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.

US women dominated the 2026 Boston Marathon results on Monday, with four runners cracking the Top 10 — and Arizona-born Jess McClain shattering the US course record.

McClain finished fifth overall in 2:20:49, breaking Shalane Flanagan's 2014 mark by 1:13. The performance marked McClain's second consecutive year as the top US finisher in Boston.

"I had no idea how fast I was running, so I was very pleasantly surprised when I got to the finish and realized what the official time was," McClain said afterwards.

The 34-year-old faced adversity when she missed her water bottle at the 30-kilometer aid station. She fell to the back of the lead pack, before subsequently fighting back into contention in the Newton hills.

Three other US women joined McClain at the top of the Boston Marathon results. Annie Frisbie finished eighth in 2:22:00, before Emily Sisson placed ninth in 2:22:39, and Carrie Ellwood rounded out the Top 10 with a 10th-place finish in 2:22:53.

Kenya's Sharon Lokedi defended her 2025 title by winning the race in 2:18:51 — the fourth-fastest women's time in Boston Marathon history. Fellow Kenyans Loice Chemnung and Mary Ngugi-Cooper completed the podium sweep.

Monday's Boston Marathon results showcased the depth of US distance running. Seven US women finished in the elite field, demonstrating the host country's growing marathon prowess.

Kenya's Sharon Lokedi defended her Boston Marathon title on Monday, leading the 2026 results with a dominant wire-to-wire performance. The Boston Marathon winner clocked 2 hours, 18 minutes and 51 seconds — the fourth-fastest women's time in race history.

Lokedi led an all-Kenyan podium sweep at the 130th Boston Marathon, with Loice Chemnung finishing second at 2:19:35 while Mary Ngugi-Cooper claimed third at 2:20:07.

"I was very tired, I didn't know if I had it today," the celebrated distance runner said afterwards. "But I felt like this was it. I was either going to go or I was going to stay."

The defending champion forgot her watch on race day. She borrowed one at the last minute, but subsequently never checked her splits during the race.

"I knew I was going fast, I just didn't know how fast I was going," Lokedi said.

Arizona native Jess McClain stole the Boston Marathon results spotlight by shattering the US course record. She finished fifth overall in 2:20:49, breaking Shalane Flanagan's 2014 mark by 1:13.

McClain improved her time by 1:54 over last year's seventh-place finish. She topped the US field for the second consecutive year.

"To run the time that I knew was in me, at some point in the wheelhouse of what I can do, is really awesome," McClain said after.

Three other US women's runners cracked the Top 10 on Monday. Annie Frisbie finished eighth at 2:22:00, Emily Sisson placed ninth at 2:22:39, and Carrie Ellwood rounded out the Top 10 at 2:22:53.

London Follows Boston Marathon on 2026 World Majors Calendar

The 2026 season continues this weekend, as the London Marathon — the next World Marathon Major on the calendar — kicks off on April 26th.

Ethiopia's Fotyen Tesfay ran the second-fastest women's marathon in history on Saturday, making her Zurich Barcelona Marathon debut with a time of 2:10:53.

The 28-year-old finished just 57 seconds from Ruth Chepngetich's world record of 2:09:56, set in Chicago in 2024. Tesfay also shattered the Ethiopian record and delivered the fastest women's marathon debut ever recorded.

Tesfay won the Barcelona race by nearly eight minutes over Kenya's Joan Jepkosgei Kiplimo's second-place time of 2:18:42. Ethiopia's Zeineba Yimer placed third with 2:18:49.

The performance marks a remarkable transition to the marathon for Tesfay, who entered the race as the third-fastest women's half marathon runner in history. She finished seventh in the 10,000 meters at the Paris 2024 Olympics and eighth at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25.

Tesfay targeted Chepngetich's world record throughout the race, hitting the halfway mark in 1:05:05, reaching 30 kilometers in 1:32:00, and subsequently passing 40 kilometers in 2:03:31.

"My plan was to attack the world record but today there was a lot of wind," Tesfay said through an interpreter.

"I was not able to push in the last part of the race. Today I did not succeed, but in the next marathon I would like to try for the world record."

The Barcelona Marathon served as a World Athletics Elite Label road race. Tesfay's breakthrough performance positions her as a major threat to Chepngetich's world record in future marathons.

2026 Barcelona Marathon Women's Leading Results

1. Fotyen Tesfay (ETH) 2:10:51
2. Joan Jepkosgei Kiplimo (KEN) 2:18:42
3. Zeineba Yimer (ETH) 2:18:49
4. Chaltu Chimdesa Kumsa (ETH) 2:23:32
5. Yalganesh Eskamech Gedefa (ETH) 2:24:05

Nikki Hiltz achieved a career milestone Sunday by winning the prestigious Wanamaker Mile at the 118th Millrose Games held New York's Nike Track & Field Center.

