As the 2025 Barkley Marathons kicks off at Frozen Head State Park, the ultrarunning world looks back on the unprecedented events of 2024.
Last year’s race redefined what was thought possible on one of the most grueling events in endurance sports, with five finishers—more than ever before—including the first-ever female finisher.
With this year’s event now underway, all eyes are on whether 2024 was an anomaly or the beginning of a new era in ultrarunning.
Live Updates: The 2025 Barkley Marathons
What happened
- The 2024 Barkley Marathons kicked off on March 20 at 5:17 p.m. EDT in Frozen Head State Park, Tennessee.
- Of the 38 runners who started, five completed the full 100 miles within the 60-hour cutoff—breaking the previous record of three finishers, set in both 2012 and 2023.
- British ultrarunner Jasmin Paris became the first woman to ever finish the race, clocking in with just 1 minute and 39 seconds to spare.
- Ukrainian Canadian Ihor Verys won in 58:44:59 in his debut Barkley attempt, marking an incredible start to his race history.
The finishers
The five runners who defied the Barkley’s brutal demands and completed all five loops:
- Ihor Verys (Canada) – 58:44:59
- John Kelly (U.S.) – 59:15:38 (his third Barkley finish)
- Jared Campbell (U.S.) – 59:30:32 (his fourth Barkley finish, the most in history)
- Greig Hamilton (New Zealand) – 59:38:42
- Jasmin Paris (U.K.) – 59:58:21 (first-ever female finisher)
Breaking barriers: Jasmin Paris makes history
Paris, a 40-year-old mother of two and a vet specializing in internal medicine, already had a reputation for smashing barriers in ultrarunning. She won the Montane Spine Race in 2019 outright, breaking the course record while expressing breast milk for her infant daughter.
At Barkley:
- Paris had previously completed a three-loop “Fun Run” in 2022 and attempted a fourth loop in 2023.
- In 2024, she became the first woman to ever start a fifth loop—then pushed through exhaustion, treacherous terrain, and the relentless time limit to finish within seconds.
- Her final stretch was watched by thousands online, with fans holding their breath as she sprinted to the yellow gate.
Ihor Verys: The unexpected champion
The 29-year-old Ukrainian Canadian shocked the ultra world with his dominant debut.
- Verys, who started his running career in Canada just nine years ago, has quickly risen through the sport, winning nearly every ultra he’s entered.
- His strategic decision to run the final loop clockwise gave him the advantage of easier navigation.
- He crossed the line with over an hour to spare, cementing himself as one of the sport’s rising stars.
The bigger picture: A turning point for the Barkley Marathons?
With five finishers and a record-breaking female performance, some are questioning whether the Barkley Marathons is getting “easier” or if ultrarunning itself is evolving.
- More experience in the field: The 2024 race had multiple veteran runners who had previously attempted the event, refining strategies and improving performances.
- Ultrarunning boom: The sport has seen a surge in participation and media attention, with more runners training at extreme levels.
- Course conditions: While Frozen Head remains punishing, 2024’s relatively stable weather may have contributed to more successful finishes.
Lazarus Lake, the race’s infamous founder, has always adjusted the course to maintain its difficulty. With this year’s historic results, the 2025 edition could bring even more brutal challenges.
Will 2025 redefine the race once again?
As the 2025 Barkley Marathons unfolds, the ultrarunning world is watching to see if last year’s historic results were an outlier or a sign of the sport’s evolution.
Will course adjustments restore the race’s reputation as nearly impossible to finish, or are today’s ultrarunners proving that no challenge is insurmountable?
Regardless of what unfolds in the next 60 hours, the 2024 Barkley Marathons will stand as a pivotal moment in endurance sports history—one that redefined the limits of human potential.
