The final stage of the Desert Ultra was a grueling 20km stretch through the heart of Namibia’s vast desert landscape. Starting at 4 am, runners faced a tough 5km sand dune climb before sunrise, then traversed rugged mountain passes, wildlife-rich plains, and volcanic craters under the blazing sun. With temperatures soaring to 45°C, relentless high winds, and minimal shade, this final leg tested the limits of human endurance.
The stage offered spectacular sights, including Hyena Rock, where a signal fire guided runners through the darkness. For many, this was the ultimate challenge after days of exhaustion, but the sense of camaraderie and determination carried them through to the remote rhino conservation outpost that marks the finish line.
Jon Shield dominated the Men’s race from start to finish, completing the final stage in 10:14:00. His consistent pace and determination secured his victory with an overall time of 27:39:00, just two hours off the course record, a fitting end to his incredible performance throughout the event.
In the Women’s category, Carla Andre displayed unshakable strength, finishing the final stage in 12:58:00. Her total time of 34:13:00 earned her a well-deserved spot as the first female finisher and overall runner-up.
Carlos Constantino pushed hard to claim second in the Men’s Race, completing the stage in 12:27:00 for a total of 35:43:00. His tenacity paid off as he narrowly edged out a slowing Kasper Fisker, who held onto Third despite strong challenges, finishing the stage in 14:00:00.
In the women’s race, Rosanna Morani faced similar pressure but held her ground, completing the stage in 16:08:00 to take second place among the Women with a total time of 40:48:00. Rosanna was in pieces when she crossed the line, putting herself to hell and back to finish the race. Rose Blackie (3rd female) and Lauren Gregory (4th female) crossed the finish line together, with identical stage times of 15:38:00. Their total times of 42:13:00 and 43:05:00, respectively, reflected their grit and teamwork during tough stretches.
Notable Performances
- David Nicolas (5th overall, 4th male) demonstrated consistent determination across all stages. Despite slowing slightly in the final stretch (14:39:00), the Frenchman maintained his position with a total time of 40:20:00.
- Harry Edmonds (7th overall, 5th male) fought through the punishing conditions to finish in 14:58:00, bringing his total time to 41:25:00. Harry completes his third BTU Ultra of the year, with Jungle and Mountain finishes already under his belt.
- Naude Dreyer (10th overall, 6th male) showcased resilience, finishing the stage in 14:36:00 and completing the race with a total time of 43:31:00. His steady pacing earned him a top-10 spot just ahead of his cousin Naude Muller, a fellow Namibian that finished in 47:49:00.
- Kim Sonntag (18th overall, 5th female) completed her remarkable journey with a total time of 50:15:00, braving the extreme conditions and staying strong throughout the event. She was welcomed by her family at the finish line.
This year’s Desert Ultra saw a high number of DNFs, a harsh reminder of the unforgiving environment. More than one third of the field either took the short course or didn’t finish the race. Many participants showed incredible courage but were unable to finish the race. For those who crossed the line, this was more than just a physical challenge—it was a testament to their mental fortitude and the indomitable human spirit.
As the sun set over the rhino conservation outpost, runners, volunteers, and crew celebrated the end of an extraordinary journey. Each participant left with unforgettable memories of the Namibian desert, a deeper understanding of their limits, and the pride of being part of one of the toughest ultras in the world.
This has been the Desert Ultra.
Follow us to adventure.
