Graham Cooper

About

Graham Cooper is an American ultrarunner from Oakland, California, best known for winning the 2006 Western States Endurance Run and the race's Robie Cup. He crossed the line in 18:17:27 behind early finisher Brian Morrison, who was later disqualified after race officials ruled he had received physical assistance from spectators while collapsing repeatedly from hyponatremia in the final 300 meters — making Cooper the official champion. Cooper started running at age 9, completed the San Francisco Marathon at 13 in 3:24, and built a dual identity as both an ultrarunner and a triathlete, eyeing Ultraman (double Ironman distance) events and posting sub-10-hour Ironman finishes alongside his trail results. He has logged 44 results in the UltraRunning Magazine database across a long competitive career, and famously finished his 2006 Western States win holding hands with his two young children at the line.

Notable Wins

• — Western States Endurance Run 2006 (Robie Cup)

Race History