The country’s top trail runners are gearing up for the 2022 Broken Arrow Skyrace, “California’s first skyrace,” June 17 to 19 at Palisades Tahoe resort in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Since its inaugural year in 2016, the Broken Arrow Skyrace has become one of the largest and most competitive trail running events in the country. In 2019 and 2021, the Broken Arrow Skyrace 26K and VK races were featured in the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) World Cup, and this year the 26K will serve as the first stop on Salomon’s Golden Trail US/Canada National Series. The US/Canada National Series is one of twelve National Series competitions around the globe that offer prize money and international racing opportunities to elite athletes.
The VK is also one of the selection races for the USATF Mountain and Trail Running Team, with the top male and top female earning spots on the Vertical Mountain squad. Likewise, the 52K will serve as a selection race for the USATF 80K Trail Team with the top two men and top two women earning berths.
Another incentive for elites is the Broken Arrow Skyrace’s $50,000 cash prize purse, one of the largest prize purses in trail running.
Elite Athlete Race Previews
The 2022 Broken Arrow Skyrace hosts six events with more than 2,000 registrants, and one of the largest fields of elite/sponsored athlete fields in the country. The three main events the VK, 26K and 52K are all set to be the most competitive in the event’s history. In addition to the main events, there will be the 11K, Kids Run and a new event, the “Iron Face Challenge,” which combines rock climbing, scrambling and trail running into one event on the Via Ferrata routes above Olympic Valley.
The VK
In the Broken Arrow Skyrace VK, a short mostly uphill mountain race featuring 3,000 feet of vertical gain in just over four miles, both the 2021 mens’ and women’s’ defending champions Darren Thomas (Reno, NV) and Allie McLaughlin (Colorado Springs, CO) will be returning. Challenging these champions will be Emkay Sullivan (Reno, NV), 2021 runner up in the Broken Arrow Skyrace 26K and recent Way Too Cool 50K winner, Andy Wacker (Boulder, CO), third place finisher at last year’s Broken Arrow Skyrace 26K and multiple time US Mountain Running team member, Janelle Lincks (Thornton, CO), 2021 Golden Trail Series National Series Grand Final Champion and 2021 Broken Arrow Skyrace 26K Champion, and Matt Lipsey, four-time 7 Sisters Trail Race Champion. There are currently over 400 athletes registered for this year’s VK.
“Looking at the line up of athletes this year at the Broken Arrow Skyrace, I’m stoked to be racing some of the best guys in the country. The Broken Arrow is doing such great work compiling this field and making it an enticing race to be a part of. I’m ready to make some ‘pain cave’ memories.” – Eli Hemming
2019 Broken Arrow Skyrace. Photo: Tayte Pollmann.
Athletes To Watch:
Men
- Andy Wacker (Boulder, CO)
- Eli Hemming (Louisville, CO)
- David Sinclair (Truckee, CA)
- Matt Lipsey (Marysville, PA)
- Edward Owens (Larkspur, CA)
- Stephen Mulherin (Jackson, WY)
- Darren Thomas (Reno, NV)
- Ryan Becker (Telluride, CO)
- Paddy O’Leary (Waterford, Ireland)
- Ondrej Fejifar (Vrchlabi, Czech Republic)
- Ryan Ghelfi (Ashland, OR)
- Najim Mahmoud (Flagstaff, AZ)
- John Luna-Lima (Nederland, CO)
- Morgan Elliot (Salida, CO)
- Kiernan Nay (Monument, CO)
Women
- Emkay Sullivan (Reno, NV)
- Allie McLaughlin (Colorado Springs, CO)
- Cat Bradley (Boulder, CO)
- Megan Lacy (Boise, ID)
- Janelle Lincks (Thornton, CO)
- Tabor Hemming (Louisville, CO)
- Ragna Debats (Matadepera, Spain)
- Nicole Mericle (Boulder, CO)
- Lindsey Webster (Sutton, Quebec Canada)
- Dreama Walton (Colorado Springs, CO)
- Kristen Schindler (Spearfish, SD)
- Amanda Basham (Boulder, CO)
- Mercedes Siegle-Gaither (Salida, CO)
- Gwen Rudy (Leadville, CO)
The 26K
Due to its place in the Golden Trail US/Canada National Series, the 26K has attracted a stellar field of elite athletes. The course is one loop beginning from the base of the valley in the heart of Olympic Valley Village (6,000 feet) that takes runners to the top of Squaw Peak (9,000 feet). The course features over 5,000 feet of elevation gain and descent. Janelle Lincks, defending women’s’ champion will be returning, as well as last year’s runner-up in the mens’ race Darren Thomas (who finished only 2 seconds behind race winner Joseph Gray, two-time World Mountain Running Champion). In the women’s’ race, Tabor Hemming (Louisville, CO), University of Colorado Boulder track star and 2021 Bobcat Trail Race runner up, Sam Lewis (Moscow, ID), 2021 Moab Trail Marathon runner-up and Allie McLaughlin will be in the hunt for the win. For the men, watch for David Sinclair (Truckee, CA), multiple-time US Mountain Running Team member, Max King (Bend, OR), 2011 World Mountain Running Champion and 2021 US Mountain Running Championships runner-up, and Morgan Elliot (Salida, CO) 2019 Georgia Death Race champion. Over 700 athletes are registered for this year’s 26K.
