It’s nearly time for the 2026 Western States 100. The purpose-to-point race runs from Olympic Valley to Auburn, California, on Saturday, June 27, and it’s going to be an excellent one! The 370-person discipline will cowl 18,000 ft of climbing and greater than 22,000 ft of descending on the historic net-downhill course.
Early males’s race leaders in the course of the 2025 Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Whereas the highest two males from final yr have opted out, six of final yr’s top-10 males are set to return. Kilian Jornet, third final yr, will search an unbelievable win 15 years after his 2011 victory. Hans Troyer was eighth in his 100-mile debut final yr and certainly needs extra. Together with them, four-time winner and course document holder Jim Walmsley returns, and 2022 winner Adam Peterman is again and in profitable type. Italy’s Francesco Puppi will make his 100-mile debut and needs to be counted on as a possible winner, too.
In 2024, a document 12 males ran beneath 16 hours. In 2025, that quantity was simply seven. Whereas the general 2025 depth didn’t get to the 2024 numbers, Caleb Olson did threaten the course document. He was inside two minutes of Walmsley’s 14:09 document run from 2019. Discover out extra about how that race performed out in our 2025 Western States 100 outcomes article.
Learn on to see who else might be up on the entrance of this yr’s discipline. We’ll replace this text with any last-minute adjustments main as much as race day. You can too take a look at the full 2026 entrants record.
The beginning of the 2025 Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
iRunFar can be there to report firsthand on all of the motion because it unfolds, beginning at 5 a.m. U.S. Pacific Daylight Time on Saturday, June 27. Keep tuned!
Make sure you additionally take a look at our 2026 Western States 100 girls’s preview, after which comply with together with our stay protection on race day.
Returning Prime 10 Males
Caleb Olson and Chris Myers, the 2025 winner and runner-up, determined to not return. Olson’s 14:11 end a yr in the past is the race’s second-fastest end ever, and Myers’s 14:17 is the race’s fourth-fastest. Slovakia’s Peter Fraňo, ninth in 2025, won’t race this yr both. Moreover, in early June, sixth-place finisher Seth Ruhling withdrew with a hip damage, leaving solely six of final yr’s top-10 finishers returning this yr.
Kilian Jornet – third, 14:19:22
Spain’s Kilian Jornet received Western States in 2011 and, remarkably, returned after a 14-year hole to end third in 2025. He closed extremely properly to get on the rostrum, lower than eight minutes behind the winner, Olson, and fewer than two minutes again of runner-up Myers. Jornet’s 14:19 end final yr ranks because the race’s fifth-fastest end ever, and it was over an hour higher than his 2011 profitable time. After Western States final yr, Jornet adventured by way of the American West on his States of Elevation mission, and he’s raced twice in 2026 up to now. In March, Jornet completed in an informal first-place tie at a 13-mile race in Mallorca, after which he had a tough end on the Zegama Marathon in Could. An 11-time Zegama Marathon winner, Jornet completed simply forty fourth this yr. That was six weeks earlier than Western States, and since then, Jornet has detailed a knee damage on-line, stopped working, and plans to race Western States with solely two weeks of working in his legs since Zegama. Jornet’s an unbelievable athlete, however is that sufficient to take him out of podium consideration?
Kilian Jornet on his strategy to third place on the 2025 Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Jeff Mogavero – 4th, 14:30:11
Jeff Mogavero dueled with Jornet for a lot of final yr’s race, and his fourth-place 14:30 was the fastest-ever Western States debut and tenth quickest time ever. He’s been a bit up and down since, although. Mogavero dropped ultimately yr’s UTMB, after which ran down Dmitry Mityaev for the win on the 2025 Extremely-Path Cape City 100k in November. Up to now this yr, he was simply sixth on the Chianti 120k in March, ending nearly an hour behind fellow Western States contender Thomas Cardin. Whereas not prioritizing Chianti, Mogavero nonetheless stated “my efficiency was lackluster” in a post-race Substack evaluation. He’s come again since then with some very high-volume coaching on the Western States course.
