PRESCOTT, Ariz. — A female participant died Tuesday during an extreme endurance race spanning 250 miles through Arizona’s rugged northern terrain after suffering a medical emergency, according to race officials and authorities.
Emergency responders rushed to help a woman in her 40s who had collapsed at a trailhead near the Groom Creek area south of Prescott while taking part in the demanding competition, according to Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Paul Wick, who spoke Wednesday.
Erika Snyder, who co-directs the Cocodona 250 ultramarathon, verified the participant’s death but said she would not release additional information out of respect for the runner’s family members.
While extreme endurance competitions push athletes to their physical limits, fatalities remain extremely uncommon considering the thousands who participate in the increasingly popular sport that now features events from Death Valley’s harsh desert to the towering Himalayas.
The Cocodona ranks among America’s most challenging ultramarathons, with a route that climbs more than 5,000 feet in elevation on two separate occasions while winding through Sedona after beginning in Black Canyon City.
This year’s competition began before sunrise Monday, with champion Rachel Entrekin crossing the finish line Wednesday afternoon in Flagstaff to cheering spectators while establishing a new course record.
Due to growing interest in the event, organizers announced they will implement a lottery system for registration starting next year.
Medical teams are positioned throughout the course, and aid stations offer food, water and gear adjustments for competitors who often sleep on the ground during the multi-day challenge that can extend up to five days, Snyder explained.
In 2021, harsh weather conditions including freezing rain and powerful winds contributed to 21 runner deaths during an ultramarathon in China’s northwestern mountains.
