A marathon runner in the grueling 250-mile Cocodona 250 ultramarathon died on Tuesday, May 5, after experiencing a medical emergency during the race, event organizers have confirmed.
“We are deeply saddened to share that a participant experienced a serious medical emergency today during the event and has passed away,” race officials announced via social media on Wednesday, May 6. “The runner’s family and crew have been notified.”
The statement continued, “Out of respect for the runner’s family and loved ones, we are not sharing additional personal details at this time. Our team is supporting those directly involved and will share more only when appropriate.”
“Please keep the runner’s family, friends, fellow runners, volunteers and first responders in your thoughts. We are deeply grateful to this beautiful community,” the statement added. “The race is going to continue in their honor. We ask all participants and crew to carry the memory of this runner with you on the trail.”
Established in 2021, the Cocodona 250 is an annual race that takes runners across a series of famous trails through northern Arizona, with elevation that rises more than a mile above sea level at two points. Participants have 125 hours to complete the race, which this year began at 5 a.m. local time on Monday, May 4.
While participants have until Saturday to finish the race, the 2026 winner has already been crowned in Alabama native Rachel Entrekin. She made history by becoming the first woman to ever win the race outright and set the overall course record, completing the ultramarathon in 56 hours, nine minutes and 49 seconds.
“I think I basically wept from the second I got off the single track until I crossed the finish line,” Entrekin, 34, told reporters after she finished.
She added that she slept only for minutes at a time, which was by design.
“I slept five minutes, then seven minutes, then seven minutes,” she said. “You can choose your attitude, I’ve learned, so I’d rather choose to be positive.”
While deaths during ultramarathons are rare, they have happened before. A Michigan woman died at age 60 during a 100-mile race in Michigan last July. Before that in 2021, 21 people died amid freezing rain and high winds during an ultramarathon through mountains in China.
The Cocodona 250 also announced it will move to a lottery system next year to accommodate the sport’s growing popularity.