“I can’t wait to race the stellar field that has come together at the Broken Arrow Skyrace this year. I look forward to testing out the skills I’ve learned and fitness gained and hopefully improving upon my ‘rookie’ year at last year’s race. The race directors do an amazing job putting on a fantastic event that highlights/supports the trail community.” – Tabor Hemming
“The Broken Arrow Skyrace brings European style trail racing to America. With the variety of races, prize money, elite field and amazing scenery, the Broken Arrow is really unlike any other race weekend in the US. Last year I placed third by a mere 28 seconds in the 26K. This year I will be back for blood. I love peeking over Palisades onto Lake Tahoe. I can’t wait to be tested on the ups and downs and finally to ‘ring das bell’ at the finish.” – Andy Wacker
Max King at the 2019 Broken Arrow Skyrace VK in Olympic Valley, CA. Photo: Richard Bolt.
Athletes To Watch:
Men
- Eli Hemming (Louisville, CO)
- David Sinclair (Truckee, CA)
- Matt Lipsey (Marysville, PA)
- Veejay Jones (Colorado Springs, CO)
- Max King (Bend, OR)
- Andy Wacker (Boulder, CO)
- Chris Vargo (Breckenridge, CO)
- David Kilgore (Bronx, NY)
- Evan Williams (Seattle, WA)
- Darren Thomas (Reno, NV)
- Paddy O’Leary (Waterford, Ireland)
- Ondrej Fejifar (Vrchlabi, Czech Republic)
- Najim Mahmoud (Flagstaff, AZ)
- John Luna-Lima (Nederland, CO)
- Morgan Elliot (Salida, CO)
- Kiernan Nay (Monument, CO)
- Jeshurun Small (Golden, CO)
- Ryan Atkins (Sutton, Quebec City, Canada)
Women
- Ashley Brasovan (Golden, CO)
- Lauren Fleshman (Bend, OR)
- Tabor Hemming (Louisville, CO)
- Renee Metivier (Bend, OR)
- Kimber Mattox (Bend, OR)
- Allie McLaughlin (Colorado Springs, CO)
- Janelle Lincks (Thornton, CO)
- Sam Lewis (Moscow, ID)
- Megan Lacy (Boise, ID)
- Ashley Hawks (Cedar City, UT)
- Olivia Amber (San Francisco, CA)
- Lindsey Webster (Sutton, Quebec City Canada)
- Cat Bradley (Boulder, CO)
- Mercedes Siegle-Gaither (Salida, CO)
- Gwen Rudy (Leadville, CO)
- Dreama Walton (Colorado Springs, CO)
The 52K
Both the mens’ and womens’ fields are stacked with talent. The 52K course follows the same route as the 26K but completes two loops instead of one, accumulating 10,000 feet of elevation gain and descent. In the mens’ race, defending champion Seth Ruhling (Longmont, CO) and Michelino Sunseri (Driggs, ID) 2019 runner-up, will be returning. Mario Mendoza (Bend, OR), 2021 Lake Sonoma 50-Mile Champion and multiple time US Mountain Running Team member, and Matt Daniels (Superior, CO), fourth place finisher at the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run are also in contention for the win. The women’s’ field is equally as exciting. Brittany Charboneau (Denver, CO), 2020 Pikes Peak Marathon Champion hopes to win the race to secure a spot on Team USA for the 2022 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand.
Ashley Brasovan (Golden, CO) 2021 Speedgoat 50K champion and 2021 Pikes Peak Ascent runner-up, Courtney Dauwalter (Leadville, CO), champion of many of our sport’s greatest ultra trail races including the 2021 UTMB, 2018 Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run Champion and 2018 Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra, as well as Cat Bradley (Boulder, CO), 2017 Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run champion and 2019 Leadville Trail 100 runner-up, are favored to win. Over 600 athletes are registered for this year’s 52K.
“I’m so stoked to get to run Broken Arrow this year especially because of all of the incredible women that will be competing in the 26k and 52k. I should sing at the top of the mountain right?” – Brittany Charboneau
“I’m so excited to be heading back to Broken Arrow, this time to tackle the 52K! It’s such a beautiful course and always brings out awesome competition. The final descent is blazingly fast which can make for a fun finish if it’s a tight race. Training has been going so well. I just ran the rugged Pemi Loop in New Hampshire which simulates the Broken Arrow course well and I’m feeling better than ever to run fast in mountain ultras this year!” – Ben Robinson
USATF 1/2 Marathin Trail Champion Ashley Brasovan. Photo: Ashley Brasovan.
Athletes To Watch:
Men
- Mario Mendoza (Bend,OR)
- Matt Daniels (Superior, CO)
- Jackson Brill (Boise, ID)
- Seth Ruhling (Longmont, CO)
- Michelino Sunseri (Driggs, ID)
- Ben Robinson (Tunkhannock, PA)
- Eric LiPuma (Richmond, VT)
- Sean Van Horn (Carbondale, CO)
- Joey Defeo (Flagstaff, AZ)
Women
- Brittany Charboneau (Denver, CO)
- Ashley Brasovan (Golden, CO)
- Courtney Dauwalter (Leadville, CO)
- Cat Bradley (Boulder, CO)
- Merideth Edwards (Durango, CO)
- Jennifer Lichter (Whitefish, MT)
- Gwen Rudy (Leadville, CO)
- Dream Walton (Colorado Springs, CO)
- Joelle Vaught (Boise, ID)
- Jade Belzburg (Sedona, AZ)
- Lindsey Herman (Gunnison, CO)
2019 Broken Arrow Skyrace. Photo: Tayte Pollmann.
“At the Broken Arrow Skyrace, our mantra is “whether you finish first or last, you are a rockstar.” While we celebrate all runners equally we are very excited to welcome elite runners to our event. Through an aggressive recruitment process, an elite housing program and one of the largest purses in North America, we are honored to have our VK 26 and 52 distances be some of the most competitive in the country.” –Brendan Madigan, Race Director of the Broken Arrow Skyrace
Athletes who participate in National Championships and Team USA competitions are subject to drug testing performed by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in accordance with the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing.
