As Brian Whitfield stood on the start line looking up at the Pikes Peak summit Saturday morning, he knew it would be a good day. 

He felt fit, healthy, and most of all, calm. 

In his third attempt at the race, Whitfield took the 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent overall title in a time of 2:13:31, a personal best for the 28-year-old. The Colorado native was three minutes ahead of Seth DeMoor, who placed second for the second consecutive year (2:16:48). 

“This year didn’t have that super high level of competition, just a lot of local elites, and looking at the start sheet, I was optimistic about my chances. But you never know,” Whitfield said. “I raced it smart and finished well. I’m proud of how I ran.”

No course records were broken this year, but conditions were nearly perfect Saturday morning. 

The key to Whitfield’s victory was staying patient through Barr Camp, although he felt confident from the start. 

“There’s a specific gait when you’re climbing, and when you’re having a good day, you can just feel it,” Whitfield said. “I love this type of effort because it’s still all gas, by no means a small effort.”

Since graduating from Western Colorado University, where he competed on the trail running team, Whitefield has competed as an elite runner all over the world. To take a win in his own backyard made his finish atop Pikes Peak stand above the rest. 

“It’s a lifelong dream, seeing him win,” Whitfield’s father, Bill, said. “He’s worked very, very hard, and he had it all together today. He said it felt like floating.”

As soon as he crossed the finish line, Whitfield immediately embraced his father, who is a large part of his support system as an unsponsored athlete. His support system is vast, demonstrated by the stream of runners who came up to congratulate the young champion. 

“I just wanted to get to the top safely,” Whitfield said, “I’m grateful to be healthy and be able to push my body. This is a bucket list event for many people, so to be young and fit is such a gift, so I don’t want to take it for granted. I love to use my body in this way. My mindset on the starting line was ‘don’t waste the day.’”

Former Colorado State runner Sarah Carter takes the women’s title 

Another young runner, 26-year-old Sarah Carter, took the women’s title in a time of 2:46:49. It was Carter’s first time not just racing the Ascent, but running Barr Trail at all. 

No records were broken Saturday, but it was still a competitive race for the women’s title, until the last stretch. 

Carter and Alicia Vargo, 43, were back and forth along Barr Trail until around a mile and a half to the summit when Carter pulled away. 

“I went in blind,” Carter said. “The hardest part was a mile to go. I was seeing stars. It was a really cool challenge.”

A Colorado State alum, Carter is a new professional runner who lives and trains in Boulder and has been dominating the trails for the past 15 months. With 70 miles of racing in August, Carter wasn’t sure what Saturday would bring.

“I’m feeling a bit beat up, so I wanted to put my health first, and if that came with a win, I would be and am very excited about that,” Carter said. “But I also just wanted to be able to have this experience. There is something special about racing in the place you call home.”

While here for race weekend, Carter was able to connect with Pikes Peak legends, including Donna Messenger, who wanted a picture with Carter upon finishing as the first female. 

“It feels good to be that next up and coming generation of trail runners to carry on the legacy that people like her built in the sport,” Carter said. “How cool to meet someone who was the forerunner of what I got to do today. I hope to be doing the same in a few decades.”