Zane Grey Highline Trail 50 Mile Run

Zane Grey Highline Trail 50 Mile Run
DateLast weekend in April
LocationPine, Arizona
Event typeUltramarathon trail run
Distance50-mile (80 km)
Established1990
Course recordsMen: 7:51:07 (2004)
Dave Mackey
Women: 9:14:24 (2004)
Nikki Kimball
Official sitewww.zanegrey50.com

The Zane Grey Highline Trail 50 mile Endurance Run, known commonly as the Zane Grey 50, is a 50-mile (80 km) ultramarathon that takes place on the Highline Trail in the Tonto National Forest just below the Mogollon Rim in central Arizona. The race is typically held on the 4th Saturday in April. The race starts at the Pine Trail head on the far west end of the Highline Trail, just south of the Town of Pine. The race travels east and finishes at the 260 Trailhead, just east of the town of Christopher Creek. Runners climb cumulative total of over 10,000 feet (3048m) and descend a total of over 9000 feet (2743m). The actual distance is closer to 55 miles. The race begins at 5:30 AM and continues through the day with the last runners finishing around 9:00 PM.

History

The race was founded in 1990 by Pat McKenzie and was first completed by Scott Modzelewski in a time of 12 hours, 55 minutes. The course record is held by Dave Mackey in a time of 7:51:07 Set in 2004. The women’s division course record of 9:14:24 was set in 2004 by Nikki Kimball.

Results

Seventeen runners signed up for the inaugural Zane Grey 50 mile run in 1990, only 6 finished. The following year, the course was rerouted because of the Dude Fire which burned down Zane Grey’s cabin, located just off the Highline Trail. From 1993 to 1995 the race was shortened to a 50-kilometer distance. Runners had the option to run the race on one of the two days the weekend it was held. Some runners opted to run both days. In 2007, the course was run in reverse, starting at the 260 Trailhead and travelling West to Pine. The race has an average finishing rate of 71%, making it one of the most difficult 50-mile ultra marathons in the country.

Date Starters Finishers Percent Winner Time Winner Time Notes
April 27, 2024 52 Nick Coury 8:20:00 Julie Henk 12:00:30 Starting and finishing in Christopher Creek, 50 miles wet, muddy conditions
April 27, 2024 98 Cordis Hall 4:16:13 Abby Hall 4:40:24 Starting and finishing in Christopher Creek, 28.5 miles
April 22, 2023 39 24 61.5% Jeffrey Arbeir 12:59:15 Jessica Huppenthal 15:42:24 Point to point. Pine Th to Rim Top TH (100K distance)
April 23, 2022 83 57 68.7% Frank Pipp 11:04:20 Darla Askew 14:08:15 Point to point. Pine Th to Rim Top TH (100K distance)
April 24, 2021 47 42 89.4% Charlie Ware 7:47:42 Jade Belzberg 8:55:38 Out and back route from Rim Top TH (50 miles)
April 25, 2020 - - - Cancelled because of COVID-19 Pandemic
April 27, 2019 128 106 82.8% Jake Lawrence 8:38:12 Nicole Bitter 9:24:06 Out and back route from Rim Top TH (50 miles)
April 28, 2018 140 97 69.3% Charlie Ware 7:30:42 Lauren Coury 9:32:19 Out and back route from Rim Top TH (50 miles)
April 29, 2017 147 111 75.5% Karl Meltzer 9:32:38 Amber Reimondo 10:56:57 55 miles
April 23, 2016 133 96 72.2% Charlie Ware 9:24:48 Bethany Lewis 9:56:26 52 miles
April 25, 2015 150 121 81.3% René Rovera 8:28:28 Amie Blackham 11:29:40 Unusually cool weather. Rain after 12 hours.
April 26, 2014 132 93 70.5% Ryan Smith 5:13:12 Kerrie Bruxvoort 6:15:11 *33-mi. due to hazardous cold weather
April 27, 2013 124 95 76.6% James Bonnett 8:40:18 Kerrie Bruxvoort 10:03:58
April 21, 2012 126 84 66.7% Catlow Shipek 8:32:30 Paulette Zillmer 10:13:07
April 16, 2011 128 91 71.1% Geoff Roes 8:13:35 Andi Felton 10:36:28
April 24, 2010 94 74 78.7% Scott Jamie 9:40:55 Jane Larkindale 10:52:16
April 25, 2009 111 76 68.5% Jamil Coury 9:34:52 Nikki Kimball 9:58:18
April 26, 2008 134 70* 52.2% Anton Krupicka 8:02:33 Anita Ortiz 10:45:25 *+64 finishers of 50-km distance
April 28, 2007 129 91 70.5% Kyle Skaggs 8:25:30 Emily Baer 10:33:31 Course ran in reverse
April 29, 2006 131 101 77.1% Josh Brimhall 8:51:43 Tania Pacev 11:07:02
April 30, 2005 125 96 76.8% Scott Creel 8:17:20 Nikki Kimball 9:34:52
April 24, 2004 117 83 70.9% Dave Mackey 7:51:07 Nikki Kimball 9:14:24 Course records!
April 26, 2003 147 108 73.5% Nate McDowell/Chad Ricklefs 8:11:44 Anthea Schmid 10:12:28
April 27, 2002 54 49 90.7% Karl Meltzer 8:07:00 Petra Pirc 9:54:00
April 28, 2001 75 65 86.7% Dennis Poolheco 8:47:53 Ruth Zollinger 10:25:51
April 29, 2000 55 46 83.6% Ian Torrence 8:34:33 Valerie Caldwell 11:17:47 First repeat winners
April 24, 1999 52 41 78.8% Ian Torrence 8:31:55 Mahieu/Caldwell 11:01:39
April 25, 1998 34 25 73.5% Scott Jurek 8:48:50 Julie Arter 12:41:02
April 26, 1997 22 15 68.2% Scott Devlin 10:29:52 Judy Overholzter 19:22:43
April 27, 1996 20 10 50.0% Dana Miller 10:26:38 Joanne Urioste 12:46:28
May 13, 1995 36 27 75.0% John Loeschorn 4:48:26 Sherry Kae Johns 5:34:01 50-km distance
May 14, 1994 43 39 90.7% Steve Christian 4:57:29 Tracey Varga 6:17:51 50-km distance
May 15, 1993 30 23 76.7% Doug Griffen 4:53:51 Kathy Bricliffe 5:22:15 50-km distance
April 25, 1992 20 9 45.0% Krik Apt 11:36:00 N/A N/A First sub-12 hour finish
April 27, 1991 20 15 75.0% Dow Mattingly 8:25:00 Lorraine Gersitz 10:54:00 Course rerouted to FSR
May 5, 1990 17 6 35.3% Scott Modzelewski 12:55:00 N/A N/A First running of Highline Trail

References