Perpetua Coast 2026: archived pre-race championship field notes
Perpetua Coast’s 3–4 October race weekend has ended. These notes retain the published entries and background for the 3 October USATF 50K Trail Championships.
From the archive: first published on 30 October 2026. These notes were prepared before the 3–4 October race weekend and updated on 5 October. They preserve the pre-race view; the races are now past.
Status checked 5 October 2026: Daybreak Racing’s schedule placed the 50K championship and 20 mile race on Saturday 3 October, followed by the half marathon and 10K on Sunday 4 October. The race weekend has ended. These pre-race notes describe the published entries and earlier form, rather than confirmed starters or 2026 results.
The published 50K schedule gave an 8am local Pacific Time start in Yachats, with about 5,700 feet of ascent. The course combined forest, beach and ocean views. Changing terrain and the concentration required in the later miles were central to our pre-race assessment.
Liam Meirow, Dylan Flewelling and Blake Slattengren were among the stronger men on the published entry list. Slattengren’s record included second at the 2023 Javelina Jundred and 11th at Western States in 2024. Those longer performances were evidence of competitive durability, though they did not predict a 50K result.
Holly Dufek and Jessica Watychowicz sat prominently in the women’s entry rankings, with Heather Holt another name on our pre-race watchlist. Those UltraSignup ratings were useful pointers, not predictions. At the draft’s original check, Dufek’s displayed score drew on two listed results and Watychowicz’s on one, so a perfect percentage was not a complete form guide.
Our pre-race men’s watchlist began with Meirow, Flewelling and Slattengren. The women’s announced contest also drew interest from those different backgrounds. National championship eligibility remained a separate matter from simply appearing on the event entry list.
The 20 mile race shared Saturday’s schedule, with the half marathon and 10K listed for Sunday. All of those dates have passed. The organiser links to results for the weekend; these field notes preserve the background rather than claiming how any entrant finished.