SA's Ryan Sandes finishes second at Cocodona 250 — after running 402km
The veteran South African is a former winner of one of the world's biggest ultra trail races, the Western States 100.
Ultrarunner Ryan Sandes, seen here in action a few years ago, has finished second at the Cocodona 250. Picture: Kelvin Trautman / Red Bull Content Pool via AFP
South African veteran ultra-distance trail runner Ryan Sandes has finished second at the gruelling Cocodona 250 race in the United States.
The 43-year-old South African, who won the famous Western States race in 2017, finished the 250 mile race (402km) through the Arizona desert in a time of 61 hours, 21 minutes and four seconds (61:21:04). He finished overnight on Wednesday (SA time).
The race was won by American Dan Green (28) in a record time of 58 hours, 47 minutes and 29 seconds.
It was Green's first race over 100 miles. Sandes' time was also better than the previous mark.
#Cocodona250 ~ Boom! Incredible performance by @RyanSandes to claim 2nd place at the Cocodona 250, crossing the finish in 61:21:04 – 'a steady, calculated race – smart running!' What a legend! 🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦 https://t.co/SXOLCV4mA9 pic.twitter.com/9mlywx049G — Daz (@DazMSmith) May 8, 2025
The women's race was won by Rachel Entrekin (33), who defended the title she won last year. She finished in a time of 63:58:15, also a new record. She was fourth overall.
The race started on Monday.
The elevation gain (or height climbed) is roughly 40,000 feet, which in metres is 12,000 or 12km.
This year's race had 307 starters and they have until Saturday to complete the event, that is 125 hours.
According to the organisers the Cocodna 250 'takes runners across extremely varied terrain from the Sonoran desert to the 9,301ft summit of Mount Elden and through the largest ponderosa pine forest in the world. The course is 91 percent trail (45 percent of that is single track) and nine percent pavement.'
Sandes is said to have slept for only 30 minutes during his run.
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