Keddie makes history with overall Grand to Grand Ultra victory
Emily Keddie made history at the 2026 Grand to Grand Ultra, becoming the first woman to win the grueling 171-mile desert race outright, finishing ahead of every male and female competitor.
Keddie completed the six-stage race September 26, with a cumulative time of 37 hours, 51 minutes and 23 seconds, defeating runner-up Andy Pearson by one hour, 18 minutes and 36 seconds. Pearson finished second overall in 39:09:59, followed by Reinhold Hugo in 42:28:40.
The seven-day event takes competitors from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon through remote desert terrain in northern Arizona and southern Utah, finishing near the Pink Cliffs of the Grand Staircase. Based in Kanab, the race is one of the region’s most demanding endurance competitions.
Keddie, a resident of Bend, Oregon, also participated as part of a fundraising team supporting Best Friends Animal Society. In an interview published before the race, Keddie discussed her connection to the organization’s Kanab sanctuary and her dog, Jolly.
Keddie established herself as the overall leader on the opening day, completing the 30.8-mile first stage in 5:50:29. Race organizers noted that it marked the first time a woman had crossed a Grand to Grand stage finish line ahead of all other competitors.
She repeated that performance on the second stage, extending her advantage over the men’s field.
Her lead grew during the third stage, a punishing 53.2-mile trek that included a crossing of the Coral Pink Sand Dunes. Approximately 75 percent of the route consisted of sand, presenting a substantial challenge to competitors already fatigued from two days of racing.
Keddie finished that stage in 14:24:00, ahead of Pearson’s 14:42:20, building her overall advantage to one hour, 26 minutes and 28 seconds.
She maintained her lead through the remaining stages to secure the historic victory.
The 2026 event began with 35 competitors, with 27 remaining for the final stage. Participants faced exposed desert trails, steep climbs, deep sand and changing weather conditions while carrying their own food and essential supplies.
The Grand to Grand Ultra began in 2012 and has attracted more than 1,200 runners from over 60 countries.