Hiltz, 31, crossed the finish line with a world-leading and personal-best time of 4:19:64. The California native and world No. 4 in the 1,500-meter captured the coveted Millrose Games title after several previous attempts.

Following the victory, Hiltz called winning the Wanamaker Mile a bucket-list accomplishment. The eight-time consecutive US champion described the final lap as a celebration after years of pursuit.

“We don’t have a lot of things in our sport where your name is etched onto something,” they told the NBC Sports broadcast. “So no matter what happens in my career, my name’s never getting off that trophy, and that’s a really good feeling.”

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Nikki Hiltz is at the top of their running game in 2026

Hiltz, who identifies as transgender and non-binary, wore a pink one-piece speed suit and neon orange racing spikes. The Lululemon-sponsored athlete was recently selected for induction into the LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame.

The race featured intense competition as Hiltz surged to the lead at the midway point. 2024 Olympics silver medalist Jessica Hull stayed close, with Hiltz subsequently pulling away from the Australian in the last 30 meters.

After crossing the finish line, the 2024 Paris Olympian celebrated with the crowd, giving high-fives and encouraging louder cheers. The champion formed a heart with their hands, blew a kiss, and received flowers along with the winner's trophy.

Hull finished second with a time of 4:20.11, while Poland's Klaudia Kazimierska took third with 4:21.36. Australian Linden Hall placed fourth with a personal-best 4:21.45, while Kenya's Susan Ejore-Sanders rounded out the top five with 4:22.23.

US runner Sinclaire Johnson — who surpassed Nikki Hiltz as the current US mile record-holder last July — finished 10th.

Three-time 1,500-meter Olympic gold medalist Faith Kipyegon fell just short of making running history on Thursday, as the middle-distance star clocked a time of 4:06.42 in her attempt to become the first woman to break the four-minute mile.

"It was the first trial. I have proven that it's possible and it's only a matter of time. I think it will come to our way," said Kipyegon following Thursday's race. "If it's not me, it will be somebody else."

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Still the fastest mile-runner of any woman in history, the Kenyan icon did beat her own previous world record of 4:07.64 by 1.22 seconds, though the time won't count as a new record as the race came during Nike's unofficial Breaking4 event.

With full support from the sportswear giant — the 31-year-old's partner for 16 years — Kipyegon had the benefit of multiple pace-setters, as well as an aerodynamic suit, 3D-printed Nike FlyWeb sports bra, and spiked shoes made specifically for the much-hyped four-minute mile attempt at Paris's Stade Charléty.

"Faith didn't just make history, she proved the future of sport is faster, stronger, and more inclusive than ever," noted Nike president Amy Montagne after Kipyegon's race.

"It was tough, but I am so proud of what I've done, and I'm going to keep on trying, dreaming and pursing big goals," said Kipyegon. "I want to show the world, and especially women, that you have to dare to try."

Elite runners are joining the calls for better maternity policies in sport, adding their voices to those in the WNBA and in soccer.

WNBA All-Star forward Dearica Hamby called out the Las Vegas Aces this weekend for their “unethical” treatment of her in the wake of her pregnancy announcement. U.S. soccer stars Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe spoke out in support of Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir, who successfully sued her former club for withholding her salary during her maternity leave.

Fiona English joined the chorus this weekend. The runner, who was set to compete in the Boston Marathon in April, took to Instagram on Saturday to address the marathon’s lack of accommodations for pregnant people.

While she described herself as “overjoyed” when she learned she had received a spot in the Boston Marathon field for the first time, the 34-year-old also had recently found out she was pregnant with her first child.

Even during her pregnancy, she has “managed to still race all over the world,” she wrote. But with her due date just two days before the 2023 Boston Marathon, she knew it wouldn’t be possible for her to run the race.

“Obviously running the marathon isn’t just impossible, it would be physically dangerous for everyone involved,” she wrote. “So I tried to defer my place.”

When she reached out to the Boston Athletic Association about a deferral, though, she “was met with the coldest brick wall ever,” she wrote. While she had bought insurance, her claim was rejected.

“Why are you so alienating a section of the population – both financially and through archaic systems that not only discriminate against women but actively make it a costly process to be a woman?” English asked.

As English pointed out in her post, other races — including the London and Berlin marathons — have changed their policies to allow for pregnancy and postpartum deferral.

