Jennifer Lichter (pre-race interview) and France’s Vincent Bouillard took benefit of spectacularly cool climate and scorching competitors to set new course information on the 2026 Western States 100.
Lichter’s time of 15:28:05 was a bit below Courtney Dauwalter’s course file of 15:29:33 set in 2023, whereas Bouillard smashed Jim Walmsley’s 2019 course file of 14:09:23 by 23 minutes by operating 13:46:15.
Jennifer Lichter setting a course file on the 2026 Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
The 5 a.m. begin in Olympic Valley, California, noticed runners line up in jackets on the 51 Fahrenheit (F) morning. Because the day progressed, the unofficial excessive on the end in Auburn reached solely 74F, which might be the third coolest excessive temperature in race historical past and a full 16F below the race’s common excessive of 90F. Cool years have a historical past of being conducive to quick race occasions, with each Dauwalter’s and Walmsley’s earlier course information run on below-average-temperature years.
It was protected to say that expectations have been excessive for a brand new file or two this 12 months as runners set out on the 100.2-mile journey throughout the Sierra Nevada over a course that challenges with its 18,000 toes of climbing and 22,000 toes of descent.
In a testomony to the best race temperatures, and the exceptionally sturdy area, the second to fourth runners – Francesco Puppi of Italy, Ryan Montgomery, and Thomas Cardin of France, have been all below the earlier males’s course file, with Zach Miller’s fifth-place time nonetheless the Tenth quickest time in males’s race historical past.
Maybe much more extremely, within the girls’s race, Fu-Zhao Xiang’s (pre-race interview) seventh-place time was adequate for the Tenth quickest time in girls’s race historical past… by greater than 11 minutes. This time would have been no worse than second in every other 12 months, and would have crushed the earlier quickest second-place time by 17.5 minutes.
Learn on to see how the race performed out.
Vincent Bouillard profitable the 2026 Western States 100 in course file time. Picture: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
2026 Western States 100 Ladies’s Race
This 12 months’s girls’s area was possible the strongest the race has ever seen. 9 of the highest 10 finishers from the earlier 12 months have been again, together with defending champion Abby Corridor (pre-race interview), second-place Fu-Zhao Xiang (pre-race interview) of China, and third-place Marianne Hogan (pre-race interview) of Canada. Different prime contenders included Jennifer Lichter (pre-race interview) and Olympic Marathon bronze medalist Molly Seidel, of their much-anticipated 100-mile debuts. Riley Brady and Martyna Młynarczyk of Poland have been each again and desirous to show themselves on the course after disappointing abandons in 2025.
The beginning of the 2026 Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Lichter was the quickest out of the beginning blocks, main the pack excessive of the Escarpment climb, seconds forward of the remainder of the sphere. Lower than two minutes separated first by means of Tenth place, and the scenario would stay the identical for the following 20 miles, all the way in which to Duncan Canyon at 24.4 miles. Hogan and Hậu Hà of Vietnam took turns to steer the pack, carefully adopted by Lichter, Młynarczyk, Corridor, Hannah Allgood, and Brady.
By Robinson Flat, 30.3 miles into the race, Lichter and Brady had damaged barely from the pack, with Lichter within the lead by about 70 seconds. Młynarczyk held third, an additional 20 seconds again. Allgood, Hogan, and Corridor have been in fourth to sixth positions, all inside roughly one minute of one another. The frontrunners have been extremely tight, with first by means of eleventh positions inside seven minutes of one another.
Hannah Allgood operating in fourth at Robinson Flat, mile 30, on the 2026 Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Hà, after operating close to the entrance for the primary 24 miles, dropped right down to Tenth place within the climb up from Duncan Creek to Robinson Flat. Nevertheless, Hà managed to regroup and ran round Tenth place the rest of the race.
Over the following 13 miles, as runners made their method down towards Deadwood Canyon and the Final Likelihood help station, Brady took the reins, operating simply forward of Lichter. Lotti Brinks of Germany, having moved up from eighth place, led a chasing pack forward of Hogan, Allgood, Tara Dower (pre-race interview), and Corridor. This was to be the start of a fierce competitors for third place between Hogan, Dower, and Brinks over the following 30 miles or so.
