Who Are the Top Female Ultra Runners of 2025?

Last Updated on September 21, 2025 by Amanda Bowden

Best Women Ultrarunners of 2025: Elite & Rising Stars

The past few years have been incredible for women’s ultrarunning – records have been smashed, new stars have risen, and familiar champions continue to amaze us. If you’ve been following the sport, you’ll know that 2025 has already delivered some jaw-dropping performances at races like UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc), CCC (Courmayeur–Champex–Chamonix) and the IAU World Championships (International Association of Ultrarunners).

But who really stands out right now? That’s not an easy question to answer. With so many talented women competing across distances from 50km road ultras to 170km mountain epics, ranking the “top” ultrarunners is always going to be a little subjective.

What we can do, though, is look at the athletes who have defined 2025 so far: the big winners, the record breakers, and the rising names who might dominate the years ahead. Let’s dive into the leading female ultrarunners of 2025.

Big Wins & Awards: Women Named Among the Best

If there’s one way to judge the very top ultrarunners of 2025, it’s by looking at who’s been winning the most important races – and earning recognition for it. A few names keep coming up again and again.

Ruth Croft (New Zealand) has to be at the top of this list. In 2025 she claimed victory at UTMB Mont-Blanc in 22:56:23 – one of the toughest and most prestigious ultramarathons in the world. That win made her the first woman ever to complete the UTMB “Triple Crown,” with victories at OCC (Orsières–Champex–Chamonix), CCC and now the full UTMB. Croft’s strength is her consistency: she has a knack for finishing strong and moving up through the field late in races.

Katie Schide (USA), the 2024 UltraRunning Magazine Ultrarunner of the Year, continues to prove she’s one of the most versatile athletes on the circuit. With wins at 2025 Hardrock 100 (and a course record!) and two previous UTMB wins under her belt, she remains a fixture in conversations about the sport’s very best.

And of course, no list would be complete without Courtney Dauwalter (USA). Even though she’s been at the top for several years now, her dominance at races like UTMB and Hardrock keeps her firmly in the conversation for 2025. She got in a race win at Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB® 2025 in June, and her combination of durability, mental grit and seemingly endless energy makes her a fan favourite worldwide.

Together, these women set the standard. They’re not only winning the biggest races but also inspiring the next wave of ultrarunners to push their limits.

Rising Stars Making Waves in Ultra Running

While some names are already legendary, 2025 has also been a breakout year for new talent. These women might not have the long list of wins that Croft or Dauwalter do, but their performances this season suggest they could be the next big names in ultrarunning.

Take Martyna Młynarczyk (Poland). At the 2025 CCC she powered through tough mountain conditions to win in 11:41:55. It was a performance full of grit, and the fact that she held off a late surge from her rivals shows she has the tactical nous to match her endurance.

Right behind her was Sylvia Nordskar (Norway), just 18 seconds back in one of the tightest finishes we’ve seen at CCC in years. That kind of close battle doesn’t just highlight her toughness – it also proves she’s ready to compete head-to-head with the best on the biggest stage.

Another name on the rise is Katharina Hartmuth (Germany). She took third at the full UTMB in 2025, which is no small feat considering the depth of the women’s field that year. Hartmuth has been steadily climbing the ranks, and her podium finish in Chamonix suggests she’s only just getting started.

Together, these runners are showing that the women’s ultrarunning field isn’t just strong at the top – it’s bursting with fresh talent, making every race more competitive and exciting.

Key Races & Record Performances of 2025

If 2025 has shown us anything, it’s that women’s ultrarunning is thriving across all distances and terrains. A few races in particular stand out for the performances they produced.

The headline event was of course UTMB Mont-Blanc, where Ruth Croft made history with her 22:56:23 win. Not only was it a commanding victory, but it also cemented her place in the sport’s history books as the first woman to complete the UTMB “Triple Crown” (OCC, CCC and UTMB itself). Croft’s pacing and strong finish over 170km of brutal alpine terrain were nothing short of remarkable.

