2025 Broken Arrow 23k - Race Preview
The confluence of the GTWS, WMRA and USATF Selection races.
For the first time, the Broken Arrow 23k will serve as the fifth stop for the Golden Trail World Series, and brings together a spectacular list of mountain runners to compete in this prestigious international circuit. This year, the Broken Arrow 23k will also be a stop for the World Mountain Running Association World Cup series in the Long Distance category. The Broken Arrow 23k course is a single loop that encircles a large section of the valley, starting in the village and gradually ascends to high point at Washeshu Peak, before taking a route that returns them to a finish in the village centre, accumulating nearly 5,000ft (1,500m) of elevation gain in the process. Although the course has gone through minor tweaks over the course of the last few years, this year’s route remains the same as it was in 2024, and thus Patrick Kipngeno’s time of 1:45:37 and Joyce Njeru Muthoni’s time of 2:11:52 will be the course best benchmarks. The race kicks off on Sunday June 22, at 9:00am local time.
More interestingly, the Broken Arrow 23K will be broadcast live in Europe on Max and Discovery+, and in the U.S. on a Warner Bros. Discovery streaming platform. As a result, there will be a 24-hour embargo before the race stream becomes available on the Golden Trail World Series YouTube channel and will not air on Mountain Outpost YouTube channel.
In alphabetical order, we highlight several national and international athletes visiting Olympic Valley to participate in this world class field:
Women’s Field
Jade Belzberg (Canada) – Two-time finisher of the Broken Arrow 23k, including a second place in the 2024. Won the Chuckanut 50k earlier this year, and was second in the highly contested Gorge Waterfalls 100k.
Monica Madalina Florea (Romania) – Currently second in the 2025 GTWS, most recently winning the Il Golfo Dell Isola race. Has had notable podium finishes at Sierre-Zinal, Mont Black Marathon and at the European Off-Road Championships Up-Down race in 2024.
Alice Gaggi (Italy) – Multiple top 10 finishes across numerous high-profile European races, including Sierre-Zinal, Trofeo Nasego, Fletta Trail, UTMB ETC, and at the GTWS in 2023.
Anna Gibson (Wyoming) – Top ranked American in the 2024 GTWS, and recently crowned USA Track and Field (USATF) National Champion in the Up-Down race at Sunapee Scramble earlier this month. Second place finisher of the Broken Arrow 23k in 2023.
Lauren Gregory (New Hampshire) – Ranked within the top ten in the 2024 Golden Trail World Series, including a second place at the GTWS Final in Ascona-Locarno. Team member of the USATF Mountain Classic Team, qualifying with a podium finish in the Up-Down race at Sunapee Scramble.
Geneviève Lalonde (Canada) – Two-time Olympic Finalist in the 3000m steeplechase (2016 Rio and 2021 Tokyo), and former Canadian record holder in the same event.
Kristina Mascarenas (Colorado) – Three-time champion of the Pikes Peak Marathon, and third place finisher in the 2023 Broken Arrow 46k.
Allie McLaughlin (Colorado) – Four-time finisher and champion of the Broken Arrow 23k in 2023. Three-time member of the USATF Mountain Classic Team for the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships, recently requalifying with a podium finish in the Up-Down race at Sunapee Scramble earlier this month.
Joyce Njeru (Kenya) - Top ranked female runner in the 2024 GTWS and reigning champion of the Broken Arrow 23k. Recently third place at the 2025 Trofeo Nasego.
Additional Names to Watch: Vivien Bonzi, Emily Clarke, Alice Goodall, Sydney Petersen, Rachel Tomajczyk, Alicia Vargo.
Men’s Field
Christian Allen (Utah) – Top ten finisher in the 2024 Golden Trail World Series, including an eight-place finish in Ascona-Locarno for the GTWS Final. Recently ran 2:10:32 at the Houston Marathon.
Rémi Bonnet (Switzerland) – Two-time champion of the GTWS (2022, 2023), and course record holder at the Pikes Peak Ascent race. Multiple time World Champion in the Vertical Race at the Ski Mountaineering World Championships. [Withdrawn as of June 20 with a tibial stress fracture].
Roberto Delorenzi (Switzerland) – Champion in the Up-Down race at the European Off-Road Championships last year, and sixth place finish in the 2024 GTWS. Has had top five results at Sierre-Zinal and the Mont Blanc Marathon.
Lukas Ehrle (Germany) – Winner of the Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) Youth Chamonix-Courmayeur (YCC) (2023) and Experience Trail Courmayeur (ETC) (2024) races. Recently ran 28:40 for the 10,000m at the European 10,000m Cup last month.
Elhousine Elazzoui (Morocco) – Top ranked runner in the 2024 Golden Trail World Series, and champion of the GTWS Final in Ascona-Locarno last fall. Reigning champion of Zegama-Aizkorri and the Mont Blanc Marathon.
Patrick Kipngeno (Kenya) – Defending champion and course record holder of the Broken Arrow Skyrace 23k. More recently, won the opening two races in the 2025 GTWS, the Kobe Trail and Jinshanling Great Wall Trail Race.
Philemon Kiriago (Kenya) – Third place finish at the 2024 Broken Arrow 23k. Took second place in both opening races of the 2025 GTWS to his compatriot Patrick Kipngeno and won the most recent GTWS race at Il Golfo Dell Isola 26k.
Taylor Stack (Colorado) – Breakout performance with a fourth-place finish at the Broken Arrow 23k race last year. Most recently qualified for the USATF National Team in the Up-Down race, with a third-place finish at the Sunapee Scramble.
Andy Wacker (Colorado) – Champion of the 2022 Broken Arrow Skyrace 23k, and a podium finisher in 2021. Recently set the course record at the Big Alta 28k, and ran 13:51 for the 10,000m in April this year.
Additional Names to Watch: Henri Aymonod, Hawk Call, Mason Coppi, Andrew Douglas, Charlie Hamilton, Talon Hull, Remi Leroux, Cameron Smith.
As always, the above names are based on what’s listed on Ultrasignup at the time of publishing, so bear with me regarding any misses/errors. In fact, feel free to tell me who I’ve missed in the comments!