Broken Arrow Skyrace Ascent: Flanigan Stands Alone in M75-79

• Sole finisher and champion: James Flanigan, 76, of Davis, CA completed the Ascent in 1:25:59 — the only athlete to toe the line and finish in M75-79.
• Final segment: Flanigan posted the 30th-fastest men's split on the KT 22→Finish stretch, a meaningful benchmark in a field of finishers across all ages.
• Pace at altitude: A 23:49/mi average across a course climbing to nearly 8,845 ft reflects the genuine demands of high-elevation skyrunning — this is rugged, technical mountain terrain, not a road.

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There's only one way to win M75-79 at the Broken Arrow Skyrace Ascent: show up, and finish. James Flanigan did both. The 76-year-old from Davis, CA crossed the line in 1:25:59, claiming the top spot in his field as its sole representative — and that should not diminish what he did out there.

The course runs between roughly 6,257 and 8,845 feet above sea level, and Davis sits in the Central Valley at essentially sea level. Whether Flanigan arrived acclimatized or not, he navigated thin air, technical footing, and a climb that challenges athletes half his age. His 23:49/mi average tells the story of a course that demands respect, not a runner who didn't push.

On the final KT 22→Finish segment, Flanigan recorded the 30th-fastest men's split on that stretch — a concrete data point that places his closing effort in real context among the broader men's field. He didn't just survive the finish; he moved through it.

At 76, finishing a skyrace at altitude is the headline. Flanigan wrote it himself.