Ultrarunning GOAT Courtney Dauwalter is out of Cocodona 250 after leading the race close to the 100-mile point.
The American superstar has won pretty much every race she’s entered in recent years and had a perfect five-out-of-five record in 2024.
But the mammoth 250-mile Cocodona event in Arizona was a relative step into the unknown, though all seemed to be going perfectly early on.
‘Unreal energy’ to standstill
Dauwalter was first overall into the Whiskey Row aid station after 77.2 miles, with the race organisers saying: “The energy was unreal. The fanfare in downtown Prescott was something we have never seen anything like it at Cocodona.”
That progress continued towards the 100-mile point but at 108.3 miles her tracker suddenly stopped moving.
And the bad news was confirmed later on Dauwalter’s Instagram page with the following update: “Well, shoot. Court finished her run this morning at mile 108.
“She’s doing fine and very thankful for all the cheers both in person and from afar. Thanks for being part of our team! 🙏
“So many incredible runners are out on course, please keep sending cheers and support their way!
“More later, for now 😴😴😴”
‘Where greatness is found’
That prompted a groundswell of support and kudos for the woman who has taken the sport to new heights.
Salomon, one of her sponsors, posted: “So proud of you for taking a big swing at a new challenge! That’s where greatness is found. You’ve inspired us all. ❤️”
And that was echoed by fellow runners and fans.
But her exit meant changes at the top of the leaderboard with Dan Green leading the men’s race and the overall at the halfway point while Rachel Entrekin is third overall and now the leading woman by a huge margin.
The Cocodona 250 takes runners from Black Canyon City to Flagstaff and features an incredible 40,000ft (12,200m) of ascent. It’s described as “the most diverse point-to-point 200+ mile footrace in America.”
The Dauwalter news came in not long after big British hope Jack Scott, the Winter Spine Race record holder, was forced out by a hamstring injury.
