Latest News – August 24

Leadville’s Wesley Sandoval Smashes Leadman Record

The Leadville Race Series (LRS) season wrapped up last weekend with the 34th annual Leadville Trail 100 (LT100) Run on August 20 and 21, presented by New Balance and produced by Life TimeSM, The Healthy Way of Life Company.

Leadville’s Wesley Sandoval finished fourth overall in the Leadville Trail 100 Run and also smashed the existing Leadman Record by 26:31.

Nearly 650 runners from all 50 states and 30 countries came to compete in the legendary ‘Race Across the Sky’ event and run 100 miles through the challenging Colorado Rockies terrain with elevations ranging from 9,200 to 12,600 feet, with a total elevation climb of more than 18,000 feet.

Ian Sharman, of Bend, Oregon (Great Britain) won the race for the third time with previous wins in 2015 and 2013 with a finish time of 16:22:39 and beat his personal best from last year’s win by 11 minutes. For the second year in a row, Kyle Pietari of Denver, Colorado (United States) finished second at 18:16:48 and Luke Jay of Littleton, Colorado (United States) finished third at 18:31:22.

In the women’s division, Clare Gallagher of Boulder, Colorado (United States) took the top honors and came in fifth overall. Clare finished in 19:00:27. Maggie Walsh of Littleton, Colorado (United States) finished second at 21:00:28 and Jennifer Benna of Reno, Nevada (United States) finished third at 21:45:00.

The LT100 Run also marked the fifth and final challenge for those who competed for the title of Leadman and Leadwoman. Each Leadman and Leadwoman candidate must also compete in the Leadville Trail Marathon, Leadville Silver Rush 50-Mile Mountain Bike or Silver Rush 50-Mile Trail Run, Leadville Trail 100 MTB and the Leadville Trail 10K Run. This year, Leadville’s own Wesley Sandoval finished fourth overall in the Leadville Trail 100 Run at 18:40:01 with a total Leadman time of 35:54:55 and smashed the existing Leadman Record by 26:31.

Top female finisher Clare Gallagher crosses the finish line at the Leadville Trail 100 Run.

Additionally, after 30 hours of racing, Kristi Kozney of Arvada, Colorado and Kara Diamond-Husmann of Denver, Colorado, dug deep and showing extraordinary fortitude crossed the line right at the 30-hour mark.

“I want to congratulate our winners and all of the participants who gave it their all on the course today,” says Josh Colley, LRS Race Director. “The accomplishment of running 100 miles is not only done through grit, guts and determination but also the support of crews and volunteers on course. By working together, we can all accomplish amazing results and encourage each other to lead a healthier way of life.”