2025 Biggest Little Ultra Race Results Recap
- Linda Leigh
- Dec 6
- 4 min read
Congratulations to all the incredible runners who participated in the 2025 Sparks Biggest Little Ultra held October 10-12, 2025! From the 6-hour challenge to the set distances of 100-miles and 50-miles to the grueling 48-hour endurance test, every finisher demonstrated remarkable determination and grit on the beautiful course at Sparks Marina outside of Reno, Nevada.
Race Highlights by Distance
100 Mile Race
The century distance showcased some outstanding performances:
Men's Top Finishers:
Kyle Vonderwerth (36) claimed victory in 23:06
Frankie Lopez (30) finished second in 27:17
Joshua Borkowski (32) rounded out the podium in 32:12
Women's Top Finishers:
Jenny Weaver (42) dominated with a time of 24:58
Missy Hendricks (37) finished strong in 27:55
Carri Smith-Marshall (61) proved age is just a number with 28:08
Special recognition to David Blaylock (82) and Jim Ingalls (80), who completed 100 miles in their 80s, and June Gessner (72), who finished in 31:31.
50 Mile Race
The 50-mile challenge brought fierce competition:
Men's Top Finishers:
Naythan Diaz (24) led the pack in 10:37
Jack Perkins (62) finished in 10:56
Joel Uptain (33) completed the course in 11:32
Women's Top Finishers:
Eva Chen (57) took the win in 11:58
Michelle Sanchez (55) finished in 25:55
Kenneth Kania (70) showed that experience matters with a fourth-place finish overall in 11:44.
48 Hour Race
The ultimate test of endurance produced remarkable mileage totals:
Men's Top Performers:
Marc Sanderson (54) covered an incredible 182.9 miles
Steve Kissell (64) logged 142.5 miles
Isaac Anguiano (24) completed 140.5 miles
Women's Top Performers:
Terri Gray (57) achieved 86.6 miles
Shirley Cook (54) covered 80.9 miles
Jennifer Jackson (43) completed 53.9 miles
Breese White (78) demonstrated that determination knows no age, completing 36.6 miles over 48 hours.
24 Hour Race
Runners pushed through the day and night:
Men's Top Performers:
Josue Rodriguez (35) covered 84.7 miles
Alex Rollings (36) logged 80.9 miles
Mitchell Takechi (30) and David Rhodes (31) both completed 59.7 miles
Women's Top Performers:
Linda Mcfadden (63) matched the men with 59.7 miles
Linda Beckett (60) covered 46.2 miles
Heather Ostdiek (50) completed 19.3 miles
12 Hour Race
The 12-hour challenge tested runners' stamina:
Men's Top Performers:
Sam Sorbo (37) led with 53.9 miles
Gerad Davis (39) covered 48.1 miles
Cory Smith (43), Bill Cushard (54), and Quintin Barney (66) all tied at 42.4 miles
Women's Top Performers:
Joan Lamayo-Buse (45) achieved 44.3 miles
Sophia Anguiano (22) logged 42.4 miles
Janette Maas (66) covered 32.7 miles
6 Hour Race
Even the "shortest" distance challenged runners:
Men's Top Performers:
Jordan Fitts (38) led with 30.8 miles
Talent Tam (48) and Willie Way (54) both covered 27 miles
George Buse (49) completed 25 miles
Women's Top Performers:
Jordan Clements-Fitts (33), Elida Ortega (42), and Robin Tait (61) all tied at 23.1 miles
Multiple runners completed 21.2 miles, showing the tight competition
6 Per 12H Relay
Teams came together for the relay challenge, showcasing camaraderie and teamwork throughout the 12-hour period.
Event Statistics
The 2025 Biggest Little Ultra welcomed runners from ages 22 to 82, proving that ultrarunning truly is a sport for all ages. The event featured:
7 race distances ranging from 6 hours to 48 hours
Fixed-time races that challenged runners to cover maximum distance
Fixed-distance races (50 & 100 miles) that tested speed and endurance
A supportive relay division for team participation
A Race for Everyone, Including Elite Champions
What truly sets the Biggest Little Ultra apart is its remarkable ability to welcome runners and walkers of all abilities while simultaneously attracting world-class performances. From first-time ultrarunners testing their limits in the 6-hour race to seasoned veterans pushing for personal records in the 100-mile distance and 48-hour timed event, the Sparks Marina course provided the perfect stage for every level of achievement.
The 2025 event showcased this diversity beautifully—whether participants were aiming to complete their first ultra distance, walking every step of a 24-hour challenge, or competing for top honors with sub-24-hour 100-mile times, everyone found a supportive and competitive environment suited to their goals.
The elite performances at this year's race deserve special recognition. Kyle Vonderwerth's commanding 100-mile victory in 23:06 and Jenny Weaver's impressive 24:58 finish demonstrate that the Biggest Little Ultra is attracting serious talent to Sparks. Marc Sanderson's astounding 182.9 miles over 48 hours places him among the elite endurance athletes in the sport, while the depth of competition across all distances—from 70-year-old Kenneth Kania's sub-12-hour 50-miler to the over 80 years finishes completing 100 miles—proves that world-class performance comes in many forms.
This unique blend of accessibility and competitive excellence makes the Biggest Little Ultra a truly special event in the ultrarunning calendar, where every finisher, regardless of pace or distance, contributes to the electric atmosphere of achievement that defines this race.
Thank You
A huge thank you to all participants, volunteers, crew members, and supporters who made the 2025 Biggest Little Ultra a success. Your dedication to pushing limits and supporting one another embodies the true spirit of ultrarunning.
See you at the next Sparks Biggest Little Ultra in October 2026, or try out the Sparks Backyard Ultra in June 2026!
For complete results including all finishers and detailed splits, visit the individual race pages linked above on UltraSignup.
