Ukrainian ultramarathoner Mykola Taran took second place in the prestigious Denali 100K race in Alaska, overcoming 100 kilometers of a difficult mountain route in 10 hours and 40 minutes without a single stop. The athlete also became the first Ukrainian in the history of these competitions and set his fifth national record of Ukraine in ultramarathon running.
This was reported by the athlete Mykola Taran himself to Vilni Media.
The Denali 100K competition happened June 21 on the famous Denali Highway in Alaska. The ultramarathon is considered one of the most difficult in the state due to the long route, significant elevation changes, harsh natural conditions and long sections without service support. The distance is held in a point-to-point format from the Alpine Creek Lodge area to the finish near the town of Cantwell.
Mykola Taran, who is a five-time Ukrainian record holder in ultramarathon running, represented Ukraine at the international start and managed to finish among the race leaders.
“I really wanted the Ukrainian flag to finally fly here too. And it happened. I finished, despite the large number of climbs, after which I would have to recover for more than one week,” the athlete said.
The start of the race took place at 6:00 p.m. local time. Due to the period of white nights in Alaska, participants covered the distance even at night in daylight.
According to Taran, participation in the Denali 100K was a special event for him not only because of the high sporting result, but also because of the historical achievement for Ukrainian sports.
“At these competitions, I became the national record holder of Ukraine in ultramarathon running for the fifth time, because in the entire history of the start there was not a single Ukrainian,” he noted.
The Denali 100K is part of the Denali Ultras series, which also includes 50-kilometer and 135-mile distances. Organizers only allow athletes with proven experience in marathon and ultramarathon distances to participate.
Mykola Taran’s participation and his medal place were another example of the presence of Ukrainian athletes at prestigious international races, and the blue-and-yellow flag first appeared among participants in one of Alaska’s most famous ultramarathons.
Photo: provided by Mykola Taran
Author: Inna Mikhno