The following press release was provided by ATRA corporate member UltraSignup and features the inaugural Bentonville Dirt Circus events.
UltraSignup, in collaboration with Rush Running Company and Visit Bentonville, will stage the inaugural Bentonville Dirt Circus 10K and 5K races on November 17-18, 2023.The host city is the picturesque and trail-friendly Bentonville, Arkansas. This event promises to be a favorite of professional trail runners and trail running enthusiasts alike.
Dirt Circus is a weekend long event, comprising a 10K race with a $10,000 prize purse, a 5K race, and a Kids 1K. The weekend kicks off with a group run on Friday November 17, followed by festivities on both Friday and Saturday.
The 10K course
The Dirt Circus 10K is a challenging course that winds through the Handcut Hollow, a system of hand-built trails developed and maintained by the local non-profit Trailblazers. The route was created by James Reeves, local runner, race director, and manager at Rush Running. It is intended to be rugged, technical, and unforgiving. Giving runners a taste of the oft-underestimated Ozark mountains.
Elite runners in the 10K field – men
Andy Wacker: Andy is a pro trail and road runner that has represented Team USA 17 times! Most recently, Andy took home 2nd place in the 38k at the World Mountain Running World Cup final in Gran Canaria, Spain. Just two weeks earlier he was crowned Xterra Trail world champion in the trail half marathon.
Andy Wacker (USA) on course in Gran Canaria. Photo: Marco Gulberti
Christian Allen: One of the fastest trail and mountain runners in the United States, Christian placed first in the 38k at the World Mountain Running World Cup final in Gran Canaria, Spain in mid-October and placing 5th male overall in the Valsir Mountain Running World Cup standings for 2023.
Samuel Ongaki: Samuel took first place at the XTERRA Americas Trail Run Championship 42km in May 2023. He holds course records at Delirium 32k and Tuscaloosa Half Marathon. Originally from Kenya, Samuel now makes his home in Alabama and has transitioned from a career on the road to the trails.
Dan Curts: Brooks sponsored athlete Dan recently took second at the Xterra Trail World Championships half marathon at Sugarloaf Mountain, ME. In April he placed first at the USATF Mountain Running Championships and competed at the World Mountain Running Championships for the United States in June.
Morgan Elliott: Morgan is a two-time member of the United States Mountain Running National Team and recently set a new FKT at the Merrell Test Lab “Get FKT” event, earning a spot on the Merrell trail team.
Elite runners in the 10K field – women
Dani Moreno: Pro runner for Adidas TERREX, Dani recently took second place at Mammoth Trail Fest 26K. She is a four-time member of Team USA, a two-time U.S. champion, and was the first-ever American woman to podium at UTMB’s OCC 50k. 2019 NACAC Mountain Running Champion Dani Moreno. Photo by Tad Davis.
Mercedes Siegle-Gaither: Recently joining the Merrell trail team after tying for an FKT at the Merrell Test Lab “Get FKT” event, Mercedes has shown she has range but her performance at Broken Arrow Skyrace Triple Crown and the Merrell FKT have made her a rising star in the shorter efforts.
Megan Lacy: Two-time member of US Mountain and Trail running Team USA, Megan took 2nd place in the classic at the NACAC championship in September following a 4th place finish for Team USA at the 2021 Xterra Trail World Champs. She was the runner-up at the 2022 USATF Trail Half-Marathon Championships and 5th at the 2023 USATF Mountain Championship.
This line-up boasts some of the fastest short course mountain runners in the country who will compete for the $10,000 prize purse. First place men and women will take home $3000, second place $1250, and third place $750.
“We are excited to welcome this world-class field of runners to Bentonville for the Dirt Circus 10K,” said Rob Goyen, Event Director at UltraSignup. “This race will showcase the incredible trails that northwest Arkansas has to offer and attract more trail runners to visit the area.”
Registration is open here.
About UltraSignup
UltraSignup is the leading marketplace and registration platform for trail and ultra races in the United States. Founded in 2008, runners can use UltraSignup.com to discover and choose from more than 5000 races. UltraSignup’s weekly newsletter and online magazine feature stories from the running community, highlighting runners, race directors, training tips, running destinations, elite competitors, and the growth of the sport.
