PALM SPRINGS, CA (October 28, 2017) The winner of today’s 32nd Annual Palm Springs Aerial Tram Road Challenge was JJ Santana who ran the “World’s Toughest 6K” in 29 minutes, 24 seconds. The first female to cross the finish line was Marina Orrson in 34 minutes, 09 seconds. Austin Redwine, age 6, finished first in the youngest category (6 and under) and Anthony Silva, age 85, finished first in the oldest category (85-89).
This year’s Female and Male Challenge Division Winners are:
| Age Groups | Name | City | Time |
| 6 and under | Austin Redwine | — | 01:18:40 |
| 7-10 | Radai Cruz | — | 00:59:11 |
| Richard Olivares | — | 00:39:42 | |
| 11-14 | Madelyn Stone | — | 00:56:40 |
| Ricardo Franco | — | 00:34:35 | |
| 15-19 | Franka Johne | — | 00:49:56 |
| William Beyma | La Quinta | 00:40:02 | |
| 20-24 | Harlie Morales | Yucca Valley | 00:50:51 |
| David Coppens | Mishawaka | 00:35:10 | |
| 25-29 | Alex Carrera | — | 00:40:09 |
| Ryan Mills | San Diego | 00:37:45 | |
| 30-34 | Samantha Stringham | Palm Desert | 00:37:45 |
| John Martino | Dallas | 00:35:54 | |
| 35-39 | Shaela Luter-Plunkett | La Quinta | 00:43:25 |
| Mark Tripp | Redondo Beach | 00:31:33 | |
| 40-44 | Miwa Kawai | Aliso Viejo | 00:43:38 |
| Brian Ansely | Palm Desert | 00:37:26 | |
| 45-49 | Sherry Ewing | — | 00:49:14 |
| Simon Cooper | Glendora | 00:35:27 | |
| 50-54 | Maria Himelman | Rancho Mirage | 00:49:14 |
| Anthony Tanner | — | 00:34:53 | |
| 55-59 | Kathi Garcin | — | 00:51:47 |
| David Guss | — | 00:33:49 | |
| 60-64 | Mo Mittelstaedt | Port Angeles | 00:53:28 |
| Kevin Prochaska | — | 00:41:42 | |
| 65-69 | Paula Goldfarb | Rancho Mirage | 00:55:02 |
| Greg Odonnell | Pahrump | 00:37:00 | |
| 70-74 | Lola Ackerman | Beaumont | 01:01:11 |
| Keith Culver | — | 00:48:28 | |
| 75-79 | Anna Maddan | Palm Desert | 01:32:34 |
| Hans Mueller-Gesser | Palm Springs | 01:06:12 | |
| 80-84 | Suzi Falco | Palm Desert | 01:08:31 |
| 85-89 | Lucy Brown | — | 01:34:02 |
| Anthony Silva | — | 01:31:41 |
The first Tram Road Challenge was held in 1983, and was won by Rob Slick in 27 minutes, 35 seconds and Nancy Baird in 35 minutes, 25 seconds. The fastest men’s time was set by Rubin Garcia of Mexico—26 minutes, 5 seconds—in 1987. Lubov Kremleva of Russia set the fastest women’s time—28 minutes, 56 seconds in 1998.
Over 1,200 runners and walkers participated in this year’s Tram Road Challenge, which, again, benefitted United Way of the Desert.
