British ultramarathoner becomes first woman to complete 100-mile Barkley Marathons

British ultrarunner Jasmin Paris became the first woman ever to finish the Barkley Marathons 100-mile race on Friday, completing one of the most challenging ultramarathons in the world with 99 seconds to spare in the 60-hour cut-off.

Paris was one of five ultrarunners to complete the annual race held in Frozen Head State Park, Tennessee that has seen no finishers in more than half the races in its nearly four-decade history.

Paris, who finished the race in 59:58:21, had completed the race’s 60-mile “fun run” version in 2022. She ran last year as well, but could not finish the race in time.

The 40-year-old ultrarunner, a veterinarian scientist in Edinburgh and a mother of two, previously broke the course record for the Montane Spine Race in Northern England by 12 hours in 2019.

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Still feeling the high of Jasmin Paris’ finish at the Barkley Marathons becoming the first woman in history. It was improbable. It was by 99 seconds and one of the greatest finishes in history.

Many thought it wasn’t to be given her time at the Fire Tower but she never gave up pic.twitter.com/qnm618iKoX

— HarveyLewis (@HarveyLewisRuns) March 24, 2024

The Barkley Marathons, created by Gary Cantrell and Karl Henn in 1986, was inspired by the escape of James Earl Ray, the assassin of Martin Luther King, who ran about 12 miles in 54.5 hours from a nearby prison in 1977.

The ultramarathon was extended from 55 to 100 miles in 1989. Its current course consists of five loops of 20 miles each around the park with a climb and descent of 54,200 feet.

There are no aid stations in the course, except water at two places.

Mark Williams became the first runner to finish the race within its 60-hour cut-off time in 1995. A total of 20 people have finished the race, with Jared Campbell, who was third this year, doing it a record four times.

Brett Maune holds the record for the fastest finish with a time of in 52:03:08 in 2012. This year’s winner, Canada-based Ukrainian Ihor Varys, clocked 58:44:59.