Ákos Kónya

About

Hungarian ultramarathon runner born in 1974 and raised in Kecskemét, Hungary, now based in Oceanside, California. He began running at age 12, competed in track through high school, and completed his first marathon at 15; after knee surgery in 2001 forced a two-year layoff, he shifted from speed-based racing to ultramarathons. He emerged as a top contender at the 2006 Badwater Ultramarathon, leading for much of the race at record pace before fading to 2nd, and repeated 2nd-place finishes there in 2007 and 2008. He won the Lean Horse 100-Mile in South Dakota in 2007, setting a course record, and won it again in 2009. In November 2007 he won the U.S. 24 Hour National Championship outright with 146.25 miles, though as a non-U.S. citizen he was ineligible for the title itself.

Notable Wins

• — Lean Horse 100-Mile winner (course record) 2007
• — Lean Horse 100-Mile winner 2009
• — U.S. 24 Hour National Championship overall winner (ineligible for title) 2007
• — Badwater Ultramarathon 2nd 2006
• — Badwater Ultramarathon 2nd 2007
• — Badwater Ultramarathon 2nd 2008