Valmir Nunes, Lisa Bliss Win 2007 Badwater Ultramarathon

Valmir Nunes of Brazil, and Lisa Bliss of Spokane, WA, won the 30th running of the 135-mile Kiehl's Badwater Ultramarathon besting a field that included 84 athletes from 15 nations and 21 American states. Valmir Nunes (winner of the Brooks Brazil 135), 43, set a new course record of 22:51:29, over an hour faster than the previous mark of 24:36:08, set by Scott Jurek in 2005. Second place Akos Konya was also able to beat the previous record with his 2nd place finish in 23:47:47. You can read the full story here.

(Valmir Nunes wins the 2007 Badwater Ultra in record time, photo courtesy of Chris Kostman)

Lisa Bliss overcame blister issues and a 3 hour 25 minute deficit to take the lead in the last 13 miles and win in 34:33:40.

(Lisa Bliss crosses the finish to win the 2007 Badwater Ultra, photo courtesy of Chris Kostman)

There were plenty of stellar performances this year, as 78 of 84 starters finished officially in under 60 hours, and 65 received the coveted belt buckle for completing the course in under 48 hours. 100-miler ace Jorge Pacheco placed an impressive 4th, despite a meltdown around mile 100. Robin Smit, 70, of Fresno, CA, completed the race in 55:52:24 and became the second ever 70 year old to finish the race. He broke the 70+ age group record of 57:52:12 set by Jack Denness in 2005.

Local press are heralding their local finishers (and for good reason!). Click on these stories to read about Martin Franklin (Aspen, CO), Greg Pressler (Portland, OR), Todd Baum (Fayetteville, NC), Robin Smit (Fresno, CA), Jerry Vondruska (Bloomingdale, IL), and Lisa Smith-Batchen's double Badwater finish.

Results (full results here):

