The uphill race to Washeshu Peak, the U.S. Mountain Running (uphill) Championship and a Mountain Running World Cup race. Known as the Vertical Kilometer (VK) through 2024, renamed the Ascent in 2025.
Distance
5.8km
Elevation Gain
865m+
Race Winners
Historical winners of Ascent
2026
(June 19)(Ascent)
Men
Patrick Kipngeno
🇰🇪
0:37:59
Women
Anna Gibson
🇺🇸
0:43:15
3.6 miles / 2,840 ft up Washeshu Peak; both repeat
winners. Gibson edged Joyce Muthoni Njeru on the final
ladder.
2025
(June 20)(Ascent)
Men
Christian Allen
🇺🇸
0:23:49
Women
Anna Gibson
🇺🇸
0:27:32
Shortened to 2.15 miles / 1,800 ft due to gale-force
winds.
2024
(June 21)(Vertical Kilometer)
Men
Patrick Kipngeno
🇰🇪
0:36:11
Women
Event record for Njeru; Mountain Running World Cup
season-opener.
2023
(June 16)(Vertical Kilometer)
Men
Andrea Rostan
🇮🇹
0:39:51
Women
Anna Gibson
🇺🇸
0:47:09
Run almost entirely on snow.
2022
(June 17)(Vertical Kilometer)
Men
Cam Smith
🇺🇸
0:42:25
Women
Allie McLaughlin
🇺🇸
0:48:46
2021
(Vertical Kilometer)
Men
Darren Thomas
🇺🇸
0:45:08
Women
Allie McLaughlin
🇺🇸
0:54:24
Held in the fall after the June edition was postponed.
2019
(June 21)(Vertical Kilometer)
Men
Max King
🇺🇸
0:42:46
Women
Morgan Arritola
🇺🇸
0:45:50
Women's event record.
2018
(June 15)(Vertical Kilometer)
Men
Ryan Phebus
🇺🇸
0:41:16
Women
Morgan Arritola
🇺🇸
0:46:04
First edition; women's course record.