Rachael Rudel Sets New Women's Record at Horsetooth Half Marathon
Fort Collins' own Rachael Rudel breaks Horsetooth Half women's record
Yahoo! NewsImage: Yahoo! News
Rachael Rudel, a Fort Collins native and former Colorado State University runner, set a new women's record at the 2026 Horsetooth Half Marathon, finishing in 1 hour, 12 minutes, and 29 seconds. This achievement marks a significant milestone for Rudel, who has a deep connection to the race, having participated in it since her teenage years.
- 01Rachael Rudel set a new women's course record of 1:12:29, breaking the previous record by nearly 100 seconds.
- 02Braden Nicholson won the overall title with a time of 1:06:31, just 45 seconds shy of the course record.
- 03Rudel's performance placed her seventh overall, the highest finish for a women's winner in the past decade.
- 04The race saw nearly 2,000 participants, showcasing a vibrant local running community.
- 05Rudel's victory is a testament to her growth as a runner, overcoming challenges like celiac disease.
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The 2026 Horsetooth Half Marathon, held on April 19 in Fort Collins, Colorado, saw Rachael Rudel break the women's course record with a time of 1 hour, 12 minutes, and 29 seconds. This achievement surpassed the previous record of 1:14:08 set by Betty Sigei in 2024. Rudel, a Fort Collins native and former Colorado State University runner, expressed her joy, noting the race's significance in her life as her first half marathon at age 18. She finished seventh overall, the best performance by a women's winner in the event's recent history, and was nearly nine minutes ahead of the runner-up, Allie Schaich, who clocked in at 1:21:07. Braden Nicholson from Loveland won the overall race in 1:06:31, just 45 seconds off the course record. The event attracted nearly 2,000 runners, highlighting the strong local running community and the support Rudel received throughout the race.
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Rudels's record-breaking performance may inspire local runners and boost participation in future events.
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