Rachel Entrekin makes ultramarathon history, wins Cocodona 250 as first woman to beat entire field of men and women

Rachel Entrekin makes ultramarathon history, wins Cocodona 250 as first woman to top field of men and women

Rachel Entrekin had twice crossed the finish line as the top woman finisher at the Cocodona 250.

On Wednesday, she beat the entire field — consisting of men and women — to win the grueling ultramarathon in record time. In doing so, she made history as the first woman to win the race outright.

Entrikin and the rest of the field started the race on Monday in Black Canyon City, Arizona, roughly 60 miles north of Phoenix. On Wednesday afternoon, Entrekin ran the race’s final stretch down a Flagstaff street, cheered on by a raucous crowd of well-wishers on both sides as she broke through the finish-line tape.

When she was done, Entrekin finished the race with an official time of 56:09:48 (yes that’s 56-plus hours). She was overcome with emotion down the final stretch.

“I think I basically wept from the second I got off the single track until I crossed the finish line,” she said in a post-race interview, per Run.

Entrekin’s historic run at Cocodona

Entrekin is a powerhouse in running and at Cocodona in particular. In 2025, she set the women’s record at the race, securing her second straight women’s title at 63:50:55, which was good for fourth overall. Her time on Monday for her third straight women’s title and her first overall win shattered the previous race record of 58:47:18 by more than two hours.

Per Canadian Trail Running, Entrekin took breaks down the stretch to pet dogs. After the race, she called it the “best day ever.”

And in case you’re wondering: yes, she did sleep during the run. Ever so briefly.

“I slept five minutes, then seven minutes, then seven minutes,” Entrekin said, per Run. “My goal was to only have dirt naps.”

Per Run, Entrekin had a support group of six strong during the race, including her parents, Carol and Robin, Entrekin. She was met with supportive chants — and snacks — throughout the event.