1. Valmir Nunes, m, 43, Santos, Sao Paulo 22:51:29
2. Akos Konya, m, 32, Oceanside, California 23:47:47
3. David Goggins, m, 32, Chula Vista, California 25:49:40
4. Jorge Pacheco, m, 39, Los Angeles, California 26:41:52
5. Charlie Engle, m, 44, Greensboro, North Carolina 27:42:32
6. Christian Fatton, m, 47, Noiraigue, Neuchatel 28:29:07
7. Albert Vallee, m, 48, Chauvigne, Brittany (Bretagne) 30:26:48
8. Blake Benke, m, 30, New York, New York 30:56:59
9. David Jones, m, 55, Eagleville, Tennessee 31:12:32
10. Dean Karnazes, m, 44, San Francisco, California 31:31:34
11. Adalberto Mendoza, m, 55, Burbank, California 32:02:23
12. Danny Westergaard, m, 48, Rolling Hills, California 32:22:58
13. Greg Pressler, m, 39, Portland, Oregon 32:51:20
14. Achim Heukemes, m, 55, Gaefenberg, Freistaat Bayern 33:02:42
15. John Radich, m, 53, Monrovia, California 33:08:58
16. Lisa Bliss, f, 39, Spokane, Washington 34:33:40
17. Eberhard Frixe, m, 57, Meine, Niedersachsen 35:09:58
18. Noora Alidina, f, 50, Palm Harbor, Florida 35:12:13
19. Gerhard Lusskandl, m, 37, Ober-Grafendorf, Niederoesterreich 36:52:56
20. Neil Runions, m, 49, Calgary, Alberta 37:24:01
21. Brian Kuhn, m, 33, Champaign, Illinois 37:25:52
22. Tracy Thomas, f, 45, Champaign, Illinois 37:26:44
23. John Rennison, m, 47, Hamilton, Ontario 37:30:49
24. Arthur Webb, m, 65, Santa Rosa,, California 37:48:35
25. Kim Rasmussen, m, 40, Allinge, 38:01:01
26. Anton Millar, m, 37, Bryanston, Gauteng 38:27:00
27. Henri Alain D'Andria, m, 57, Bouches du Rhone, 38:37:34
28. Tom Triumph, m, 49, Mountain Lakes, New Jersey 38:57:49
29. Tim Neckar, m, 45, Houston, Texas 39:08:40
30. Jerry C. Vondruska, m, 38, Bloomingdale, Illinois 39:27:58
31. Adam Lint, m, 24, Indiana, Pennsylvania 39:45:40
32. Bonnie Busch, f, 49, Bettendorf, Iowa 40:29:16
33. Todd Baum, m, 49, Fayatteville, New York 40:54:07
34. Nattu Natraj, m, 44, Lafayette, Colorado 41:00:54
35. Jamie Donaldson, f, 32, Littleton, Colorado 41:00:57
36. Pierre Ostor, m, 50, White Bear Lake, Minnesota 41:21:16
37. Jamie Huneycutt, f, 48, Fayetteville, Arkansas 41:24:10
38. Martin Franklin, m, 42, Aspen, Colorado 41:29:24
39. Klaus Neumann, m, 54, Stuttgart, Baden-Waerttemberg 41:38:21
40. Annie Monot, f, 58, Chalon sur Saone, 41:42:10
41. Gary Hilliard, m, 52, Sierra Madre, California 41:43:57
42. Marshall Ulrich, m, 56, Idaho Springs, Colorado 41:44:23
43. Lisa Smith-Batchen, f, 46, Jackson, Wyoming 41:54:17
44. Jonathan Gunderson, m, 29, San Francisco, California 42:08:51
45. Linda McFadden, f, 44, Modesto, California 42:30:13
46. Anita Marie Fromm, f, 36, Manitou Springs, Colorado 42:53:08
47. Dagmar Grossheim, f, 45, Gaefenberg, Freistaat Bayern 42:56:03
48. Brett Sublett, m, 41, Durango, Colorado 43:33:32
49. Chris Frost, m, 56, Malibu, California 43:41:23
50. Steve Teal, m, 41, Phelan, California 44:16:27
51. Frank McKinney, m, 44, Delray Beach, Florida 44:31:35
52. Barbara Elias, f, 45, Yuma, Arizona 44:40:15
53. Ludovic Chorgnon, m, 36, La Ville Aux Clercs, 44:54:09
54. Fred Pollard, m, 67, Brea, California 44:56:15
55. Peter Meyer, m, 69, Frankenthal, 45:01:46
56. Mark Cockbain, m, 35, East Hunsbury, Northampton 46:12:14
57. David Harper, m, 43, Clermont, Florida 46:13:35
58. Marianne Blangy, f, 44, Chaussin, Bourgogne 46:15:23
59. Philippe Grizard, m, 54, Chaussin, Bourgogne 46:15:23
60. Jack Humphrey, m, 50, Louisville, Colorado 46:18:12
61. Gabor Kozinc, m, 44, Pasadena, California 46:50:15
62. Frank (Jim) Ingalls, m, 62, Wichita Falls, Texas 46:54:57
63. Kent Moeller, m, 33, Tilst, 47:05:57
64. Dave Remington, m, 66, Spokane, Washington 47:12:30
65. Tim Kjenstad, m, 49, Henderson, Nevada 47:54:56
66. James Smith, m, 42, Superior, Colorado 48:18:28
67. Manoel de Jesus Mendes, m, 47, Brasilia, Distrito Federal 48:30:48
68. Jan Herrmann, m, 44, Gladesville, New South Wales 50:09:23
69. Dan Marinsik, m, 48, San Jose, California 50:45:45
70. Anne Langstaff, f, 46, Alpine, California 51:05:30
71. Scott Jacaway, m, 49, Downers Grove, Illinois 51:33:11
72. Kira Matukaitis, f, 30, Alexandria, Virginia 52:58:05
73. Erhard Weiss, m, 56, Siselen, 53:23:46
74. Ian Parker, m, 56, Irvine, California 53:26:44
75. Monica Otero, f, 51, St de Parnaiba, Sao Paulo 54:16:26
76. Nikki Seger, f, 45, Chicago, Illinois 54:20:30
77. Robin Smit, m, 70, Fresno, California 55:52:24
78. Stephen Hudgens, m, 51, Fort Worth, Texas 56:31:35