📅 2025 Cocodona 250 Recap: A Race for the Record Books
- Talia Reed
- May 8
- 3 min read
Updated: May 20
The 2025 Cocodona 250 was one of the most unpredictable, brutal, and record-shattering editions yet. From the opening sprint through Black Canyon to the final push into Flagstaff, this year delivered everything: rain, mud, bonks, blowups, comebacks, and course records.
🏆 Dan Green Wins & Breaks Course Record
Dan Green (@danisgreen) didn’t just win Cocodona. He took down the course record and made it look... composed.
✔️ Final Stats:
Finish Time: 2d 10h 52m (58 hours, 52 minutes)
Rest Time: 7h 54m
Run %: 86.6%
Moving Speed: 5.0 mph avg
Position: 1st overall
Dan surged to the front just before the 100-mile mark and never looked back. The real battle came in the final 60 miles, where Ryan Sandes closed the gap to less than 0.1 mile at one point overnight. But Dan held firm, surged through the final 20 miles, and shattered the previous men's record of 59:28:54.
He managed a steady pace through Fain Ranch, kept his rest short at Kamp Kipa, and launched a relentless push through the Sedona section.
"Patient early. Explosive late. Dan ran one of the smartest Cocodona races we've ever seen." — Aravaipa Live Broadcast
👑 Rachel Entrekin Doubles Down
Rachel Entrekin (@rachel__entrekin) defended her 2024 title, but this time with an exclamation mark. She became the first back-to-back women's champion and obliterated the women's course record.
✔️ Final Stats:
Finish Time: 2d 15h 53m (63 hours, 53 minutes)
Rest Time: 8h 11m
Run %: 87.2%
Moving Speed: 4.6 mph avg
Position: 4th overall
Rachel ran most of the race in the top five overall, outpacing most of the men around her and finishing with nearly 90% moving time. Her pacing was clinic-level: steady from Crown King through Jerome and clean through the Sedona descents. She beat Annie Hughes' previous record (71h 10m) by over 7 hours.
Rachel didn’t just win. She made a statement for every runner in the field.
🎖️ A 5-Time Finisher Joins History
Among the deepest field ever, one runner quietly made Cocodona history in his own way:
Brian Janezic became the first person to complete Cocodona five years in a row. From the inaugural race in 2021 to this year's 2025 edition, Brian has crossed every single finish line — no DNFs, no excuses. Just pure consistency.
“I never expected to be the first to five. I just love this race too much to miss it.” — Brian Janezic to Aravaipa Media
He finished this year’s race in 3d 09h 28m, with 15h 47m of rest and a 3.9 mph average speed.
🌧️ Conditions: Cold Rain, Mud, and Mayhem
The early stages were hit with a surprise cold front. Runners faced heavy rain and hail through Iron King and Fain Ranch. Trails turned into mudslides. Visibility dropped. Temps fell into the 40s overnight.
It blew up the field early: Courtney Dauwalter withdrew by mile 108 with a reported total body shutdown, and others began stacking long rest times.
2025 DNF Rate: 27.4% by Day 3
🔹 Race Flow Analysis
This year’s race flow chart shows where the major moves happened:
Dan Green surged around mile 120 and never relinquished the lead.
Ryan Sandes kept pace and closed to within striking distance, but never overtook.
Edher Ramirez (3rd overall) had one of the most consistent climbs, moving from ~15th into podium over the last 100 miles.
Rachel Entrekin was locked in top-5 overall almost the entire race.
Stalls: Jeff Garmire, Michael McKnight, and others plateaued in the mid-race zone (~mile 120–180) before rallying to finish.
🏅 Final Standings (Top 10 Overall)
Rank | Runner | Time | Rest | Run % |
1 | Dan Green | 2d 10h 52m | 7h 54m | 86.6% |
2 | Ryan Sandes | 2d 13h 23m | 7h 08m | 88.4% |
3 | Edher Ramirez | 2d 19h 48m | 6h 22m | 85.4% |
4 | Rachel Entrekin | 2d 15h 53m | 8h 11m | 87.2% |
5 | Haroldas Subertas | 2d 17h 28m | 12h 11m | 81.4% |
6 | Finn Melanson | 2d 18h 36m | 11h 32m | 82.7% |
7 | DJ Fox | 2d 21h 33m | 11h 38m | 83.3% |
8 | Cody Poskin | 2d 23h 09m | 12h 40m | 85.6% |
9 | Michael McKnight | 3d 00h 00m | 12h 27m | 83.7% |
10 | Jeff Garmire | 3d 05h 37m | 18h 54m | 75.6% |
📊 Notable Performances
Lindsey Dwyer finished 2nd woman in 3d 07h 39m
Sarah Ostaszewski finished 3rd woman in 3d 08h 30m
Aaron Young finished 17th overall, top Aussie
Michael Puett and Chad Salyer both cracked top 15 after major mid-race recoveries
🔗 By the Numbers
257 miles (official course distance)
40,000+ ft of gain
125-hour cutoff
High point: Mount Elden (9,241 ft)
🌍 This Year Changed the Game
Cocodona is no longer just an ultra. It’s a proving ground.
The bar has been raised. The records are rewritten. And if you were watching this year, you witnessed two of the most dominant performances in American trail running history.
We’ll be back in 2026. But good luck topping this.
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