David Roche continues to rise as a force in ultramarathon running, claiming first place at Arizona’s Javelina Jundred just two months after his record-breaking Leadville 100 victory.
Roche took on the grueling 100-mile desert course at McDowell Mountain Regional Park, pushing through scorching highs of 99°F to finish in 12 hours, 45 minutes, and 4 seconds. His Javelina win places him firmly among the world’s ultra running elite.
Roche’s determination carried him nine minutes ahead of runner-up Jeff Mogavero and brought him within two minutes of the course record set by Jonathan Rea last year. Crew member Joe Shea praised Roche’s persistence, sharing, “His cadence stayed strong for the entire final stretch. He’s an absolute machine.”
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Javelina Jundred, a popular fixture in the ultra running world, sees around 850 participants tackle five rugged loops of desert terrain. For Roche, the win isn’t only a testament to his endurance but also secures him a possible spot at the renowned Western States 100 next summer.
The women’s division also saw impressive finishes, with Riley Brady coming in at 14 hours, 9 minutes, and 1 second, marking the second-fastest time in the race’s history. Colorado runners Hannah Allgood and Lauren Puretz followed closely, finishing in 14:38:30 and 15:00:50, respectively, securing Allgood the fifth-fastest and Puretz the ninth-fastest times ever recorded in the event.
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Roche’s recent accomplishments have come on the heels of an unexpected comeback. Earlier this year, a bike accident left him recovering from significant injuries, yet he returned in August to set a Leadville 100 record. Once reluctant to take on 100-mile races, Roche has since embraced the distance, crediting his success to a focused fueling strategy and his Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra shoes.
In true ultramarathon spirit, the Javelina race offered not only fast finishes but moments of sheer tenacity. Spokane’s Jack Wiley pushed through to cross the finish line just 55 seconds before the cutoff at 29 hours, 59 minutes, and 5 seconds. Aravaipa Running commemorated Wiley’s grit, posting, “When he couldn’t stand anymore, he crawled… And he GOT.IT.DONE.”
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With memorable performances like these, the Javelina Jundred once again exemplified what makes ultrarunning unique, celebrating not only the winners but every runner who pushes to cross the line.
