Keegan Swenson claimed his fifth consecutive men’s title at the Leadville Trail 100, while Kate Courtney set a new women’s course record.
Both races followed a similar pattern: the lead groups were reduced before the Columbine climb, decisive moves came on its upper slopes, and the winners rode the return leg alone to Leadville.
Swenson, who already holds the course record, reached the top of Columbine first and kept his lead through the descent and the windy final stretch. He stopped the clock at 5:45:35, missing his own course record by just over two minutes. John Gaston finished second, 15:16 down, with Simon Pellaud in third a further 7:30 back after being part of the early break.
“Today was a bit sketchy. The dirt was a bit loose, I was obviously cautious down Columbine, trying to keep it upright, not crash. It was windy on the way home, but still gave it everything I had,” Swenson said at the finish. “So I was trying to go a bit faster than I had before, but unfortunately, I came up a little bit short. But it wasn’t for lack of trying.”
In the women’s race, Courtney took the lead on Columbine and held it to the finish. Her winning time of 6:48:54 is the fastest ever recorded on the course. Melissa Rollins finished second in 6:59:39 and Lauren Stephens finished in 7:00:55, taking third. Courtney and Rollins became the only other women to finish the race in under seven hours, a record previously set by Annika Langvad a decade ago in 2015.
“Melisa and I had a great battle in the stage race, and the whole time out there today I was thinking ‘she’s going to catch me’, and that kept me honest," Courtney commented after the race. "It was only when I got on the pavement near the end of the race that I found out the distance between us was good, so then I started thinking ‘I might be able to get the record’, and I was shocked we were able to go that fast today - I’m really proud.
For Rollins, the highest-placed Life Time Grand Prix finisher, she was happy with her performance today, but already has 2026 in her sights. “I wanted to win today, but until last year, I’d never thought that would be possible, so I’m just happy to have done as well as I could have. Kate was phenomenal today, so I can’t be upset with second place behind her.
“I love this race and I want to keep coming back here and keep getting faster, Rollins continued. "That’s how I started, and that’s how I’ve progressed to where I am. That element of it being a race against yourself is what makes it relatable for everyone who takes part in it. I want to shout out my mom too, it’s her 20th finish today and I’m very proud of her.”
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Leadville was the third stop in the six-race Life Time Grand Prix series. Swenson extended his lead in the men’s standings, while Pellaud moved up after his podium.
Brief men's results:
- Keegan Swenson – 5:45:35
- John Gaston – 6:01:12
- Simon Pellaud – 6:08:58
- Torbjørn Røed – 6:15:12
- Payson McElveen – st
Brief women's results:
- Kate Courtney — 6:48:55
- Melissa Rollins — 6:59:16
- Cecily Decker — 7:09:48
- Sofia Gomez Villafane — 7:16: 52
- Sarah Lange – 7:17:16
Lauren Stephens* — 7:00:39
Continue scrolling below for our deep photo gallery that documents the day's events from start to finish...
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