Last summer, Summit County resident Jacob Skraba completed his first running race over 50-kilometers, conquering one of the most challenging ultramarathons in the U.S. in the Leadville 100. 

At first, Skraba was satisfied with placing 11th overall in a time of 20 hours, 54 minutes and 50 seconds, but soon reflected further on the performance and felt like he could have gotten more out of himself in the race. Wanting a second shot to prove what he can do on the humbling Leadville 100 course, Skraba entered the lottery system for this year’s race, but did not gain entry.

Although Skraba failed to make it into the race via the lottery system, he remained committed to returning to the start line of the ultramarathon, signing up for a Leadville Race Series qualifying event — the Leadville Trail Marathon — on Saturday, June 29.

“The main goal for running it was to get a coin to get entry into this year’s Leadville 100,” Skraba said. “After racing the 100 last year, I still had some more that I could do in that race — on that course. I tried to get in on the lottery this year and I didn’t make it, so I figured I would try my hand at racing my way in.”

The Leadville Race Series provides alternate paths for runners to qualify for the Leadville 100 if they fail to make it into the race via the lottery selection system. Prospective Leadville 100 athletes can either attempt to finish at the top of their age-group or before the allocated cutoff time at one of the three offered qualifier races.

Half of the qualifying spots will be allocated based on the top age-group performances and the other half will be drawn in a lottery among runners who have finished a qualifier race within the allocated cutoff time.  

With the goal of attaining a Leadville 100 qualifying coin, Skraba started the challenging, Leadville Trail Marathon race course out strong, but made sure to properly pace himself as he took on the 26.4-mile, out-and-back course.

With a base of hilly, Summit County trail runs under his belt, Skraba leaned on his fitness as he worked up the major hills along the course and sat comfortably in third place through the majority of the first half of the race.

“I switched off between third and fourth during the first couple of miles,” Skraba said. “I was aware I was positioned that high, but at the end of the day, position placement was not top of mind for me. I didn’t go in with the goal of winning. The goal was strictly to get the coin for the 100 and if a win came out of that, so be it.”

Knowing he was in a good spot, Skraba remained complacent with his positioning in the race until he reached the peak of the course on Mosquito Pass at 13,185 feet. 

“I was looking forward to hitting the top and turning around so I could bomb down from the top of Mosquito Pass,” Skraba said. 

Skraba estimates that it was during the first mile or two of running downhill that he says he took over the lead of the race. As the town of Leadville grew closer, Skraba continued to display his strength in running fast downhill on uneven, technical trail.

Skraba maintained his lead at the front until a decently steep climb around mile 20 allowed Boulder’s Moises Jimenez to pull even with the Silverthorne resident. With around 10-kilometers left in the race, Skraba and Jimenez ran alongside one another for a couple of miles until Skraba decided it was time for him to make a final push to the finish line.

The final effort was enough for Skraba to cross the finish line as the champion of the 2024 Leadville Trail Marathon in a time of 3:47:12. Jimenez followed in second in 3:48:06, with Fruita’s Max Robinson taking third in 3:48:45. 

By placing first overall, Skraba successfully achieved his goal of gaining entry into the 2024 Leadville Trail 100, which will take place in a little over a month on August 17. 

“I was just stoked,” Skraba said. “I had so much fun with that race. Especially since I was not expecting or planning to win. I have placed pretty highly at a lot of races, but wins are not always guaranteed. Having put in so much work to try to get back into the 100, there was a lot of emotion there. … Finally having that doubt and uncertainty lifted was super gratifying.” 

Since winning the marathon, Skraba has enjoyed a week of low activity, allowing his body to recuperate from the effort before resuming training. In terms of the upcoming Leadville Trail 100, Skraba hopes to test his limits against a field of talented competitors.

“It is going to be a competitive race again this year,” Skraba said. “I know a lot of the people who are going to be at the front of the field, so being able to test myself against them, especially at that longer distance. With last year being my only 100, there is still some uncertainty there in terms of exactly what I can do. I just want to push to see what is possible.”

Two other Summit County runners also finished within the top 100 of the Leadville Trail Marathon. Frisco’s Eric Broecker took 37th overall in 4:37:59 and Breckenridge’s Andrew Steele took 71st in 5:01:19. 

For a full list of results, visit LeadvilleRaceSeries.com.