While nearly 80 runners took part in the inaugural Chesterfield Gorge Ultras and 25K on June 2-3, a handful of others headed beyond the Bay State to tackle new trails at new races. Some, like Cambridge resident Carly Tucker, traveled to nearby New York and earned a podium finish at the Salomon OutdoorFest, or Quincy’s Matthew McKenna, who won a 50K in New Jersey. Others, like Milton’s Oliver Truog and Boston’s Greg Watson, headed to the heartland and ran 100 miles and 100 kilometers, respectively, at the Kettle Moraine Endurance Runs. In addition to those races, local runners earned finishes at the Lighthouse Ultras in Michigan and the Dam Yeti 50 in Virginia.

Salomon OutdoorFest Ultra

Carly Tucker of Cambridge, Mass., earned a place on the podium during the inaugural Salomon OutdoorFest Ultra on Saturday, June 2, in Staten Island, N.Y.

Taking part in a six-hour event on an 8K loop course that was mostly trail with a few hills thrown in to provide some variety, Tucker proved to be one of the fastest runners in the field. The 25-year-old completed 29.25 miles to finish third place among the women’s field and 12^th overall. Clare Mullenger, 39, of Dubai, UAE, was the women’s champion and second overall finisher with 35.75 miles. The ladies’ runner-up, Jimenea Sachdev, 44, of New Hyde Park, N.Y., completed 32.5 miles. Men’s champion Dimitri Kaliakin, 23, of Landenberg, Pa., completed 39 miles.

A total of 64 runners took part in the event, and 18 ran beyond the marathon distance. Paul Rohde, 29, of Cambridge, Mass., completed 19.5 miles.

Kettle Moraine Endurance Runs

The 22^nd annual Kettle Moraine Endurance runs were a hot, humid – and at times wet – affair June 2-3 in La Grange, Wisc., as runners took on 100-mile, 100K, 38-mile and 50K distances.

The trail course and its rolling hills weren’t the massive mudfest that they’ve been in recent years, but an overnight thunderstorm created some sloppy conditions as the race wore on. Two runners from the Bay State conquered the longest distance offerings. Oliver Truog of Milton, Mass., and Greg Watson of Boston, Mass., both turned in strong performances in their respective races.

Truog successfully navigated the 100-mile course, first running through daytime humidity and then running through a downpour in darkness. The 45-year-old placed 96^th out of 160 finishers in 26:49:10. Runners had 30 hours to complete the race. Bradley Revenis, 32, of Chevy Chase, Md., won by nearly two hours with a time of 16:35:06.

The race was Truog’s first 100-mile finish of 2018, and it kept his yearly streak of 100s alive. He finished the Vermont 100 in 2017, Mohican 100 in 2016, Javelina Jundred in 2015, and Vermont 100 in 2014.

Meanwhile, Watson was one of 84 finishers of the 100K race. The 47-year-old was among the faster runners in the field, placing 18^th overall in 12:34:04. It marked a successful debut performance at Kettle Moraine and was also his first race in Wisconsin since finishing the Glacial Trail 50-miler in 2014. Watson is building up to the Mountain Lakes 100 this September in Oregon.

Ondrej Tomek, 47, of Mequon, Wisc., won the 100K in 9:46:05.

In addition to the 100-mile and 100K races, 48 runners completed the 38-mile race and 83 finished the 50K.

New Jersey Trail Series – Spring 50K

Matthew McKenna has done his fair share of tough racing through the years at Watchung Reservation in Maplewood, N.J., but on Sunday, June 3, he broke new ground.

After placing second in the New Jersey Trail Series’ spring marathon in 2015 and finishing second at its winter 50K in 2016, McKenna finally secured a victory this year.

McKenna, 32, of Quincy, Mass., was one of 12 runners who completed the Spring 50K within eight hours, and he got it done the fastest. McKenna’s time of 4:41:34 was good enough for the victory as he outdistanced local Maplewood resident Michael Posteski, 36, by 2 1/2 minutes.

In addition to the ultramarathon, the event also had marathon, half marathon and 10K distances.

Lighthouse Ultras

Karen Birdsall notched her second ultramarathon finish of the year on Saturday, June 2, in the 50-mile race that was part of the second annual Lighthouse 100. Taking on a course from the Old Mission Lighthouse near Traverse City, Mich., to the Petoskey Lighthouse in Petoskey, Mich., Birdsall – a 58-year-old from Topsfield, Mass. – finished 31^stoverall in 12:46:01. Thirty-eight runners finished within 21 hours, led by overall winner and women’s champion Nicole Monette, 33, of Michigan, in 7:59:25.

Prior to Lighthouse, Birdsall finished the Antelope Canyon 55K in Arizona in February.

In addition to the 50-mile race, 38 runners finished the Lighthouse 100-miler within 30 hours. None hailed from the Bay State.

Dam Yeti 50

Michael Granger tackled his inaugural ultramarathon at the inaugural Dam Yeti 50 on Saturday, June 2, in Damascus, Va. Taking on an out-and-back 50K course, the 37-year-old resident of Kingston, Mass., finished in the top half of the field, placing 45^th overall in 7:09:47. Ninety-one runners finished within 10 hours, led by 35-year-old Jon Ziefle of Durham, N.C., in 3:58:49.

In addition to being Granger’s first ultra, Dam Yeti was his fourth trail race of the year. He ran the Pukwudgie 10K in Assonet, Mass., and the TARC Spring Classic marathon in Weston, Mass., both in April, before taking on the Watuppa 10K in Fall River, Mass., in May.

In addition to the 50K race, 121 runners completed a 50-mile race at Dam Yeti. None were Massachusetts residents.

*Editor’s Note: Results are found on a variety of sites, including ultrasignup.com, UltraRunning Magazine, and official race websites. We do the best we can to find as many results as possible to report on and recognize the local ultrarunning community.