By Diana García
Juan Zurita Victoria races the 800m and 1500m on a track. The OCC covers 60 km and includes 3,500 m of elevation gain.
On October 3 he starts Komakali 38K in the Copper Canyon, a race four times longer than any trail race he has run.
Oax Sport is raising $750 to cover Juan’s registration, round-trip travel from Oaxaca, transport to Creel and Divisadero, lodging, food, and race-day logistics.
Oax Sport Inc. in the United States and Oax Sport A.C. in Mexico have launched De los Senderos de Cantera al Mont Blanc, a sporting project running from August 2026 through August 2027.
The goal is to support Juan as he prepares for the requirements needed to seek a place in the OCC at HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc in 2027.
Juan has not qualified for the OCC, entered the race, or secured a place.
Getting from the track to a mountain ultra means increasing endurance, spending more time on mountain terrain, developing climbing and descending ability, and gaining experience in longer trail races.
The Runner Behind the Project
Juan is from Magdalena Apazco, Oaxaca, about 25 km north of Oaxaca City. He specializes in the 800m and 1500m and competes with Titanes Sport Clinic.
He also holds an MBA from Universidad La Salle Oaxaca.
Juan Zurita Victoria chairs the Athlete and Program Support Committee at Oax Sport.
His stated track goals include running under 4:00 for 1500m and under 1:55 for 800m. Oax Sport documented those goals in a 2023 profile of Juan.
Training requires substantial travel. Juan lives far from a track and can spend more than three hours each day traveling to training, completing evening sessions and managing limited late transportation.
On February 17, 2024, he finished second in both the 800m and 1500m at the VIII All Comers Atletissimo at the Mexican Olympic Committee in Mexico City. Oax Sport published the results and report from that competition.
Juan has raced trail once at national level. On April 2, 2022, he finished first overall in the 9 km distance at the Ultra Trail Desierto de los Leones in Mexico City. Oax Sport published a report on that competition.
Komakali 38K, October 3
Oax Sport plans to enter Juan in Komakali 38K, part of Chihuahua by UTMB, on Saturday, October 3, 2026. Registration has not been paid yet. It is one of the expenses this campaign is intended to cover. The race starts at Parque Barrancas in Divisadero, Chihuahua, and takes runners through Copper Canyon terrain.
Komakali 38K covers 38 km with about 1,600 m of elevation gain. The race starts at 07:00 and the maximum race time is 8 hours and 30 minutes.
Finishing Komakali awards 2 Running Stones. For regular runners, each Running Stone adds one chance in the lottery for the UTMB World Series Finals once the other entry requirements are met.
Komakali is four times the distance of Juan’s only national trail race, on mountain terrain he has not raced before.
The OCC Requirements
The OCC is the 50K category final of the UTMB World Series and takes place during HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc each August.
The race covers 60 km with 3,500 m of elevation gain. It starts in Orsières, Switzerland, crosses Col de Balme on the Franco-Swiss border, and finishes in Chamonix, France.
The maximum race time is 14 hours and 30 minutes.
Those demands differ substantially from Juan’s primary track events. The preparation period will therefore include progressive work toward longer trail distances and the physical demands of sustained mountain running.
From Running Stone to Start Line
A runner seeking an OCC place through the standard lottery needs at least one Running Stone acquired in the two years before the lottery closes and a valid UTMB Index in an eligible distance category. Running Stones are cumulative, and each one adds another chance in the lottery.
Once a runner meets the entry requirements, OCC places are allocated through a lottery. Meeting the requirements does not guarantee selection.
Oax Sport will follow the official UTMB rules throughout the project and recheck the requirements before any registration decision.
The registration window for OCC 2027 has not been confirmed. Oax Sport will publish it once it is officially available.
The UTMB World Series event calendar provides the official list of races in the series.
Following the Project
Oax Sport plans to document the project as it develops.
- races Juan enters;
- verified race results;
- progress toward the OCC entry requirements;
- main project costs;
- support received;
- changes to the sporting or logistical plan.
Readers can also review Oax Sport’s members and program leadership or use the contact page for questions about the project.
Current Project Status
Juan’s Komakali registration has not been paid.
Juan does not have a confirmed OCC 2027 place.
International travel has not been confirmed.
Oax Sport has not published a budget beyond Komakali. Costs for later races and any international travel will be published when they are known.
Any later decision involving registration, international travel or OCC participation will depend on Juan’s preparation, the applicable UTMB requirements and the outcome of the selection process.
Legal and transparency information
Oax Sport Inc. is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit. EIN: 86-3407818.
Oax Sport A.C. is a registered Mexican nonprofit based in Oaxaca, Mexico. RFC: OSP-230216-SG0
Donations support athletes from underserved communities in Oaxaca, Mexico.
If you need a receipt or tax documentation, contact us and tell us whether you donated to Oax Sport Inc (USA) or Oax Sport A.C. (Mexico).
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