EmKay Sullivan

About

EmKay Sullivan is an American ultrarunner and former Division I track and field athlete from Arkansas who competed for the University of Nevada in the 3,000m steeplechase, earning All-American honours and setting school records in the indoor 3,000m, indoor 5,000m, outdoor steeplechase, and outdoor 5,000m. After a post-collegiate career as a USTFCCCA-certified strength coach and cross country coach at Nevada — where she helped build the men's programme from scratch and coached an American junior marathon record holder — she transitioned fully to trail and ultra racing. She qualified for the 2020 US Olympic Trials Marathon in her debut marathon and placed fourth at the Way Too Cool 50K in her ultra debut in 2019. A CRAFT-sponsored athlete based in Reno, Nevada, she delivered her breakthrough ultra performance at the 2024 Canyons Endurance Run by UTMB — finishing second in the women's 100km race in Auburn, California to earn one of the final Golden Ticket entries to the Western States 100 — before publicly declining the ticket, a decision that drew significant discussion across the trail running community about athlete autonomy and race priorities.

Notable Wins

• — Canyons by UTMB 100k 2nd 2024 (Western States Golden Ticket)

Race History