BTU Team
| Name | Gender | Overall Position | Gender Position | Stage 1 Time | Stage 2 Time | Stage 3 Time | Stage 4 Time | Stage 5 Time | Overall Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jon Shield | Male | 1 | 1 | 4:36:00 | 5:39:00 | 4:42:00 | 2:28:00 | 10:14:00 | 27:39:00 |
| Carla Andre | Female | 2 | 1 | 5:55:00 | 6:50:00 | 5:27:00 | 3:03:00 | 12:58:00 | 34:13:00 |
| Carlos Constantino | Male | 3 | 2 | 7:36:00 | 7:11:00 | 5:37:00 | 2:52:00 | 12:27:00 | 35:43:00 |
| Kasper Fisker | Male | 4 | 3 | 6:31:00 | 7:04:00 | 6:09:00 | 2:58:00 | 14:00:00 | 36:42:00 |
| David Nicolas | Male | 5 | 4 | 7:31:00 | 7:46:00 | 6:59:00 | 3:25:00 | 14:39:00 | 40:20:00 |
| Rosanna Morani | Female | 6 | 1 | 6:51:00 | 7:30:00 | 6:42:00 | 3:37:00 | 16:08:00 | 40:48:00 |
| Harry Edmonds | Male | 7 | 5 | 8:45:00 | 8:17:00 | 6:08:00 | 3:17:00 | 14:58:00 | 41:25:00 |
| Rose Blackie | Female | 8 | 3 | 6:53:00 | 8:30:00 | 6:50:00 | 4:22:00 | 15:38:00 | 42:13:00 |
| Lauren Gregory | Female | 9 | 4 | 7:59:00 | 7:58:00 | 7:08:00 | 4:22:00 | 15:38:00 | 43:05:00 |
| Naude Dreyer | Male | 10 | 6 | 8:12:00 | 9:04:00 | 7:46:00 | 3:53:00 | 14:36:00 | 43:31:00 |
| Naude Muller | Male | 11 | 7 | 8:12:00 | 9:13:00 | 7:31:00 | 4:18:00 | 18:35:00 | 47:49:00 |
| David Callan | Male | 12 | 8 | 9:11:00 | 8:28:00 | 7:42:00 | 4:39:00 | 17:58:00 | 47:58:00 |
| Hahmed Shafiq | Male | 13 | 9 | 7:45:00 | 8:30:00 | 7:39:00 | 4:09:00 | 20:05:00 | 48:08:00 |
| Theis Brydegaard | Male | 14 | 10 | 8:08:00 | 9:29:00 | 8:25:00 | 4:46:00 | 17:24:00 | 48:12:00 |
| Ryan Young | Male | 15 | 11 | 8:10:00 | 9:07:00 | 7:16:00 | 3:53:00 | 20:01:00 | 48:27:00 |
| Emmanuel VALENTI | Male | 16 | 12 | 8:26:00 | 9:09:00 | 8:31:00 | 4:44:00 | 18:59:00 | 49:49:00 |
| Emmanuel Brunner | Male | 17 | 13 | 9:45:00 | 11:14:00 | 9:57:00 | 3:52:00 | 15:18:00 | 50:06:00 |
| Kim Sonntag | Female | 18 | 5 | 9:10:00 | 9:09:00 | 8:47:00 | 4:38:00 | 18:31:00 | 50:15:00 |
| Kasper Kirkegaard | Male | 19 | 14 | 9:28:00 | 9:50:00 | 8:50:00 | 4:46:00 | 17:58:00 | 50:52:00 |
| Peter Magill | Male | 20 | 15 | 10:04:00 | 10:00:00 | 7:26:00 | 5:21:00 | 18:35:00 | 51:26:00 |
| Nick Watson | Male | 21 | 16 | 9:19:00 | 9:51:00 | 8:33:00 | 4:59:00 | 18:52:00 | 51:34:00 |
| Ioana Barbu | Female | SC | SC | 7:22:00 | 8:11:00 | 7:12:00 | 3:54:00 | SC | SC |
| Juanma Jordan | Male | SC | SC | 10:05:00 | 11:30:00 | 9:59:00 | 5:36:00 | SC | SC |
| Kevin Walton | Male | SC | SC | 8:03:00 | 8:50:00 | 7:49:00 | 4:34:00 | SC | SC |
| Marianne Kleist | Female | SC | SC | 9:45:00 | 10:24:00 | 9:31:00 | 5:34:00 | SC | SC |
| Peter Kleist | Male | SC | SC | 9:45:00 | 10:24:00 | 9:31:00 | 5:34:00 | SC | SC |
| Alexander Davydov | Male | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
| Amy Turner | Female | DNF | DNF | 9:46:00 | 9:55:00 | 9:50:00 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
| Carly Stretton | Female | DNF | DNF | 8:48:00 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
| Hannah Goldring | Female | DNF | DNF | 7:17:00 | 8:49:00 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
| James Adams | Male | DNF | DNF | 6:26:00 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
| Marshall Maine | Male | DNF | DNF | 6:44:00 | 8:11:00 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
| Nico Scholtz | Male | DNF | DNF | 8:05:00 | 9:57:00 | 8:35:00 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
| Robert Tęcza | Male | DNF | DNF | 8:49:00 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
| Sharif Owadally | Male | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
| SC = Short Course | |||||||||
| DNF = Did not finish on one, or multiple stages | |||||||||