English is not the only runner to have such issues with the Boston Marathon. Alisa Paterson spoke with UK magazine Stylist ahead of the 2022 Boston Marathon to call out the event’s lack of maternity policy.

“As it stands, the Boston Marathon does not offer any deferral option for women who are in this position – the option is either to run the race whilst pregnant or forfeit your hard-earned place altogether,” she wrote. “When I reached out to the Boston Athletic Association, I received a very ‘computer says no’ response from them confirming that deferring places to the following year is not an option.

“Frankly, I am disgusted by this policy. I’ve had to qualify twice now for this race – I’m clearly fit enough to run it – it makes me so angry and I feel like I’m being punished for getting pregnant.”

The Boston Athletic Association provided a statement to Stylist on its policies.

“The B.A.A does not allow race entries to be transferred, deferred or refunded for any of our races, including the Boston Marathon,” the statement read. “Participants acknowledge and accept this at the point of registration.”

Former Vanderbilt goalkeeper Sarah Fuller was one of eight women to run the Boston Marathon on Monday in honor of the 50-year anniversary of the first official women’s field in 1972, which featured eight runners.

Joining Fuller to mark the occasion was Valerie Rogosheke, one of the original eight runners in 1972.

Long-distance runners Mary Ngugi and Jocelyn Rivas, Paralympians Manuela Schär and Melissa Stockwell, Native Women Running founder Verna Volker and USWNT star alum Kristine Lilly rounded out the commemorative team.

“I am so looking forward to returning to Boston this year with my daughters to celebrate 50 years of women being welcomed into the Marathon,” Rogosheske said. “In 1972, the students at Wellesley yelled ‘Right on, sista!’ On the 25th anniversary the students looked like my daughters, and this year they could be my granddaughters! I celebrate the progress through the generations as women claim their places on the start line.”

Rogosheske went on to run the Marathon three times, finishing sixth in 1972, ninth in 1973 and eighth in 1974.

Fuller made history in 2020 when she became the first woman to play and score for a Power 5 conference football team as a place kicker at Vanderbilt.

“I really want to give credit to the women that were fighting 50 years ago to make this possible,” Fuller told Boston.com. “I know for a fact that the football coaches wouldn’t have been like, ‘Hey, let’s look at the women’s soccer team,’ if all those women before me hadn’t done what they did.”

She finished in a time of 5:50.59.

Lilly finished in a time of 3:54:42.

She was joined by former USWNT teammates Heather O’Reilly and Leslie Osborne at the finish line. O’Reilly and Osborne ran in support of the anti-bullying initiative Boston vs. Bullies. O’Reilly finished in a time of 4:02:01 while Osborne ran a 4:01:58.

Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir outlasted Ethiopia’s Ababel Yeshaneh in the final minutes to win the women’s competition, finishing first with a time of 2:21:01.

The 2022 Boston Marathon was a fight to the finish for the women’s title, with Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir and Ethiopia’s Ababel Yeshaneh trading the lead back and forth. Jepchirchir pulled ahead on the final block to finish in an unofficial time of 2:21.02.

Yeshaneh finished second in an unofficial time of 2:21.06.

It was Jepchirchir’s Boston Marathon debut after she won the New York City Marathon in 2021 with a time of 2:22.39. She’s also the reigning Olympic gold medalist, and last year she became the first person to win both an Olympic gold and the New York City Marathon in the same year.

With her win Monday, she became the first athlete to ever win an Olympic marathon gold medal, New York City Marathon title and Boston Marathon title.

Kenyan Mary Ngugi finished third in an unofficial time of 2:21.31. The first American runner to finish, Nell Rojas, was 10th with an unofficial time of 2:25.57.

The Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist, Molly Seidel, dropped out of the race between the 25 and 30K mark, per the Boston Athletic Association. She had been the top American runner at the 15K mark.

Shalane Flanagan crossed the finish line at the New York City Marathon with a time of 2:33:32 for 11th place overall.

The finish marks the completion of Flanagan’s goal to run six marathons in six weeks. The 2017 NYC Marathon champion ran every race in the packed fall calendar, completing the Berlin, Boston, London, Tokyo (remote), Chicago and New York Marathon. The 40-year-old, now retired from professional running, finished every race in under three hours, running her fastest time in New York.

Flanagan says she isn’t looking forward to the grueling project coming to an end, admitting that she has actually enjoyed the experience more than she initially thought.

“I think at the end I’ll be thinking of how much fun we’ve had. I guess now I’ve got to dream up another hard challenge,” Flanagan says of the series coming to a close.