Badwater Ultramarathon Race Results, 1977 to 1999

For results from 2000 through the present, click here.

For the Results Database with ALL data from 1987 through the present, click here.

For an analysis of finishing data from 1990 through 2008, click here.

We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to many people from around the world who have raced from Badwater to Mt. Whitney over the past twenty-some years. Whether in solo efforts, out-and-backs, the original race in 1987, or as part of the races that Hi-Tec Sports USA produced from 1988 through 1999, an immeasurable quantity of sweat, effort, and commitment has created a legacy that we are honored to continue. Below you can read about the original pioneers, Al Arnold in 1977 and Jay Birmingham in 1981, the first race on the course, held in 1987, as well as the results from all of the Hi-Tec races.

1999 Race (AM Start)

42 starters, 33 finishers (78%).
Matt Frederick, Hi-Tec Race Director.
Click here for race report.
For online slideshows by Chris Kostman, click here.

Place Name
M/F
 State Finish
Number of
Official Finishes
 Notes
1 Eric Clifton
M
 NM 27:49
New Men’s AM Course Record
2 Gabriel Flores
M
 CA 28:36
2
3 Mark Godale
M
 OH 29:58
4 Steven Silver
M
 TX 33:57
3
4 Art Webb
M
 CA 33:57
2
6 Marshall Ulrich
M
 CO 35:52
8
7 Dale Sutton
M
 CA 36:11
2
8 Angelika Castaneda
F
 CA 36:58
4
 New Women’s AM Course Record. Won the Death Valley Cup
9 Bob Lapanja
M
 CA 37:51
2
10 Noel Hanna
M
 No. Ireland 39:03
11 Joe Decker
M
 MD 39:37
12 Bob Ankeney
M
 CA 40:05
2
13 Louise Cooper
F
 CA 40:14
2nd female
14 Pierre Russias
M
 France 40:28
15 Brian Manley
M
 CO 41:23
16 Barbara Warren
F
 CA 41:45
4
 3rd female
17 Clive Saffery
M
 Taiwan 42:15
18 Nick Palazzo
M
 NY 43:07
19 Mick Justin
M
 MN 43:09
4
20 Maria DeJesus
F
 U.K. 43:10
4th female
21 Cathy Tibbets
F
 NM 43:47
5th female
22 Adam Bookspan
M
 FL 44:43
2
 First race walker
23 Jim Hamilton
M
 CA 45:47
2
24 Denise Jones
F
 CA 45:54
3
 6th female
25 Stephen Simmons
M
 WV 46:56
Buckle Cut-Off 48:00
26 John Rosmus
M
 CA 49:07
27 Jean Jacques Merienne
M
 France 49:45
28 Robin Smit
M
 CA 51:10
3
29 Ephraim Romesberg
M
 CA 53:10
2
30 Chris Moon
M
 U.K. 53:48
31 Jack Denness
M
 U.K. 54:06
7
32 Kirk Johnson
M
 NJ 54:26
33 Scott Weber
M
 CO 56:34
6
Lisa Smith
F
 48:24
Unofficial Finish
Carlos Banderas
M
 DNF
Major W.C. Maples
M
 DNF
Jason Hodde
M
 DNF
Dan Jensen
M
 DNF
Bill Menard
M
 DNF
Brian Van Oene
M
 DNF
Jurgen Ankenbrand
M
 DNF
David Jones
M
 DNF

1998 Race (AM Start)

29 starters, 20 finishers (69%).
Matt Frederick, Hi-Tec Race Director.
Click here for race report.

Place Name
M/F
 Country Finish
Number of
Official Finishes
 Notes
1 Gabriel Flores
M
 USA 28:09
Men’s AM record
2 Carlos Banderas
M
 USA 28:27
3 Marshall Ulrich
M
 USA 30:06
7
4 Lisa Smith
F
 USA 37:33
3
5 Cliff Treyens
M
 USA 38:45
6 Duke Bartoo
M
 USA 41:38
7 Bob Ankeney
M
 USA 42:58
8 Mike Zeigle
M
 USA 43:47
9 Art Webb
M
 USA 44:44
10 Fred Vance
M
 USA 46:34
2
11 Julie Tieger
F
 USA 47:04
Buckle Cut-Off 48:00
12 Bernard Schoeneck
M
 Germany 47:45
13 Jim Hamilton
M
 USA 51:51
14 Ephraim Romesburg
M
 USA 53:31
15 Scott Weber
M
 USA 54:13
5
16 Bob Lapanja
M
 USA 54:35
17 Adam Bookspan
M
 USA 55:30
18 Jack Denness
M
 U.K. 57:39
6
19 Lloyd Scott
M
 U.K. 57:54
20 Helmut Linzbichler
M
 Austria 58:57
Eric Clifton
M
 USA DNF
Gary Hoover
M
 USA DNF
Tom Kruger
M
 USA DNF
Bill Menard
M
 USA DNF
John Rosmus
M
 USA DNF
Mike Rouse
M
 USA DNF
Rick Schmidt
M
 USA DNF
Dale Sutton
M
 USA DNF
Robert Thurber
M
 USA DNF