Jeff Mogavero on his strategy to fourth on the 2025 Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Daniel Jones – fifth, 14:36:17
Daniel Jones, from New Zealand, hasn’t missed but at Western States; he’s been no worse than fifth in three tries. He was fifth in 2023, fourth in 2024, and fifth in 2025. He did, nonetheless, like Mogavero, drop ultimately yr’s UTMB. In 2026, Jones received the Tarawera 102k for the fourth straight yr and received the Extremely-Path Australia 50k, too. Jones began Western States slowly final yr and didn’t get into the highest 10 till Robinson Flat at mile 30. With a podium end nonetheless evading him, would possibly this be the yr to be extra aggressive early?
Daniel Jones crossing the American River in the course of the 2024 Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Ryan Montgomery – seventh, 15:54:29
This can be Ryan Montgomery’s fourth straight yr at Western. In 2023, he was seventh. The subsequent yr, he was an off-form twentieth, and final yr he once more bumped into the highest 10. In 2025, Montgomery jumped three spots after Foresthill at mile 62, going from tenth to seventh. He hasn’t raced a lot since, although. He was third on the 2026 Large Alta 50k in March after which ran 2:27 on the 2026 London Marathon in April. Montgomery identifies as non-binary and competes within the males’s race.
Ryan Montgomery crossing the American River in the course of the 2025 Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Hans Troyer – eighth, 16:06:52
Hans Troyer is definitely anticipated to enhance on final yr’s debut 100-mile run. He was eighth in 2025, however nearly two hours behind the winner after a troublesome second half. What number of spots higher can he do? Troyer received the 2025 JFK 50 Mile in November towards defending champion David Sinclair, after which received the 2026 Black Canyon 100k in February. In that latter race, Troyer broke the course document. Throughout the previous yr, he additionally relocated from his native Georgia to Boulder, Colorado.
Hans Troyer with only some miles left of the 2025 Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Hiroki Kai – tenth, 16:22:46
Nicknamed “Loopy Karo,” Hiroki Kai is a well-liked YouTuber who makes movies about his races. Final yr at Western States, he was simply twenty second at Satan’s Thumb at mile 48 earlier than working into the highest 10 within the final 10 miles. The Japanese runner is a really prolific racer. He’ll should be higher than he has been up to now this yr to land again within the high 10. Up to now in 2026, Kai was seventeenth on the Black Canyon 50k in February, sixteenth on the Gorge Waterfalls 100k in April, and thirteenth on the Extremely-Path Australia 50k in Could.
Hiroki Kai ending tenth on the 2025 Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Extra Prime Contenders
The Golden Ticket collection, sponsor and race administration spots, and even the race’s lottery vastly add to this race’s aggressive depth.
It’s laborious to place Jim Walmsley wherever in addition to the highest of the record of favorites. Walmsley is a four-time Western States winner, in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2024. His end occasions, in chronological order, are 14:30, 14:09, 14:46, and 14:13. The 14:09 from 2019 is the course document, and he has three of the race’s top-nine occasions ever. Walmsley missed final yr’s race resulting from damage however completed 2025 robust with wins at OCC and the Lengthy Path race on the Path World Championships. He hasn’t raced in 2026, although, and relied on a sponsor entry for this yr’s race. Walmsley defined on social media {that a} persistent knee damage relationship again to 2024 saved him from racing his means in by way of the 2026 Golden Ticket Races. Could that knee now be wholesome and good for 100.2 miles. If sure, Walmsley is the race favourite.