Over at the CCC, the drama came down to seconds. Martyna Młynarczyk edged out Sylvia Nordskar by just 18 seconds after more than 11 hours of running. That kind of nail-biting finish is rare in ultrarunning, and it instantly became one of the highlights of the season.

Meanwhile, at the OCC, the women’s race initially looked like a breakthrough moment for Joyline Chepngeno of Kenya, who crossed the line first in 5:34:03. However, her result – along with others – was later disqualified following a doping sanction. That reshuffled the standings and cast new light on the true front-runners of the race, including Miao Yao of China, who had finished close behind.

Put together, these results show the depth of talent in the women’s field right now – from mountain ultras to road championships, female ultrarunners are not just competing but redefining what’s possible.

What Sets These Women Apart (Training, Grit & Strategy)

So what makes these women so good? It’s not just about running endless miles (although they do plenty of that). The best ultrarunners combine physical conditioning with a mental edge and smart strategies that allow them to perform at their peak when it matters most.

One thing that stands out is consistency. Athletes like Ruth Croft and Katie Schide rarely have “bad” races. Even on tough days, they finish strong, which keeps them at the top of the rankings year after year. That ability to recover, adapt and stay healthy through relentless training blocks is a huge part of their success.

Then there’s versatility. Some of these women can win a technical mountain ultra one month and line up for a flat, fast 100 km road race the next. Floriane Hot is a great example: she dominates on the road, while still holding her own in trail ultras. That range is rare, and it shows just how complete their athletic skill sets are.

And finally, there’s the mental game. Ultrarunning is as much about grit as it is about fitness. Courtney Dauwalter has become almost mythical for her ability to keep pushing through pain, fatigue, and bad weather. Runners like Martyna Młynarczyk and Sylvia Nordskar also proved their mental toughness in 2025, battling head-to-head for hours in the CCC before sprinting for the line.

It’s this combination of endurance, adaptability, and mental resilience that makes the current generation of female ultrarunners so extraordinary – and why we’re seeing records fall and performances rise across the board.

Runners to Watch: Emerging Talent

As impressive as the established champions are, one of the most exciting parts of ultrarunning is seeing new talent rise through the ranks. Every year, fresh faces appear on the start line and push the veterans harder than ever.

One runner to keep an eye on is Sylvia Nordskar (Norway). After her nail-biting finish at CCC this year, it’s clear she has the speed, resilience, and determination to contend for major wins. With a little more experience on the biggest stages, she could become a regular podium contender.

Katharina Hartmuth (Germany) is another athlete worth watching. Her third-place finish at UTMB in 2025 showed she can handle the world’s toughest mountain races. If she continues to build on that momentum, a major win could be just around the corner.

And don’t count out Lucy Bartholomew (Australia). Already a well-known figure in the sport, her top-10 finish at UTMB 2025 proved she’s still very much in the mix at the highest level. With her experience and renewed consistency, another career-defining result could be on the horizon.

The depth of talent in women’s ultrarunning means that every race brings new surprises. As we move through the rest of 2025, expect these names – and perhaps a few unexpected ones – to make headlines.

Conclusion: Celebrating the Depth of Women’s Ultrarunning

From Ruth Croft’s historic UTMB victory to the nail-biting CCC finish and the dominance of athletes like Katie Schide and Courtney Dauwalter, 2025 has already been a landmark year for women’s ultrarunning. The depth of talent is staggering: established champions keep raising the bar, while new names are emerging to challenge them and push the sport forward.

Of course, any list like this is subjective. There are countless other women out there running extraordinary races, often outside the spotlight. But the runners highlighted here represent the very best of what the sport has to offer in 2025: endurance, resilience, and a relentless drive to see what’s possible.

As the season continues, we’re bound to see more breakthroughs, more records, and more inspiring performances. One thing’s for sure – the women’s side of ultrarunning has never been stronger, and its future has never looked brighter.

If you’d like to dive deeper into the world of ultrarunning, you can check out more of my ultra running posts here.