Just a couple of hours after winning his second Southern States 200, James Ebert was relaxing with a couple of pizzas in front of him. The buzz at Bald Rock Lodge atop Mount Cheaha was two-fold: Ebert’s sparkling win in a smidge over two days of running, and taking care of the rest of the field still on the trail.
Typical race stuff, right? Sort of. Ebert clinched his second Southern States 200 title going away, winning in two days, 4 hours, 44 minutes. So there was plenty of cause for a big buzz.
Before the event, Ebert told TVO he knew some other 200-milers were in the field but knew anything could happen.
“Last year I spent a lot of time looking through UltraSignup and then it all shuffled around during the first day so I didn’t spend too much time forecasting this year,” he said. “A few folks have done other 200’s so they’re the ones I’ll be expecting to see out front. But 200 is a long way, and a lot can happen. My trainings been good; not coming off an injury this year so that’s nice. All in all I’m just excited to get out in the woods and enjoy it.”
As of 9 p.m. Friday, defending women’s champ Ashlie Ithurburn of Birmingham had completed about 170 miles. Coree Woltering of Maine, Ebert’s closest pursuer, was at about 185 miles.
Eberts cumulative elevation gain was 20,183 feet. His “moving time” was 1 day, 18 hours, 47 minutes, and his “stopped time” at aid stations was 9 hours, 48 minutes. His average moving speed was 4.7 mph.
UPDATE
As of 8 p.m. Saturday 3/22 — Ashlie Ithurburn won the women’s division and was third overall, crossing the line Saturday a little after 11 a.m. with a strong finish.
Ithurburn averaged about 65 miles per day, with a moving time of 1 day, 23 hours, 32 minutes and stopped time of 23 hours 44 minutes.
About the Event
The Southern States 200-mile field had 52 entrants, a dozen more than last year’s field. Another three dozen on Friday started the inaugural 100-miler. It began at Rolater Park in Cave Spring, Ga., at mile 99.64 of the 200-mile run. The 100 will finish on top of Mount Cheaha along with the 200-mile finishers. Cutoff for the 100 is 44 hours.
The 200-mile field started Wednesday at noon in Dalton, Ga. It is one of only three 200-mile point-to-point mountain trail races in the United States. Mount Cheaha is the highest natural point in Alabama. Runners in the Southern States 200 and 100 events finish by climbing the final mile-ish up the mountain to the finish line at Bald Rock Lodge at Cheaha State Park.
Follow the 200-mile here via live tracking. The Southern States events are put on by Southeastern Trail Runs.
MAIN PHOTO: James Ebert (front) crosses the finish line at the 2025 Southern States 200 on Friday, May 21, at Mount Cheaha State Park in Delta, Ala. Photo by Pete Schreiner / Schreiner Trail Photography
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This story will be updated with more information.
