- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,198,388
- Reaction score
- 59
Fort Collins' annual Horsetooth Half Marathon returned April 19 for the 53rd edition of the popular race.
A cool but pleasant morning provided near-ideal conditions for runners under sunny skies. And that made for some fast times, including a new women's course record.
Nearly 2,000 runners finished the picturesque 13.1-mile course that traverses above Horsetooth Reservoir and along the Poudre River before ending near New Belgium Brewing.
Here are the winners and notable finishes from the 2026 Horsetooth Half Marathon.
The women's winner was a familiar name in NoCo running circles, and now she'll have some local bragging rights.
Fort Collins native and former Colorado State University runner Rachael Rudel shattered the Horsetooth Half Marathon women's record, finishing in 1 hour, 12 minutes and 29 seconds.
That shaved nearly 100 seconds off the previous women's course record of 1:14:08, set by back-to-back winner Betty Sigei in her 2024 victory.
This was a full circle moment for Rudel, who has run the Horsetooth Half several times and has fond memories with the race.
"It feels pretty amazing. This was the first half marathon I ever did back when I was 18, so it’s cool to do it in my hometown with people I love," Rudel told the Coloradoan.
More: See fastest winners in Fort Collins' annual Horsetooth Half Marathon
Rudel shot out the gate fast and was with the very first wave of runners up Monster Mountain.
She hit the halfway point in just over 37 minutes and needed only 35 minutes for the final 6.5-plus miles.
"I felt really good. The whole goal was to feel comfortable and push the flats. It was a great day condition-wise. Maybe a little hot at the end, but I felt really strong," Rudel said.
Rudel finished seventh in the overall race, the highest Horsetooth Half finish for the women's winner in at least the past decade. She finished nearly nine minutes ahead of women's runner-up Allie Schaich (Engelwood, 1:21:07).
This was a popular victory, with Rudel enjoying vocal and prominent support throughout the race and at the finish line.
Hugs flowed, smiles widened and the cheers came from seemingly every direction.
"I feel so much pride, but it’s a different feeling when you have people around you who truly care ... I had fans along the course, so many supporters and people I recognized on the course. It was special," Rudel said.
The 2017 CSU graduate ("Go Rams!" she said) didn't pick up running until college while battling celiac disease and blossomed into a strong distance performer for CSU.
Rudel has continued running at a high level, winning the 2019 Black Squirrel Trail Half women's title and the 2025 Lincoln Half, among others.
The 2012 Fort Collins High alumna is a founding member of the Front Range Elite team, a Fort Collins-based group of elite women's runners.
"Keep your eye out on the Front Range Elite. There’s some really, really fast women doing great things," she said. "Those girls, the team is everything to me. I may not still be out here running if it weren’t for them."
While Rudel's new course record wasn't a new personal-record time, it sets an exciting early tone for her 2026 season.
"It was a really good day and definitely my best on a course like this. This really makes me want to see what I can do at sea level now," Rudel said.
Another Northern Colorado runner took the overall title, as Loveland's Braden Nicholson won in 1:06:31, just 45 seconds off the overall course record.
Nicholson was third coming up Monster Mountain early and second by the halfway point before roaring home.
He overtook runner-up Andy Wacker (Boulder, 1:07:05) along the Poudre Trail portion and had a comfortable cushion down the home stretch to cross the finish line 34 seconds ahead.
Nicholson recently moved to Colorado after finishing his college career at North Central College. There, he was an All-American and two-time NCAA Division III champion in indoor track and field.
The Illinois native also joined Front Range Elite's recently started men's elite team, competing with some of Northern Colorado's top men's distance stars.
Denver's Brent Musselman placed third in 1:08:58, while former two-time Horsetooth Half champion Dominic Korir (2019, 2022) finished fourth in 1:09:49.
Fort Collins' Jayan Nitzsche rounded out the overall top five, taking fifth in 1:11:38.
TOP NOCO OVERALL FINISHERS:
TOP NOCO WOMEN'S FINISHERS:
OTHER WINNERS:
Full 2026 Horsetooth Half Marathon results can be found at: runsignup.com/Race/Results/80252.
Chris Abshire covers high school and community sports for the Coloradoan.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Fort Collins' Rachael Rudel shatters Horsetooth Half Marathon record
Continue reading...
A cool but pleasant morning provided near-ideal conditions for runners under sunny skies. And that made for some fast times, including a new women's course record.
Nearly 2,000 runners finished the picturesque 13.1-mile course that traverses above Horsetooth Reservoir and along the Poudre River before ending near New Belgium Brewing.
Here are the winners and notable finishes from the 2026 Horsetooth Half Marathon.
Fort Collins native, former CSU runner shatters women's record
The women's winner was a familiar name in NoCo running circles, and now she'll have some local bragging rights.
Fort Collins native and former Colorado State University runner Rachael Rudel shattered the Horsetooth Half Marathon women's record, finishing in 1 hour, 12 minutes and 29 seconds.
You must be registered for see images attach
That shaved nearly 100 seconds off the previous women's course record of 1:14:08, set by back-to-back winner Betty Sigei in her 2024 victory.
This was a full circle moment for Rudel, who has run the Horsetooth Half several times and has fond memories with the race.
