The Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance run is one of the Mountain West’s most beautiful and challenging mountain running events. The point-to-point course climbs 24,000 feet and traverses the crest of Utah’s Wasatch Mountains. The event begins at 5 a.m. on the first Friday following Labor Day from Wilderness Park in Kaysville, Utah, and ends 36 hours later at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah. First started in 1980, the Wasatch 100 has grown into a premier event noted for its difficulty, scenery and hometown atmosphere.
From the start at Wilderness Park, the course briefly traverses level trails before the first brutal climb up Bair Canyon. Finally arriving at the crest of the Wasatch Range, the runners then head south to experience level trails, more climbs and the high open plains, deep forests and mountain passes that are Wasatch. Temperatures vary with daytime heat in the lower valleys to cool, crisp nighttime conditions at higher elevations.
The runners aim to complete the race within the 36-hour cutoff, hoping to earn one of three coveted belt buckles: the “Royal Order of the Crimson Cheetah” for those finishing in under 24 hours, the “Spirit of the Wind” for finishing between 24-30 hours, and the “Badger Heart” for those finishing between 30-36 hours.
This year, of the 298 runners who started the 2024 race, a little over 55% crossed the finish line earning their buckles, marking their success, endurance and reward for their training. The overall winners received the “Golden Skull” trophy, awarded to the top male and female finishers.
Jimmy Elam, who had a finish time of 19:08:35, won the overall race, while Jose Cruz came in second with a time of 20:27:42. Third place was Tyler Fannin in 21:13:22. These three runners had established their first, second and third spots by the Ant Knolls aid station (mile 74.1).
Jimmy remained in first place throughout the entire run and did so with a wide margin. At the 77.2-mile Pole Line Pass aid station, he arrived at 7:23 p.m. and was nearly 2 hours ahead of Jose Cruz, who arrived at 9:20 p.m. Tyler Fannin arrived shortly after Jose at 9:30 p.m.
The first-place woman was Elizabeth Butler with a finish time of 26:22:10, followed by Laura Hansen with a time of 26:26:43, and third by Andrea McAffee in 26:47:10.
Interestingly, the final position of the three women was maintained throughout the entire run. Elizabeth and Laura were often within minutes of each other as they entered the aid stations. And, Andrea was very close behind, sometimes just a few minutes from Laura. There is little doubt that each was eyeing the other at times along the course.
The Wasatch 100 also serves as the final leg of the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning, a series of four historic 100-mile races. To complete the Grand Slam, runners must finish three of the first four races in the series: Western States 100, Old Dominion 100, Vermont 100, Leadville Trail 100 and then, finish the Wasatch 100 in the same year. The Wasatch 100 has played a central role in this challenge since 1986, when it became the organizer and anchor race for the Grand Slam.
For Grand Slam runners, Wasatch is not merely another race – it represents the final chapter in a summer filled with 400 miles of racing across some of the most rugged courses in the US. Those who completed the series were awarded the coveted Grand Slam trophy: a bronze eagle head symbolizing the perseverance required to master the distances in these legendary races.
The 2024 Grand Slam Finishers:
Total Time / Name / Age / Home / Average Time
- 109:59:29 Chris Calimano 43 NY 27:29:52
- 96:07:19 Phillip Sanderson 56 CA 24:01:50
- 104.26.44 Joshua Landvatter 40 UT 26:11:36
- 113:4:32 Bogie Dumitrescu 49 CO 28:28:38
- 116:38:46 Rich Hohman 41 OH 29:09:41
- 117:08:51 Tin Luu 43 VA 29:17:13
- 120:28:30 Eli Burakian 46 VT 30:07:08
- 120:37:40 Olov Berg 53 MD 30:09:25
- 103:11:17 William Henry 44 PA 25:47:49
- 103:30:29 Lance Parker 39 OK 25:52:37
- 104:26:37 Peter Smith 44 NH 26:06:39
- 108:05:27 Avery Matthews 35 NC 27:01:22
- 108:22:26 Oleksii Kononenko 43 UKR 27:05:36
- 117:29:20 Antoly Ross 60 CAN 29:22:20
What continues to set the Wasatch 100 apart, beyond the event itself, is the sense of community. Runners express deep appreciation for the quality of the course, the volunteers and quality and care they receive at the aid stations. Many of the volunteers have been supporting the race for years and are very familiar with the needs of the runners. It is this attention to the runners that is integral to the well-known spirit of the Wasatch. The 2024 edition certainly maintained this spirit, with runners frequently expressing their appreciation of the entire experience.