by If anyone thought Cocodona’s fifth year would be a celebratory cruise through Arizona’s desert sprawl, the 2025 edition threw a cold, wet wrench into those plans. What started as a calm May morning in Black Canyon City quickly turned into a multi-day battle with storm systems that brought freezing rain, peanut-butter mud, and a level of carnage not seen in years. In the thick of it all, Dan Green and Rachel Entrekin carved their names into Cocodona lore, both laying down new course records with jaw-dropping performances.
Men’s Race: Green Pulls Away in the Slop
Dan Green, already known for consistent top finishes at Javelina, delivered a masterclass in pacing and patience. After trailing early leaders Harry Subertas and Pau Rius through the punchy climbs of the Bradshaws and the party atmosphere of Whiskey Row, Green made his move as the field slogged through the slush and slop of Mingus Mountain. While others dropped or faded, Green surged.
By Sedona, it became a duel between Green and South Africa’s Ryan Sandes, a veteran of global 100-mile showdowns. Sandes momentarily took the lead near Deer Pass, shrinking what had been a massive gap, but the second night on the course would prove pivotal. As the route climbed out of Sedona and onto the Mogollon Rim, Green found another gear. He never looked back.
Green rolled into Flagstaff with a 58:47:18 finish, smashing the previous course record by over an hour. Sandes followed in 61:21:04, an impressive debut at the 200+ mile distance. Behind them, Mexico’s Edher Ramirez made a late charge to snag third in 63:10:13, having stayed under the radar for much of the race.
Top 10 Men – 2025 Cocodona 250
Dan Green (USA) – 58:47:18 (New Course Record)
Ryan Sandes (South Africa) – 61:21:04
Edher Ramirez (Mexico) – 63:10:13
Harry Subertas (Lithuania/USA) – 65:28:53
Finn Melanson (USA) – 66:29:40
DJ Fox (USA) – 67:15:22
Cody Poskin (USA) – 71:11:53
Michael McKnight (USA) – 71:56:52
Jeff Garmire (USA) – 77:37:32
Chad Salyer (USA) – 78:51:04
Women’s Race: Entrekin Silences the Doubters
All eyes were on Courtney Dauwalter, and she didn’t disappoint early on. By mile 69, she had taken the overall race lead and was dropping jaws as she surged past some of the sport’s top men. But Cocodona has a way of chewing up plans and spitting them out in the red rocks of Sedona. Dauwalter would bow out at mile 108 with what she later described as a full-system shutdown.
Enter: Rachel Entrekin. The reigning champ stayed steady, shrugging off hail, mud, and the weight of being in contention without even knowing she was leading. Her crew kept her blissfully unaware of Dauwalter’s exit until well past the halfway point. Even then, Entrekin stayed locked into her own rhythm. No dramatics. Just relentless forward motion.
After dancing across Sedona’s vortex-riddled trails and up Schnebly Hill, Entrekin cruised through the final 90 miles with poise. She climbed Mount Elden with daylight still to spare and charged into downtown Flagstaff in the dark to take her second Cocodona title in 63:50:55 — crushing the previous women’s course record by seven hours.
Behind her, Lindsey Dwyer battled through emotional lows and physical tolls to finish second in 79:35:28. Sarah Ostaszewski ran a smart back half and edged out the chase pack for third in 80:25:31.
Top 10 Women – 2025 Cocodona 250
Rachel Entrekin (USA) – 63:50:55 (New Course Record)
Lindsey Dwyer (USA) – 79:35:28
Sarah Ostaszewski (USA) – 80:25:31
Shelby Farrell (USA) – 85:26:23
Melissa Browne (USA) – 85:45:23
Katherine Edwards Anderson (USA) – 85:52:20
Jennie Chisholm (USA) – 89:19:58
Carrie Setian – 94:24:26
TBD
TBD
Final Thoughts
The 2025 Cocodona wasn’t just a test of endurance, it was a mud-slicked, storm-riddled gauntlet that reshuffled expectations and crowned two deserving champions. Green and Entrekin didn’t just win. They rewrote the race’s history during one of its most grueling editions yet. While taking down some of the biggest names in running along the way. Making for an epic year and sure to attract a lot more attention on the event in future years.
That said, one big question still remains: will Courtney return in 2026 to settle the score with the course that broke her in 2025? She’s had a few DNFs in the past, and each time, she’s come back stronger while breaking course records. So it’ll be interesting to see what happens. Either way, you know I’ll be watching.
