Athlete Announcement: Kelly Staunton Joins Highland Fuel Nutrition
Every ultra runner has a story. For some it’s about one defining race, but for others it’s about a steady climb through some of the UK’s most brutal courses — stacking results, learning with each finish, and proving themselves year after year.
That’s Kelly Staunton.
Running with Wigan Harriers AC, Kelly has built a reputation for toughness across distances from 50km to 100km+, with performances that show not just speed, but consistency in wildly different terrains and conditions. With a UTMB Index of 553 (100K) and 514 (50K), she’s ranked among the UK’s strongest women in the 20–34 category — and her results show exactly why.
The Breakthroughs
Kelly’s 2023 season put her on the map. She took 1st Female at the Snowdon Ultra (76 km, 3880 m+) and followed it up with 2nd Female at Ultra Wales (80 km, 3394 m+). Back-to-back mountain ultras, both on unforgiving terrain, both executed with the composure of a far more experienced athlete.
That set the tone for 2024, where she proved she wasn’t just a one-season wonder. At the Ultra Scotland 50 (88.6 km) she stormed to 2nd Female, 9th Overall, before bagging another podium at the Pennine Barrier 50 (80.5 km) with 2nd Female, 41st Overall. Add in strong top-10 finishes at Snowdon Ultra, Ultra Wales, and the Glasgow to Edinburgh Ultra, and it was clear Kelly had established herself as a consistent front-runner in deep fields.
Taking on 2025
This year she’s already raised the bar. In January, Kelly tackled the notorious Montane Winter Spine Sprint (77 km, 2019 m+) — a race infamous for testing even the most seasoned ultra runners with cold, wind, and night miles. She delivered a superb result: 4th Female, 16th Overall. Then in May, she went long at the Skye Trail Ultra – Race Across the Isle of Skye (122 km, 3900 m+), finishing 3rd Female, 16th Overall after over 21 hours on foot.
These results show a runner equally at home in shorter technical races and long, grinding mountain ultras — an adaptability that will serve her as she continues climbing the UK rankings.
Why We’re Backing Kelly
Podium proven – Snowdon Ultra win, multiple 2nd-place finishes across Wales and Scotland.
Versatility across terrains – from the flat but fast G2E Ultra to the relentless climbing of Skye.
Consistency – not just flashes of brilliance, but a string of strong results over multiple years.
Mental resilience – from summer heat to winter Spine conditions, Kelly delivers.
Built for Endurance
Kelly Staunton represents the exact spirit we look for at Highland Fuel Nutrition. She’s not chasing shortcuts — she’s building a foundation of endurance, resilience, and racecraft that will carry her through the UK ultra calendar for years to come.
We’re proud to support Kelly as part of the Highland Fuel team, fuelling her training and racing as she takes on the next big challenges. Expect race recaps, fuelling breakdowns, and more as she continues to prove that consistency, smart strategy, and the right fuel win the long game.
Welcome to the team, Kelly. Built for Endurance.