Jim Walmsley, 2024 Western States 100 champion. Picture: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Alongside Jornet and Walmsley, Adam Peterman is the third prior Western States champ on this yr’s discipline. Peterman received Western States in 2022 in his 100-mile debut. Harm wrecked 2023, however Peterman was third at CCC in late 2024. He walked a lot of Western States in 2025 for a Forty ninth-place end, after which sought out knowledgeable coach to get again on observe. Peterman was then sixth at OCC and eighth on the Path World Championships Lengthy Path to complete 2025. This yr has gone even higher. Peterman was second on the Black Canyon 50k, after which received the 2026 Canyons 100k in April. That latter race was an exceptionally aggressive Golden Ticket race, and Peterman beat a bunch of fellow Western States contenders. His Canyons 100k win certainly provides Peterman some confidence that he can race on the entrance of Western States.
Adam Peterman profitable the 2022 Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Hayden Hawks was at Western States yearly from 2021 to 2024. That four-year run included, so as, an eighth- and second-place end, a DNF, and a third-place end in 2024. His 14:24 end in 2024 ranks because the race’s seventh-fastest ever. Hawks had a fall in coaching that precipitated him to overlook this yr’s Transgrancanaria, however he completed third on the Canyons 100k in April 2026, behind fellow Western States contenders Peterman and Zach Miller. Together with his prior expertise, together with a sub-14:30 end, we count on Hawks to thrive.
Hayden Hawks on his strategy to third place on the 2024 Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
In races all over the world final yr, Italy’s Francesco Puppi was sensational. He ran a surprising course document on the 2025 Canyons 100k in April after which dominated the September 2025 CCC. Puppi wasn’t on the Canyons 100k this yr, however none of Peterman, Zach Miller, or Hawks got here near the time Puppi ran to win there in 2025. Puppi beat a number of different Western States challengers at CCC final yr, too. Western States can be his 100-mile debut, and his prep has been somewhat rocky. Puppi dropped from the 2026 Black Canyon 100k in February after a fall after which broke his wrist in yet one more fall throughout a coaching run. He did win the 2026 Chianti Marathon between accidents in March.
Francesco Puppi profitable the 2025 Canyons by UTMB 100k. Picture: FinisherPix
Anthony Costales almost ran down Troyer at this yr’s Black Canyon 100k. Costales was second there and second once more on the Gorge Waterfalls 50k this yr. He was solely fifteenth ultimately yr’s CCC, and in 2023, he was third at Western States. This can be his second 100 miler.
Anthony Costales racing to 3rd on the 2023 Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar/Jaja Ferrer Capili
Zach Miller broke into ultras in 2013 with a beautiful win on the JFK 50 Mile. A decade-plus later and after races all over the world, Miller is making his Western States debut. He earned his means into this yr’s race with a second-place run on the 2026 Canyons 100k behind Peterman and forward of Hawks. Miller raced sparingly in 2025 and 2024. Final yr, he was fifth on the Hardrock 100 and 18th on the Path World Championships Lengthy Path race. In 2024, he was seventh at Transgrancanaria. Additional again, he was second at UTMB in 2023.
Zach Miller ending the 2026 Canyons 100k in second to earn a Western States Golden Ticket. Picture: Nick Presniakov
Roughly seven weeks earlier than Western States, David Sinclair smashed the course document on the Transvulcania Ultramarathon. He was second ultimately yr’s CCC behind Puppi. Like a couple of others, this can be Sinclair’s 100-mile debut. In his post-Transculvania interviews, Sinclair spoke about approaching Western States and the longer distance cautiously.
David Sinclair en path to profitable the 2026 Transvulcania Ultramarathon. Picture: World Mountain Working Affiliation/Marco Gulberti
Thomas Cardin
France’s Thomas Cardin received the Chianti 120k in March 2026 to earn his Western States Golden Ticket. He beat Mogavero and fellow contender Vincent Bouillard there, and beat Jim Walmsley’s profitable time from 2024, too. He additionally received the 2026 Extremely-Path des Coursières 104k race in France in Could. Like Sinclair, that is his 100-mile debut.
