Rachel Entrekin made ultramarathon history this week, becoming the first woman to win the Cocodona 250 outright.
The 34-year-old crossed the Flagstaff, Arizona finish line in 56 hours, 9 minutes, and 48 seconds, breaking the overall course record while finishing ahead of both the men’s and women’s fields.
"I think I basically wept from the second I got off the single track until I crossed the finish line," Entrekin said afterwards.
Known as one of the toughest endurance races in the world, the Cocodona 250 stretches more than 250 miles across desert terrain while featuring 38,791 feet of elevation gain — and a high point of 9,241 feet.
Entrekin has already established herself as a top marathoner after winning the women's division in 2024 and 2025. Last year, she also set the women's course record at 63:50:55, finishing fourth overall.
This year, however, she returned to shatter the overall course record of 58:47:18 set in 2025.
Even with that pace, Entrekin still managed to take brief breaks.
"I slept five minutes, then seven minutes, then seven minutes," she said. "My goal was to only have dirt naps."
Entrekin outlasted a field of elite runners while being supported by a six-person crew that included her parents. Men's champion Kilian Korth finished second overall, after trailing Entrekin late in the race.
Despite the historic achievement, Entrekin remained grounded throughout the event. Some post-race coverage noted she stopped to pet dogs and thanked volunteers while continuing to extend her lead.
Entrekin's victory caps a remarkable three-year run, after becoming the first woman to win the Cocodona 250 outright.
