Rudel records fastest American performance ever, Cassidy and Gretsch Win Wheelchair Races
With 53,801 participants registered, the 2026 BOLDERBoulder once again transformed the streets of Boulder into one of the nation’s largest and most celebrated running events. Following the 96 waves of citizen runners, the International Pro Team Challenge delivered world-class competition as athletes from around the globe raced through Boulder and into CU’s Folsom Field. Thousands of participants and spectators remained inside the stadium to cheer on the professional races, creating an electric atmosphere for another memorable Memorial Day tradition beneath the Flatirons.
Kenya swept the International Team Challenge titles as hometown-based standout Patrick Kiptoo Kiprop and Rebecca Mwangi captured the men’s and women’s professional victories in two of the fastest races in event history. In the wheelchair races, Kendall Gretsch earned her fourth career women’s wheelchair victory to elevate her stature as one of the most decorated champions in race history and Josh Cassidy claimed the men’s title in his BOLDERBoulder debut. The citizens races were won by local favorites Elise Cranny from Niwot and Nikolas Scudder of Boulder.
Kiprop Dominates In His Hometown
Kenya’s Patrick Kiptoo Kiprop, who lives and trains in Boulder with the On Athletics Club, delivered one of the most dominant performances in recent BOLDERBoulder history, pulling away late for a convincing victory in 28:35. Kiprop and fellow Kenyan Daniel Simiu Ebenyo ran together through the opening three miles before Kiprop used a blistering 4:36 fourth mile, which included the climb to the Summit, the highest point on the course, to open an eight-second advantage. He continued to widen the gap over the final two miles en route to the eighth-fastest winning time in race history. His 31-second margin of victory was the largest seen since 2000.
Ebenyo, the bronze medalist from the World Cross Country Championships earlier this year, finished second in 29:06, marking his second consecutive runner-up finish at the BOLDERBoulder. Boulder resident Aiden Reed led the American charge with a third-place finish in 29:17 competing for USA White.
Casey Clinger of Provo, Utah and Graydon Morris of Chapel Hill, North Carolina finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in 29:33 and 29:35.
In the International Team Challenge, Kenya captured the men’s team title with just 10 points behind the 1-2 finish from Kiprop and Ebenyo, along with a seventh-place effort from Athanas Kioko. USA White followed in second with 17 points, led by Reed and Morris, and Ryan Ford in 11th. Team USA Red finished third with 28 points behind Clinger in fourth, Clayton Young in 13th, and Jared Ward in 16th. Team USA Blue, behind an all-University of Colorado Boulder alumni team of Andy Wacker (7th, Boulder), Conner Winter (12th, Frederick), and Stephen Jones (20th, Boulder), finished fourth with 33 points. Japan finished fifth and Mexico sixth to round out the team scoring.
Mwangi Wins, Rudel Makes Historic BOLDERBoulder Debut
The women’s race featured one of the fastest finishes in event history as Kenya’s Rebecca Mwangi surged to victory in 32:33, the seventh-fastest all-time in race history.
Mwangi narrowly held off countrywoman Jesca Chelangat, who crossed just three seconds later in 32:36 (#9 all-time). Rachel Rudel led the Americans with a strong third-place performance in 32:46 for USA Red. Rudel’s mark was the fastest time ever run by an American woman at the BOLDERBoulder and ranks No. 14 all-time in race history.
Kenya placed three athletes in the top four as Evaline Chirchir added a fourth-place finish in 32:48. Ethiopia’s trio of Axumawit Embaye, Lemiem Nibret and Buze Diriba finished fifth through seventh.
Kenya dominated the International Team Challenge standings with a perfect six-point score, while Ethiopia finished second with 15 points. Team USA White scored 30 points to place third behind an all-Colorado scoring trio of Biruktayit Degefa (10th, Colorado Springs), Sara Vaughn (11th, Boulder), and Molly Grabill (13th, Superior). Rounding out the team scoring was Mexico (4th, 30 pts.), Brazil (5th, 43 pts.), and Morocco (6th, 49 pts.).
Gretsch Wins Fourth Wheelchair Title
Defending champion Kendall Gretsch, an 11-time Paralympic medalist across biathlon, cross-country skiing, and triathlon, successfully defended her title by winning the women’s wheelchair race in 26:57. The Colorado Springs athlete recorded her fourth BOLDERBoulder victory in the past five years and produced her fastest winning performance at the event.
Gretsch separated herself with five splits under 4:30 and finished nearly four minutes faster than her 2025 winning mark. Emilia Perry of Colorado Springs placed second in 28:29, marking her second career runner-up finish at the race, while Yen Hoang of Champaign, Illinois completed the podium in 30:19.
Cassidy Rolls to Impressive Win
Canadian standout Josh Cassidy, a two-time Paralympian and past champion of the Chicago, Boston, London, Los Angeles, and Sydney marathons, made an impressive BOLDERBoulder debut by claiming the men’s wheelchair title in 23:36. Cassidy established control early, recording the only sub-four-minute opening mile and posting five splits under four minutes during the race.
Mexico’s Fidel Aguilar finished second in 26:02 after placing third a year ago, while American veteran Krige Schabort of Rome, Georgia was just one second back in third at 26:03.
Colorado Springs resident Matt Tingley finished fourth in 26:50 to round out a competitive men’s field.
Cranny and Scudder Win Competitive Citizens Races
The citizens race featured deep local talent and memorable finishes in both the men’s and women’s competitions.
In the women’s citizens race, Elise Cranny, a 2014 Niwot High School graduate and two-time Olympian, earned the victory in 34:20. Savannah Shaw of Boulder finished second in 34:35, while Kathryn Fluehr of Boulder rounded out the podium in 35:00.
On the men’s side, Nickolas Scudder of Boulder captured his second consecutive citizens race title, running 29:58, the sixth-fastest winning time in citizens race history. Braden Nicholson of Boulder finished second in 30:32, while Boulder’s Sam Parsons placed third in 30:38.
The popular Banana vs. Bacon Showdown once again brought added excitement to the race as the Banana, Steven Goldy of Golden, claimed the title of fastest costumed runner by finishing 11th overall in 31:13. Defending champion Bacon, Ryder Searle of Pagosa Springs, placed 19th in 31:50. That puts the matchup at 1 win for each.
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Results from this year’s race can be found here.
Six hours of coverage of the citizens race, the International Professional Team Challenge races, and the Memorial Day Tribute can be found here.
Registration is open for the 2027 BOLDERBoulder 10K which will be held next Memorial Day, May 31.