Every year in the early Spring, exact date unknown until near the end of winter, ultra running eyes turn toward eastern Tennessee and the Barkley Marathons, and then everyone wants to know their Barkley Marathons finish stats. Who’s running this year? Do they have a chance? Will there be any Barkley Marathons finishers for the Fun Run, let alone the whole race, and could it be a woman this time? So many questions.
As the Barkleys approach each year, I flip through Ed’s book and browse Matt’s website, looking for hints about what’s to come by studying what came before. Who’s been Out There, and where did they the come from? How could they have finished the hardest race ever held in Frozen Head State Park (and possibly the world)? Those questions have answers.
This post is meant as a quick and annually updated summary of all past Barkley finishes and finishers; just a quick reference look at those who’ve been past the Yellow Gate and back again, sometimes more than once. Enjoy.
Table of Contents
Barkley Marathons Finish Stats
Here are the fastest Fun Run finish and overall race winner times for every year of the Big Barkley. As time goes on, the table will link to race summaries for each year and brief bios of each of the speediest runners. All data is from Ed’s book, Matt’s site, ultra signup and other sites. As you might suspect, “Starters” is the most suspect number, and is probably wrong most of the time.
| Year | Starters | Fun Run (3 Loops) | Best Time | Finishes (5 Loops) | Winning Time | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 13 | – | – | NA | NA | – |
| 1987 | 16 | – | – | NA | NA | – |
| 1988 | 19 | 1 | Furtaw 32:14:50 | NA | NA | 1st FR |
| 1989 | 14 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1990 | 29 | 5 | Horton 26:22:39 | – | – | – |
| 1991 | 37 | 10 | Herr 25:53:13 | – | – | – |
| 1992 | 20 | 2 | Robison 28:01:36 | – | – | – |
| 1993 | 32 | 11 | Pilon 26:55:236 | – | – | – |
| 1994 | 34 | 1 | Horton 23:49:40 | – | – | – |
| 1995 | 39 | 6 | Possert 28:52:57 | 1 | Williams 59:28:48 | 1st Finish |
| 1996 | 34 | 2 | Wilson 34:58:48 | – | – | – |
| 1997 | 31 | 3 * | Dobies 38:38:52 | – | – | – |
| 1998 | 35 | 5 | Horton 30:23:00 | – | – | – |
| 1999 | 33 | 3 | Wood 33:19:46 | – | – | – |
| 2000 | 35 | 7 | Wood 31:00:29 | – | – | – |
| 2001 | 35 | 10 | Horton 31:18:12 | 2 * | Horton 58:21:00 | DQ Mess |
| 2002 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | No Race |
| 2003 | 33 | 3 | Keizer 32:15:51 | 1 | Keizer 56:57:52 | – |
| 2004 | 32 | 7 | Horton 30:57:09 | 2 | Tilden 57:25:18 | – |
| 2005 | 33 | 2 | Nelson 32:48:53 | – | – | – |
| 2006 | 33 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2007 | 35 | 4 | Robinson 31:21:31 | – | – | – |
| 2008 | 35 | 7 | Robinson 29:59:49 | 1 | Robinson 55:42:27 | – |
| 2009 | 40 | 3 | Thompson 30:51:33 | 1 | Thompson 57:37:19 | – |
| 2010 | 27+ | 3 | Basham 32:24:37 | 1 | Basham 59:18:44 | – |
| 2011 | 26+ | 9 | Maune 31:51:28 | 1 | Maune 57:13:33 | – |
| 2012 | 33+ | 8 | Maune 29:01:07 | 3 | Maune 52:03:08 | 3 Finishers |
| 2013 | 40 | 5 | Hollon 32:56:15 | 2 | Hollon 57:39:24 | – |
| 2014 | 41 | 5 | Campbell 30:23:26 | 1 | Campbell 57:53:20 | – |
| 2015 | 40 | 2 | Coury 32:57:08 | – | – | – |
| 2016 | 40 | 8 | Campbell 31:27:16 | 1 | Campbell 59:32:30 | 3x Finisher |
| 2017 | 40 | 6 | Kelly 32:58:49 | 1 | Kelly 59:30:53 | Gary!!! |
| 2018 | 44 | 1 | Robbins 36:12:54 | – | – | – |
| 2019 | 42 | 6 | Karel Sabbe 35:40:18 | – | – | – |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | Canceled Coronavirus |
| 2021 | 35 | 2 | Luke Nelson 39:04:08 | – | – | COVID Restrictions |
| 2022 | 40+ | 5 | Karel Sabbe 32:21:49 | – | – | – |
| 2023 | 39 | 11 | Albert Casas 32:03:59 | 3 | Aurélien Sanchez 58:23:12 | 3 Finishers |
| Totals | 1,094+ | 163? | Horton 23:49:40 | 21 | Maune 52:03:08 | – |
Selected Finish Notes
Starters, Fun Runs and Finisher totals are NOT uniques; they are gross totals. So, while there have been 18 total finishes of the Barkley, there have only been 15 unique individual finishers.
2020. Barkley Cancelled due to Coronavirus, as per Keith Dunn on Twitter on March 16, 2020:
The 2020 Barkley Marathons has been canceled. #BM100
— Keith (@keithdunn) March 16, 2020
2012. The year of three finishes and a new, amazing course record by Brett Maune.
The goal this time around was to try and break Flyin‟ Brian‟s course record. To do this my training objective was to achieve a level of fitness such that I could theoretically break the record even if Laz implemented a nightmare course change which increased loop time by 10%. Given the unpredictability of the Barkley I desperately wanted to have as much of a “fitness cushion” as possible. – Brett Maune
2008. Brian Robinson sets a Course Record that holds for four years.
Starting in the dark at 6:06am [On Loop 5], I decided to do Loop 5 clockwise. The first navigational challenges are farther out and easier to solve in that direction. I also find that the North Boundary Trail is best to do when fresh. It’s possible to really cruise on it. Marching up and down Zip Line and Big Hell is slow no matter what. – Brian Robinson
2001. Both finishers were technically supposed to be DQ’d for accidentally using an old and specifically prohibited part of the course, but they appear in stats as “unofficial” finishers. Sure, it’s confusing, but it’s the Barkleys. Easy is for Western States.
