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Justin Poehnelt
WAITLIST ACTIVE July 18, 2026
The Cherokee

Waucheesi Challenge

Tellico Plains, TN
Other Distances: 130k70k
Field Strength
-
2 Elite (90+)
Total Entrants
33
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.

View Race Details

Field Strength

Field Strength
-%
Rank of 20th
Median Rank
72.5%
90+
2
80-89
3
60-79
3
<60
5
New
20
Elite Runners (90+)
Count
2
+0.8 vs avg
% of Field
6.1%
+5.0% vs avg

About rankings: Stats based on 13 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: 13 with <5 finishes, 7 unranked

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

Registration Analysis

Total Entrants
33
Ranked Runners
13
Field Size Meter
Smallest (50) Largest (200)

Field

Top Men

Rank Score
CS
Christopher Swindell
5 results
Locust Grove, GA
94.2%
JB
Jake Baker
16 results
Huntsville, AL
72.5%
JC
John Cogburn
9 results
Maryville, TN
59.9%
AP
Alex Padgett
11 results
JACKSBORO, TN
58.2%
CS
Clint Simmons
44 results
Toccoa, GA
56.9%