our heads about his potential redemption arc.
On the women’s side, things were even spicier. Riley Brady had stormed into the lead with a 90-second gap over Tara Dower. Together, they were obliterating splits, running 12 minutes ahead of the previous fastest time at this point in the race. The sun was starting to crank up the heat, but these women didn’t seem to care. They were running like their shoes were on fire, and the drama was building with every mile.
The Move
At Table Mesa, the final aid station we could film, Seth Ruhling had officially taken control of the men’s race. He rolled in looking like he had just finished a casual 5k, while Eli came in looking like he had actually run 50 miles. Seth grabbed a quick sip of fluids and bounced out, all business. Eli, meanwhile, guzzled water and quickly adopted every cooling protocol in the book. He rallied and tore out of the aid station, still in second place and in line for a golden ticket if he could hold on.
Behind them, the real fireworks were starting. Will Murray was in third, steady as a metronome, but Joe McConaughy was charging hard. He had 11 miles to close a four-minute gap, and you could practically hear the Rocky theme song playing in the background as he flew out of Table Mesa. We raced to the finish, to catch the final showdown.
For the women, Riley Brady and Tara Dower seemed to have locked up the top two spots, but with Riley already holding a Golden Ticket from Javelina, the fourth-place finisher would inherit the coveted prize. EmKay Sullivan was hanging tough, looking likely to round out the podium, but anything could happen in the final stretch.
The Finish
Seth Ruhling crossed the finish line first, smashing the course record with a ridiculous 7:24. Not only did he look fresh, but I’m pretty sure he could’ve kept running another 20 miles if someone asked him to. Will Murray pulled off a strong second-place finish, also dipping under the old course record. But the crowd was buzzing for one reason: Who would snag that final Golden Ticket?
And then, like a mirage in the desert, Joe "Stringbean" McConaughy appeared. His colorful Brooks kit bounced through the final wash as he stormed into third place, erasing that four-minute deficit with a performance for the ages. After nearly a decade of coming up short, Joe finally snagged his Golden Ticket in an emotional finish.
On the women’s side, Riley Brady and Tara Dower both smashed the previous course record, cruising into first and second. EmKay Sullivan secured third, earning her Golden Ticket and rounding out a stellar podium. Lin Chen of China put on a strong performance to take the final Golden Ticket.
It was a wild, dramatic, and ridiculously fun day in the Arizona sun. Another masterclass in race organization by Aravaipa, and a reminder that in ultra-running, the real winners are the ones who survive the chaos with a smile (or at least a grimace).
We should be putting out our fun race film later this week, so stay tuned!
