The Tarahumaras are flatlanders compared to the Sherpas of Nepal. A Sherpa dude recently climbed (ran) up Mt. Everest in 8 hours 10 minutes, eclipsing the previous record, also held by a Sherpa, by over 2 hours. The climb normally takes about 4 days for expert experienced mountaineers. We are not likely to see any Sherpa distance runners because that is not their thing, but it is fun to speculate. Pike's Peak would just be a speed bump to these guys.
I believe that someone paid the expenses for a Sherpa to come run the NY marathon. I recall that, surprisingly, the Sherpa finished somewhere just mid 3:xx. It's just a different ball-game. With proper training, the Sherpa certainly would have done better.
i vote for tarahumaras. they are better runners.
I dont think that the tarahumaras, and certainly not the sherpas have the buildor biomechanics or have you to be really fast on the track.
Maybe the tarahumaras in the marathon, but it would seem ultras are their niche.
I ran with a sherpa a few times a couple years ago. He was good but not phenomenal. Legs like tree-trunks, from spending his life hauling hundred-pound loads up rocky trails at altitude. Little teeny t-rex arms.
We went for a few hikes, too, and he absolutely insisted on carrying everything. I started trying to trick him into letting me carry things, and it never worked. He was definitely tough enough to be a good runner, but it wasn't part of his life growing up.