1997 Race (AM Start)

27 starters, 20 finishers (74%).
Matt Frederick, Hi-Tec Race Director.
Click here for Comptetitor Magazine race coverage by Renne Gardner.

Place Name Country Elapsed
Number of
Official Finishes
 Notes
1 David Jones USA 29:10
2
2 Jim Magill USA 35:45
3 Lisa Smith USA 37:01
2
 Women’s AM record
4 Dale Sutton USA 38:50
5 Mick Justin USA 38:55
3
6 Steven Silver USA 39:13
2
7 Bill Menard USA 39:55
3
8 Matthew Toepke USA 40:48
9 Jose Wilkie USA 40:56
2
10 Beacham Toler USA 43:53
2
11 Maj. W.C. Maples USA 45:15
12 Fred Vance USA 47:00
Buckle Cut-Off 48:00 USA
13 Del Scharffenberg USA 48:16
Accomplished the Death Valley Cup
14 Eris Zama Italy 49:02
15 Robert "Primus" Lambert U.K. 50:54
3
16 John Radich USA 51:07
17 Rob Volkenand USA 52:45
2
18 Steve Kerr U.K. 56:02
3
19 Scott Weber, USA USA 57:00
4
20 Paul Braden Canada 57:11
Eric Clifton USA DNF
Terry Crompton USA DNF
Jack Denness U.K. DNF
Bjarte Furnes Norway DNF
Tim Neckar USA DNF
Bruno Petroni Switzerland DNF
Richard Schmidt USA DNF

1996 Race (AM Start)

23 starters, 14 finishers (61%).
Matt Frederick, Hi-Tec Race Director.
Race report not available (Got one to share? Please contact us!).

Place Name
M/F
 Country Elapsed
Number of
Official Finishes
 Notes
1 Marshall Ulrich
M
 USA 33:01
6
 Won the Death Valley Cup
2 Steven Silver
USA 37:45
3 Judy Overholtzer
USA 41:13
3
4 Milan Milanovich
Switzerland 42:38
5 Erroll Jones
USA 42:56
6 Mick Justin
USA 44:15
2
7 Mike Mitchell
USA 44:26
Buckle Cut-Off 45:00
8 Jose Wilkie
USA 46:58
9 Harry Deupree
USA 49:10
5
10 Dean Karnazes
USA 51:23
11 Denise Jones
USA 52:04
2
12 Scott Weber
USA 56:04
3
13 Jack Denness
UK 56:13
5
14 Charlie Liskey
USA 58:26
Accomplished the Death Valley Cup
Ken Anderson
USA DNF
Steve Benjamin
USA DNF
Ben Jones USA DNF
Gary Hoover USA DNF
Tom Kruger USA DNF
Bill Menard USA DNF
Tim Neckar USA DNF
Rodney Scharber
USA DNF
Richard Schmidt
USA DNF

1995 Race (PM Start)

24 starters, 16 finishers (67%).
Pam Aberle and Karen Raby, Hi-Tec Race Directors
Click here for race report.