1988. Two racers were disqualified for short-cutting loops.
Barkley Marathons Finishers
Whether you think the number is 15 (as of 2018) or 13 (excluding the controversial 2001 finishers), there sure aren’t a whole lot. It takes a special kind of crazy to finish the Barkleys, and at least two alumni–Campbell and Maune–have done it multiple times. That’s exponential crazy, crazy turned to eleven, plaid crazy with briars on top. It’s also hell’a impressive.
I’ve included Ed Furtaw as the Zeroth finisher, because he was the first to finish the Fun Run, ever, and that made the full five loops seem possible. Without Ed’s first-ever finish of three loops, the five loop total would have seemed impossible in 1989 and possibly for many years thereafter. But he’s not included in the totals.
| Year | (#) Name | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 0. Ed Furtaw | NA | 1st Fun Run |
| 1995 | 1. Mark Williams | 59:28:48 | CR |
| 2001 | 2. David Horton * | 58:21:00 | CR |
| 3. Blake Wood * | 58:21:01 | ||
| 2003 | 4. Ted “Cave Dog” Keizer | 56:57:52 | CR |
| 2004 | 5. Mike Tilden | 57:25:18 | |
| 6. Jim Nelson | 57:28:25 | ||
| 2008 | 7. Brian Robinson | 55:42:27 | CR |
| 2009 | 8. Andrew Thompson | 57:37:19 | |
| 2010 | 9. Jonathan Basham | 59:18:44 | |
| 2011 | 10. Brett Maune (1) | 57:13:33 | |
| 2012 | 11. Brett Maune (2) | 52:03:08 | CR |
| 12. Jared Campbell (1) | 56:00:16 | ||
| 13. John Fegyveresi | 59:41:21 | SKT | |
| 2013 | 14. Nick Hollon | 57:39:24 | |
| 15. Travis Wildeboer | 58:41:45 | ||
| 2014 | 16. Jared Campbell (2) | 57:53:20 | |
| 2016 | 17. Jared Campbell (3) | 59:32:30 | |
| 2017 | 18. John Kelly (1) | 59:30:53 | |
| 2023 | 19. Aurélien Sanchez | 58:23:12 | |
| 20. John Kelly (2) | 58:42:23 | ||
| 21. Karel Sabbe | 59:53:33 | SKT | |
| Totals | 21 Finishes | Maune 52:03:08 | – |
Selected Finisher Notes
John Fegyveresi’s had the SKT (Slowest Known Time) just because it was funny, but now it’s Karel Sabbe, which is still funny. At least someone might break that record someday. But will anyone beat Brett Maune’s FKT anytime as in ever? I have no idea.
According to Laz, the first person to finish, Mark Williams, was also the first to finish on his first attempt, which is impressive in it’s own right. Must have had good virgins to learn from?
Barkley Marathons Finish Stats – Women
When will a women finish the Barkleys? Soon, I hope. I think John Kelly’s essay on the subject is the best analysis I’ve seen. There’s no reason a woman can’t finish, other than it just being hard. Weather and circumstances permitting, it’s inevitable. Here for the record are the best women’s performances thus far (Fun Run finishers):
| Year | (#) Name | FR Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1. Suzi Thibeault | 34:32:34 | |
| 2. Nancy Hamilton | 34:32:36 | ||
| 1993 | 3. Nancy Hamilton (2) | 35:18 | |
| 1994 | 4. Suzi Thibeault (2) | 36:30 | |
| 5. P.J. Salmonson | 36:30 | ||
| 1999 | 6. Leslie Hunt | 47:48 (OT) | DNF |
| 2000 | 7. Sue Johnston | 32:57:56 | |
| 8. Eliza McClean | 37:19:08 | ||
| 2001 | 9. Sue Johnston (2) | 33:44:01 | |
| 2012 | 10. Beverly Anderson-Abbs | 34:29:10 | |
| 2013 | 11. Beverly Anderson-Abbs (2) | 39:09:48 | |
| 2013 | 12. Jasmin Paris | 35:40:46 | |
| Totals | 12 FR Finishes 8 Unique Finishers | Sue Johnston 32:57:56 | – |
Note that the first woman to complete a lap was Linda Sledge in 1987.
Input Welcome
As always, if you have questions for see room for improvement, let me know in the comments below. If you want to learn more about the Barkley, check out the following:
Peace.
lazarus lake
the number of starters is definitely off, but we would never give you a truthful answer anyway.
Posilicious
I would expect nothing less, or more. Can’t wait to see how it plays out this year.
lazarus lake
me too. it is a very strong field.
lazarus lake
10 finishes, 6 women….
over time is not a finish!
Posilicious
Good point, Laz. Fixed.
Jacob waltermire
I’m curious to know the age of each finisher.
Posilicious
Me too :). I’ll have to put that in there over time. If you happen to know any of the finisher ages at the time of finishing, let me know.
Graham Connolly
Is Andrew Thompson the first person to finish on their first attempt? I think that might be the case. Maybe worth a mention if so.
Posilicious
Good suggestion, Graham. I’ve updated as per Laz’s note below, that Mark Williams was first to finish (on his first attempt).
lazarus lake
the first finisher, mark williams of england, finished on his first attempt.
Posilicious
Thanks, Laz. Note added to Finishers section.