Black Canyon 50K 2025 Results: The Full Breakdown Of Jeshurun Small And Allison Baca's Dominant Wins
The 2025 Black Canyon Ultras 50K race, held on February 9, 2025, delivered a spectacular day of high-speed trail running, setting the tone for the ultra-running season. This highly anticipated event, a staple in the North American ultra-calendar, saw a deep field of elite athletes tackle the fast, point-to-point course in Mayer, Arizona. The competition was fierce, particularly among the top contenders vying for a strong performance and valuable UTMB Index points on the challenging Black Canyon National Recreation Trail.
The headline story of the day was the commanding victories by Jeshurun Small in the men’s race and Allison Baca in the women’s race, both showcasing exceptional early-season form. Their performances underscore the event's reputation as a proving ground for speed and endurance, even though the 50K distance does not offer the coveted Western States 100 Golden Tickets—a prize reserved for the longer 100K event. The full, fresh results confirm that the 2025 edition of the Black Canyon 50K was one of the fastest in the race's history.
2025 Black Canyon 50K Champions: Jeshurun Small and Allison Baca
The 2025 Black Canyon 50K saw two established trail runners put on a masterclass performance, demonstrating incredible speed and strategic pacing on the rugged Arizona terrain. Both Jeshurun Small and Allison Baca secured their victories with significant margins over a highly competitive field, immediately establishing themselves as athletes to watch for the rest of the year.
Jeshurun Small (Men's Winner)
- Winning Time: 3:22:52
- Age Group: M 20-29
- Hometown/Base: Unknown (Races primarily in the US)
- Notable Career Highlights: Known for strong performances in shorter ultra distances and trail races, including a co-champion finish at the 2020 Moab Red Hot 33k. His Black Canyon win is a major highlight, showcasing his ability to handle fast, technical, and downhill-heavy courses.
Allison Baca (Women's Winner)
- Winning Time: 3:45:09
- Age Group: F 30-39
- Sponsor/Team: HOKA Athlete
- Notable Career Highlights: A proven competitor on the international stage, with a strong UTMB Index (766), and participation in the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships (WMTRC). She has a history of successful racing in 2025, having also won the Desert Rats 50K. Her dominant win at Black Canyon confirms her elite status in the sport.
The Men’s Race: A Sub-3:30 Masterclass
The men's field at the 2025 Black Canyon 50K was exceptionally deep, featuring a mix of seasoned ultra-veterans and rising stars. The race was a rapid affair from the start, with the top finishers demonstrating blistering pace, particularly over the initial downhill sections of the course. The winning time of 3:22:52 by Jeshurun Small was a testament to his fitness and aggressive strategy, pushing the pace and maintaining a lead throughout the majority of the 52-kilometer distance.
The battle for the podium positions was tight, with the top three men all finishing well under the three-and-a-half-hour mark. This fast finish highlights the high caliber of competition and the favorable conditions on the day. The race saw a true demonstration of trail speed, with runners needing to balance the desire to go fast on the runnable sections with the need to conserve energy for the late-race climbs.
Official Men’s Top 3 Results (2025)
- Jeshurun Small: 3:22:52
- Eric Lagerstrom: 3:25:41
- Chris Myers: 3:30:50
Eric Lagerstrom, finishing second, and Chris Myers, rounding out the podium, both ran technically clean and powerful races. Their times are highly competitive and place them among the fastest finishers in the history of the event. The entire top 10 male finishers were a tight group, a clear indicator of the competitive nature of this UTMB Index race.
The Women’s Race: Baca’s Dominance and Podiums
Allison Baca delivered an incredibly strong performance, securing the women's victory in 3:45:09. Her time placed her 12th overall in the entire field, a powerful statement on the day. Baca, a HOKA-sponsored athlete, leveraged her experience and speed to navigate the challenging Black Canyon National Recreation Trail course efficiently, putting a significant gap on the rest of the women’s field.
The women’s podium battle was also a high-speed affair, with the second and third-place finishers, Caroline Alcorta and Robyn Lesh, pushing hard to stay near the four-hour mark. Alcorta’s finish under four hours is a notable achievement on this course, which features over 600 meters of vertical gain (1,968 ft+) over its 52-kilometer distance.
Official Women’s Top 3 Results (2025)
- Allison Baca: 3:45:09
- Caroline Alcorta: 3:53:XX
- Robyn Lesh: 4:00:XX
Caroline Alcorta, finishing second, and Robyn Lesh, in third, both demonstrated impressive endurance and speed. Their performances highlight the sheer talent in the women’s ultra-running community and the depth of the field attracted by the Black Canyon Ultras event, which is expertly managed by Aravaipa Running. The close times among the top female runners indicate a thrilling race dynamic throughout the course.
Topical Authority: Black Canyon 50K and the Golden Ticket Myth
While the Black Canyon Ultras weekend is famous for being a key event in the ultra-running calendar, it is crucial to understand the distinction between the distances offered. The entire event, held in the rugged landscape near Mayer, Arizona, is a significant qualifier for many major races.
The 50K vs. The 100K
The Black Canyon 50K is a UTMB Index race, meaning a strong finish earns runners a high performance index, which is essential for entry into prestigious international races like the UTMB World Series Finals (including UTMB, CCC, and OCC). However, it is a common misconception that the 50K offers a "Golden Ticket."
- Black Canyon 50K: Offers UTMB Index points. It is a highly competitive, fast ultra, but does not grant automatic entry to the Western States 100.
- Black Canyon 100K: This is the distance that serves as a Western States 100 Golden Ticket Race. The top three male and female finishers in the 100K automatically qualify for the following year’s Western States Endurance Run, making it one of the most high-stakes races in North America.
The 50K is often used as a high-speed tune-up, a performance benchmark, or a way to gain a competitive UTMB Index. Jeshurun Small and Allison Baca's dominant performances in the 50K are therefore a strong indicator of their readiness for longer and more challenging races later in the season. The event continues to grow in prestige and is a must-watch for fans of trail and ultra running.
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