Place Name Country Finish
Number of
Official Finishes
1 Bill Menard USA 34:15:19
2
2 David Jones USA 37:51:06
3 Judy Overholtzer USA 40:44:01
2
4 Lisa Smith USA 41:24:31
5 Michael Gleman USA 42:06:54
6 Harry Deupree USA 42:42:22
4
7 Tim Neckar USA 42:55:03
8 Jim Dill USA 44:02:58
9 Cory Shane USA 44:59:00
Buckle Cut-Off 45:00
10 Marty Coffey USA 48:58:10
11 Scott Weber USA 49:00:50
2
12 Beacham Toler USA 50:40:29
13 Keith Pippin USA 51:26:15
4
14 Marshall Ulrich USA 52:40:07
5
15 Willette Ulrich USA 52:40:07
16 Whit Rambach USA 58:42:07
Steve Benjamin USA DNF
Dean Karnazes USA DNF
Don Kesinger USA DNF
Tom Kruger USA DNF
Emile Laharrague USA DNF
Gary Hoover USA DNF
Vicky Hoover USA DNF
Dave Thorpe USA DNF

1994 Race (PM Start)

25 starters, 16 finishers (64%).
Pam Aberle, Hi-Tec Race Director.
Click here for race report.

Place Name Country Elapsed
Number of
Official Finishes
1 Bill Menard USA 32:00:33
2 Marat Jylanbaev Kazakstan 34:36:10
3 Joe Schlereth, USA 40:19:57
4 Robert "Primus" Lambert U.K. 42:11:21
2
5 Rob Volkenand USA 43:31:52
Buckle Cut-Off 45:00
6 John Rosmus USA 46:11:19
7 Judy Overholtzer USA 46:57:50
8 Mick Justin USA 47:57:28
9 Harry Deupree USA 51:06:13
3
10 Scott Weber USA 52:30:00
11 Keith Pippin USA 53:23:10
3
12 Denise Jones USA 55:32:15
13 Eileen Eliot USA 56:30:00
14 Jack Denness U.K. 59:25:06
4
15 Steve Kerr U.K. 59:25:06
2
16 Tom Kruger USA 59:53:20
Marty Coffey USA DNF
Gary Hoover USA DNF
Ben Jones USA DNF
Don Kesinger USA DNF
Joe Oakes USA DNF
George Staub USA DNF
Marshall Ulrich USA DNF

1993 Race (PM Start)

12 starters, 10 finishers (83%).
Chris Stai, Hi-Tec Race Director.
Click here for race report.

Place Name
Country
Finish
Number of
Official Finishes
1 Marshall Ulrich USA
28:53:00
4
2 Joe Franiak USA
30:48:11
2
3 Ross Parker Australia
38:01:00
4 Bob Givens USA
40:28:09
5 Mark Macy USA
43:40:54
6 Robert "Primus" Lambert U.K.
47:34:00
7 Badwater Ben Jones USA
50:14:32
3
8 Jack Denness U.K.
50:25:00
3
9 Keith Pippin USA
55:40:00
2
10 John Shehedy USA
58:41:00
2
Buckle Cut-Off 60:00
Tim Neckar, USA
DNF
John Rosmus USA
DNF

1992 Race (PM Start)

14 starters, 13 finishers (92%).
David Pompel, Hi-Tec Race Director.
Click here for race report.

Place Name
M/F
 Country Finish
Total # of
Official Finishes
 Notes
1 Marshall Ulrich USA 26:18
3
 Course Record, Men’s PM Record
2 Joe Franiak USA 29:25
3 Michael Sandlin USA 41:43
4 Bob Givens USA 46:19
5 Keith Pippin USA 48:50
6 Robin Smit USA 49:24
2
7 Badwater Ben Jones USA 51:04
2
8 Randy Spears USA 52:00
8 Jurgen Ankenbrand USA 52:00
2
10 John Shehady USA 57:58
11 Jack Denness U.K. 58:19
2
12 Steve Kerr U.K. 58:19
13 Harry Deupree USA 59:19
2
Buckle Cut-Off 60:00
Jack Christian DNF

1991 Race (PM Start)

14 starters, 14 finishers (100%).
David Pompel, Hi-Tec Race Director.
Click here for race report.
Click here for chapter five about the 1991 Badwater Race from Michael Bane's book, Over The Edge: A Regular Guy's Odyssey in Extreme Sports

Place Name Country
Finish
Number of
Official Finishes
 Notes
1 Marshall Ulrich USA
26:34:10
2
2 Jack Christian USA
30:39:25
2
3 Bonnie Boyer USA
36:19:20
Women’s PM Record
4 Odin Christensen USA
38:40:35
2
5 Stefan Schlett Germany
38:03:35
6 Angelika Castaneda USA
40:05:10
3
6 Barbara Alvarez USA
40:05:10
3
8 Don Choi USA
44:48:20
9 Robin Smit USA
45:21:34
10 Harry Deupree USA
45:35:21
11 Badwater Ben Jones USA
49:50:05
12 Wayne Baughman USA
55:46:45
13 Jack Denness UK
56:19:20
14 Rob Tuller USA
57:30:30
Buckle Cut-Off 60:00

1990 Race (PM Start)

21 starters, 17 finishers (81%).
David Pompel, Hi-Tec Race Director.

