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Justin Poehnelt
WAITLIST ACTIVE July 18, 2026
The Cherokee

130k

Tellico Plains, TN
Other Distances: 70kWaucheesi Challenge
Field Strength
73.0%
2 Elite (90+)
Total Entrants
40
Registered Runners

The Cherokee is a premier mountain ultramarathon held in Tellico Plains, Tennessee, that takes runners through the technical terrain and dense wilderness of the Cherokee National Forest. Spanning distances up to 130K with over 19,000 feet of elevation gain, it is a grueling 'rite of passage' that tests physical grit against a backdrop of ancient Appalachian history.

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Field Strength

Field Strength
73.0%
Rank of 20th
+6.0%
Median Rank
75.1%
90+
2
80-89
8
60-79
22
<60
1
New
7
Elite Runners (90+)
Count
2
+0.8 vs avg
% of Field
5.0%
+3.9% vs avg

About rankings: Stats based on 33 runners with 5+ UltraSignup finishes.

Field Strength is the UltraSignup rank of the 20th strongest qualified runner—a higher value indicates greater depth of talent.

Excluded: 6 with <5 finishes, 1 unranked

90+ = Elite • 80-89 = Strong • 60-79 = Experienced • <60 = Developing

Registration Analysis

Total Entrants
40
Ranked Runners
33
Field Size Meter
Smallest (50) Largest (200)

Field

Top Men

Rank Score
GL
Garrett Laethem
9 results
Canton, GA
89.7%
JB
James Barnard
82 results
Oak Ridge, TN
86.1%
ZA
Zach Allen
63 results
Oakland, TN
82.3%
KK
Kyle Kalbus
70 results
Charlotte, NC
81.7%
RB
Robert Berry
37 results
Somerville, TN
81.5%