Thomas Cardin, 2026 Chianti 120k champion. Picture: Chianti Extremely Path/Alessandro Moretti
Will Murray was nice in 2025. He was a shock second on the 2025 Black Canyon 100k to begin the yr and set a course document on the Javelina 100 Mile to complete the yr. In between, he was injured and missed final yr’s Western States 100. In 2026, Murray received the Chuckanut 50k however was simply eleventh on the Canyons 100k in April. He has been coaching on the Western States course as a part of his preparation.
Will Murray, the 2025 Javelina 100 Mile winner. Picture: Howie Stern
Tracen Knopp
The primary of two Alaskan contenders, Tracen Knopp, earned his means into the Western States 100 with a third-place end on the 2026 Black Canyon 100k. Knopp had an enormous 2025, together with a second-place end behind Peterman on the Gorge Waterfalls 100k and a twenty fifth on the Path World Championships Lengthy Path. He received the 2026 Mt. Fuji 70k race earlier this yr, too, and Western States can be his 100-mile debut.
Tracen Knopp racing the 2025 Path World Championships Lengthy Path. Picture: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Jeshurun Small
Jushurun Small now lives in Alaska, and, like Knopp, this can be his 100-mile debut. Small was fifth ultimately yr’s CCC behind Puppi and Sinclair, however forward of Costales. Small was simply eighth on the 2026 Black Canyon 50k in February however received the 2026 Gorge Waterfalls 100k in April. His Gorge Waterfalls end was two minutes slower than Knopp’s runner-up time from a yr earlier.
Jeshurun Small (middle) lined up at the beginning of the 2024 Transvulcania Ultramarathon. Picture: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Canyon Woodward
Canyon Woodward has been climbing the ranks for the final couple of years. He earned his means into Western States with a third-place end on the 2025 Javelina 100 Mile. That was simply two months after he was thirteenth at UTMB. In 2026, Woodward was fourth on the Black Canyon 100k and fifth on the Canyons 100k. He received the Canyons 100 Mile in 2024, and although this can be his first Western States, we count on him to complete inside the highest 10 by an excellent bit.
Canyon Woodward on his strategy to profitable the 2021 Merciless Jewel 100 Mile. Picture: Grant Carmichael
France’s Vincent Bouillard earned his means again into Western States with a third-place run on the 2026 Chianti 120k in March. Bouillard was a shock UTMB winner in 2024, however hasn’t received on an enormous stage since. He dropped at Western States in 2025 and was tenth on the Path World Championships Lengthy Path race in late 2025.
Vincent Bouillard after profitable the 2024 UTMB. Picture: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Even Extra Prime Males
- Jacob Banta – 2nd 2026 & seventh 2025 Tarawera 102k; fifth 2026 Gorge Waterfalls 50k
- Jordan Bramblett – fifth 2026 Black Canyon 100k
- Jeff Browning – eleventh 2026 & 2nd 2024 Cocodona 250 Mile; 18th 2025 Western States 100
- Jupiter Carera Casas (Mexico) – sixth 2026 Black Canyon 100k; seventh 2025 Canyons 100k; seventeenth 2024 Western States 100
- Colton Gale – fifth 2026 Gorge Waterfalls 100k
- Zachary Garner – 2nd 2025 Bear 100 Mile; seventh 2025 Speedgoat 50k
- Justin Grunewald – 2nd 2025 Leadville 100 Mile; 2nd 2026 Desert RATS 50k
- Jørgen Jevne (Norway) – eighth 2025 Les Templiers; sixth 2024 Wildstrubel 70k
- John Kelly – 4th 2026 Garda Trentino Path; fifteenth 2024 Endurance Path des Templiers 100k
- Max Yanzick (New Zealand) – third 2026 Tarawera 102k
Jeff Browning crossing the 2017 Western States end line along with his children. Picture: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
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Who’s it going to be? And who’re we too low on that would get into the highest 10?