Place Name City State
Finish
Number of
Official Finishes
1 Tom Possert Cincinnati OH
27:56:20
2
2 Marshall Ulrich Ft. Morgan CO
30:31:25
3 Joseph Marchand West Bank BC, Canada
33:02:00
4 Jack Christian Hammon OK
36:56:00
5 Odin Christiansen Denver CO
38:42:00
6 Angelika Castaneda La Jolla CA
39:27:00
2
6 Barbara Alvarez La Jolla CA
39:27:00
8 Ed Ayres Los Angeles CA
48:19:15
9 Raymond Bell Hudson FL
50:04:40
10 Juergen Ankenbrand Fountain Valley CA
50:29:53
11 Kevin O'Grady Columbus OH
50:30:20
12 Marvin Skagerberg Hoboken NJ
52:18:00
13 Dick West Highland MI
54:57:00
14 Henry Yeager Chilhowee MS
56:52:00
15 Ron Martin Essex England
62:18:00
16 Bill Miller San Diego CA
65:18:34
16 Carol Carter San Diego CA
65:18:34
Buckle Cut-Off 70:00
Randi Bromka Aspen CO
DNF
Adrian Crane Modesto CA
Emile Laharague France
Andy Muskett West Sussex England

1989 Race (PM Start)

Unknown number of starters, 7 finishers.
Most times currently unknown.

Name Country Elapsed
Number of
Official Finishes
Tom Possert USA 36:10
Jim Walke USA
Bart Yasso USA
Chuck Jones USA
Adrian Crane USA
2
Angelika Castenada USA
Barbara Alvarez USA

1988 Race (AM Start)

July 28, 1988. 8 starters, 4 finishers. 2:46am start.
Note: 146 mile course, unofficial, non-permitted race.
The first race sponsored by Hi-Tec. Results taken from "The Death Valley 300" by Richard Benyo.

Name Country Finish Notes
Linda Elam USA 61:47
Doug Mitchell USA 80:32
Chuck Jones USA 45:54 started 18 hours after the race field (thus a PM start)
Tom Possert USA DQ completed the course in 45:10, but was disqualified
afterward for unlawful assistance on the mountain
Frank Bozanich USA DNF completed 17 miles
Frank Blazic USA DNF completed 90 miles
Adrian Crane USA DNF completed 70 miles
Jim Walker USA DNF completed 50 miles

1987 US vs. UK Death Valley to Mt. Whitney Race (AM Start)

July 31, 1987. 5 starters, 5 finishers. 6:25am start.
Note: 146 mile course.
Click here for race report and images.

Name
M/F
 Country Elapsed
Jean Ennis
F
 USA 58:57:34
Tom Crawford
M
 USA 58:57:34
Eleanor Adams
F
 U.K. 52:45
Kenneth Crutchlow
M
 U.K. 126:30
Also, David Bolling
M
 USA 126:30

Not So Ancient History: Where It All Started

Original 1977 articles, with photos, about Al Arnold, the first person to complete the trek. Includes PDF download.
Photos from Jay Birmingham's book, The Longest Hill, now online as a slideshow.
Jay is the second person to complete the Badwater to Mt. Whitney course, back in 1981.
"I WAS THERE WHEN "HELL FROZE OVER" By Tamara L. Dickey, stepdaughter and crew member for Jay Birmingham
Birmingham Sets Another Record, by Greg Larson, Florida Times-Union, August 19, 1981
From Lowest to Highest: Birmingham Claims Another Record, from The Starting Line Newsletter, September 1981
Le Desert: Badwater Becomes a Race by Richard Benyo, originally printed in Runner's World, August 1988.
For Pete's Sake: the 1987 Race and the First Badwater Double by Richard Benyo (PDF reprinted from 2004 Race Magazine)
Badwater Turns 25: History of the race from 1977 through 2002 by Roy Wallack (PDF reprinted from 2002 Race Magazine)