"It feels pretty amazing. This was the first half marathon I ever did back when I was 18, so it’s cool to do it in my hometown with people I love," Rudel told the Coloradoan.
More: See fastest winners in Fort Collins' annual Horsetooth Half Marathon
Rudel shot out the gate fast and was with the very first wave of runners up Monster Mountain.
She hit the halfway point in just over 37 minutes and needed only 35 minutes for the final 6.5-plus miles.
"I felt really good. The whole goal was to feel comfortable and push the flats. It was a great day condition-wise. Maybe a little hot at the end, but I felt really strong," Rudel said.
Rudel finished seventh in the overall race, the highest Horsetooth Half finish for the women's winner in at least the past decade. She finished nearly nine minutes ahead of women's runner-up Allie Schaich (Engelwood, 1:21:07).
This was a popular victory, with Rudel enjoying vocal and prominent support throughout the race and at the finish line.
Hugs flowed, smiles widened and the cheers came from seemingly every direction.
"I feel so much pride, but it’s a different feeling when you have people around you who truly care ... I had fans along the course, so many supporters and people I recognized on the course. It was special," Rudel said.
You must be registered for see images attach
The 2017 CSU graduate ("Go Rams!" she said) didn't pick up running until college while battling celiac disease and blossomed into a strong distance performer for CSU.
Rudel has continued running at a high level, winning the 2019 Black Squirrel Trail Half women's title and the 2025 Lincoln Half, among others.
The 2012 Fort Collins High alumna is a founding member of the Front Range Elite team, a Fort Collins-based group of elite women's runners.
"Keep your eye out on the Front Range Elite. There’s some really, really fast women doing great things," she said. "Those girls, the team is everything to me. I may not still be out here running if it weren’t for them."
While Rudel's new course record wasn't a new personal-record time, it sets an exciting early tone for her 2026 season.
"It was a really good day and definitely my best on a course like this. This really makes me want to see what I can do at sea level now," Rudel said.
You must be registered for see images attach
Loveland's Nicholson wins 2026 Horsetooth Half overall title
Another Northern Colorado runner took the overall title, as Loveland's Braden Nicholson won in 1:06:31, just 45 seconds off the overall course record.
Nicholson was third coming up Monster Mountain early and second by the halfway point before roaring home.
He overtook runner-up Andy Wacker (Boulder, 1:07:05) along the Poudre Trail portion and had a comfortable cushion down the home stretch to cross the finish line 34 seconds ahead.
You must be registered for see images attach
Nicholson recently moved to Colorado after finishing his college career at North Central College. There, he was an All-American and two-time NCAA Division III champion in indoor track and field.
The Illinois native also joined Front Range Elite's recently started men's elite team, competing with some of Northern Colorado's top men's distance stars.
Denver's Brent Musselman placed third in 1:08:58, while former two-time Horsetooth Half champion Dominic Korir (2019, 2022) finished fourth in 1:09:49.
Fort Collins' Jayan Nitzsche rounded out the overall top five, taking fifth in 1:11:38.
Multiple Northern Colorado locals with top finishes
TOP NOCO OVERALL FINISHERS:
- Braden Nicholson, Loveland (1st, 1:06:32)
- Jayan Nitzsche, Fort Collins (5th, 1:11:38)
- Rachael Rudel, Fort Collins (7th, 1:12:29) (Women's winner)
- Evan Christopherson, Fort Collins (8th, 1:12:45)
- Josh Torres, Greeley (9th, 1:15:15)
- Leo Tornatzky, Fort Collins (12th, 1:17:43) (18U winner)
- Gavin McEwen, Fort Collins (14th, 1:18:54)
- Itai Bojdak-Yates, Fort Collins (15th, 1:19:51)
- Kreg Flowers, Fort Collins (16th, 1:20:14)
- Kosuke Amano, Fort Collins (18th, 1:21:14)
- Paul Peterson, Fort Collins (19th, 1:21:20)
- Ryan Doner, Fort Collins (20th, 1:21:32)
You must be registered for see images attach
TOP NOCO WOMEN'S FINISHERS:
- Rachael Rudel, Fort Collins (1st, 1:12:29) (New women's course record)
- AnnMarie Kirkpatrick, Fort Collins (3rd, 1:23:42) (Women's Masters winner)
- Sarah Anyan, Fort Collins (4th, 1:27:10)
- Lindsey Blehm, Fort Collins (5th, 1:27:23)
- Ivy Glade, Fort Collins (6th, 1:28:42)
- Kierann Toth, Fort Collins (7th, 1:28:47)
OTHER WINNERS:
- Men's Masters (40+): Shad Mika, Broomfield (1:17:23)
- Women's Masters (40+): AnnMarie Kirkpatrick, Fort Collins (1:23:42)
- Non-Binary Division: Callan Knebel, Fort Collins (1:31:47)
- Boys (18U): Leo Tornatzky, Fort Collins (1:17:43)
- Girls (18U): Brynleigh Firks, Fort Collins (1:57:08)
Full 2026 Horsetooth Half Marathon results can be found at: runsignup.com/Race/Results/80252.
You must be registered for see images attach
Chris Abshire covers high school and community sports for the Coloradoan.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Fort Collins' Rachael Rudel shatters Horsetooth Half Marathon record
Continue reading...
