Blandine L'Hirondel wins UTMB in 21:54:49
French doctor Blandine L'Hirondel won the women's Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc on Saturday in 21:54:49, the fastest women's time in the event's history.
French obstetrician-gynecologist Blandine L'Hirondel won the women's Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) on Saturday in 21 hours, 54 minutes, and 49 seconds. According to a report from Runner's World, her time is the fastest ever run by a woman on the 108-mile course, though it is not an official course record due to a route alteration.
L'Hirondel, 35, is a professional trail runner and a two-time world champion. The victory made her the fourth French woman to win UTMB in its 23-year history and completed her sweep of the UTMB World Series Finals events. "I can't believe it," L'Hirondel said after the race. "Maybe I will believe it in a few days that I am champion."
American runner Rachel Entrekin, 35, finished second in 22:15:54 in her UTMB debut. She was followed by Emily Schmitz, 45, in third (22:17:28) and Careth Arnold, 36, in fourth (23:05:20). The event was missing defending champion Ruth Croft, who withdrew, and pre-race favorite Courtney Dauwalter, who dropped out at mile 44.
Race Dynamics and Key Splits
The race began after a two-hour rain delay on Friday night. Dauwalter led the early miles but faded and withdrew. By the 50-mile point in Courmayeur, L'Hirondel had taken the lead from Entrekin. The separation grew through the night, with L'Hirondel building a 13-minute lead by the Arnouvaz checkpoint.
| Runner | Age | Finish Time | Notable Previous Win |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blandine L'Hirondel (FRA) | 35 | 21:54:49 | CCC 100K (2022), OCC 60K (2021) |
| Rachel Entrekin (USA) | 35 | 22:15:54 | Cocodona 250 (2026) |
| Emily Schmitz (USA) | 45 | 22:17:28 | - |
| Careth Arnold (USA) | 36 | 23:05:20 | - |
Entrekin, the overall winner of the Cocodona 250 in May, had spent a month in Chamonix previewing the course. "I mostly just dissociated in this race and just ran as fast as I could," Entrekin said. "With this one, it was almost being on autopilot."
The Closing Stages
L'Hirondel extended her lead to 36 minutes by the 80-mile mark at Champex Lac. Fatigue set in during the final miles, causing her to stumble several times in the last 5 miles. She held on to win by a large margin. You can review the full standings for the event.
Behind her, a battle for the podium unfolded. Schmitz, who lives in Chamonix and recently gained sponsorship from Hoka, passed Arnold late in the race and closed in on Entrekin. "I was trying to get away from the fourth woman because I knew she was coming close," Schmitz said. "Then everyone was like, 'Go get Rachel, you're so close.'"
Entrekin managed to hold on for second place. "Those last climbs were so hard," she said. The result highlighted the depth of American women's trail running, a trend visible in the current stats. L'Hirondel's winning time surpassed Ruth Croft's 2025 mark of 22:56:23, though it does not eclipse Katie Schide's official course record of 22:09:31 set in 2022 on the traditional route.
