Jasmin Paris Makes History as First Woman to Complete the Legendary Barkley Marathons
British endurance runner Jasmin Paris made history on Friday, becoming the first woman ever to finish the notorious Barkley Marathons. Paris completed the grueling ultramarathon in a time of 59 hours, 58 minutes, and 21 seconds, just 99 seconds before the 60-hour cutoff elapsed.
The Barkley Marathons is known for its unforgiving terrain, steep inclines, and near-impossible nature. The 100 to 130 miles (160 to 209 kilometers) course is spread over three sleepless days and nights in Tennessee’s Frozen Head State Park. The route, inspired by the 1977 prison escape of James Earl Ray, who assassinated the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., is marked with unique unmanned checkpoints containing paperback books that athletes must collect and carry to prove completion of each loop.
Paris was one of only five finishers in the 2024 edition, with Ukrainian Ihor Verys taking first place at 58:44:59. American runners John Kelly (59:30:32) and Jared Campbell (59:30:32) finished second and third, respectively. Verys jokingly suggested adding a sixth loop to the challenge. In contrast, Campbell, who completed the race for the fourth time, commented on the new section, “You are a bad man.”
Paris gained widespread attention in 2019 when she became the first woman to win the 268-mile Spine Race and took twelve hours off the previous record.
The Barkley Marathons has earned a reputation as one of the world’s most challenging foot races due to its grueling conditions, opaque entry system, and high dropout rate of 99%. The course is unforgiving, with steep inclines, long distances between aid stations, and the constant risk of getting lost or injured in the brush. Despite this, Paris persevered to become the first woman to claim victory in this legendary endurance challenge.
Paris’s historic achievement comes after a gap of no finishers between 2017 and 2023, showcasing the extreme demands of this ultramarathon. Her determination and resilience in completing the course will undoubtedly inspire future generations of endurance athletes to tackle the seemingly impossible challenges presented by the Barkley Marathons.