Tara Dower operating in eighth at Dusty Corners, mile 38 of the 2026 Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
The 1,8000-feet climb as much as Satan’s Thumb at 47.8 miles proved to be a defining second for Lichter. Well-known for her quick climbing, she moved previous Brady to take an nearly five-minute lead. Brinks arrived on the prime 3.5 minutes behind Brady, and one minute forward of Hogan. Corridor and Dower adopted collectively in fifth and sixth locations, one minute forward of Allgood, and 10 minutes off the lead.
Młynarczyk struggled with the tempo over this part, drifting right down to ninth place by Final Likelihood, mile 43.3, and persevering with to drop down the rankings within the climb up Satan’s Thumb earlier than dropping at mile 62 in Foresthill.
Riley Brady operating in second by means of Robinson Flat, mile 30, throughout the 2026 Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Lichter held on to a four-minute lead over Brady down into El Dorado Canyon and as much as Michigan Bluff at 55.7 miles. The 2 front-runners have been extending their lead, and the remainder of the sphere started to unfold out ultimately. Hogan held onto third place, 12 minutes behind the lead, and Hogan, Brinks, Dower, Corridor, and Allgood have been separated by simply six minutes. Teammates Yngvild Kaspersen of Norway and Caitlin Fielder of New Zealand have been operating collectively in eighth and ninth locations, quarter-hour off the lead, and 6 minutes forward of Tenth-place Seidel. From there, Seidel would proceed on, although out of prime 10 rivalry.
Caitlin Fielder operating in eighth in Foresthill, mile 62 of the 2026 Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Over the following six miles by means of Volcano Canyon, Brady threatened to shut in on Lichter, lowering the hole to round 90 seconds. Nevertheless, Lichter rallied within the descent into Dardanelles at 65.7 miles to achieve some floor. Brady stayed dangerously shut by means of the Cal Avenue part and hung a mere two minutes again on the river crossing at mile 78, however by mile 85.2, Lichter had constructed a seven-minute lead. At this level, she was forward of the course file by 4 minutes.
Jennifer Lichter crossing the American River in first on the 2026 Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Third by means of fifth locations have been held by Hogan, Brinks, and Fielder, separated by below 10 minutes. Corridor struggled by means of Cal Avenue, slipping out of the highest 10 for the primary time, and ultimately withdrew at Inexperienced Gate at mile 80.
Lichter powered by means of the ultimate miles, extending her lead on the remainder of the sphere as she went. As she got here by means of Robie Level, one mile from the end, she was round one minute forward of the course file.
Jennifer Lichter grit her tooth by means of that ultimate mile to complete in a groundbreaking 15:28:05, 85 seconds forward of Courtney Dauwalter’s earlier file of 15:29:33 from 2023. This was her second course file of the 12 months after her win on the 2026 Black Canyon 100k in February.
Ten miles from the end, it appeared that Hogan could possibly be closing in on Brady. As a substitute, Riley Brady rallied, pulling away and crossing the road in second place in 15:42:14. This was their third, and by far their finest, participation at Western States, following a 14th-place end in 2023 and dropping out in 2025.
Riley Brady taking second on the 2026 Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Marianne Hogan crossed the road in third place in 15:51:44, cementing an enormous private finest on the course, and matching her place from each 2022 and 2025.
Marianne Hogan taking third on the Western States 100 for the third time. Picture: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Caitlin Fielder got here into the end in fourth at 15:57:09, bettering on her eighth place from 2025. Her conservative begin, which noticed her sitting again in thirteenth place at mile 34, paid off, seeing her transfer by means of the sphere within the closing half.
Lotti Brinks rounded out the highest 5, ending in 16:04:38. Her constant effort noticed her run close to the entrance of the pack for everything of the race, bettering on her 14th place within the 2024 Western States.
Tara Dower held powerful all day to complete seventh in 16:13:07, whereas Fu-Zhao Xiang finally took eighth 16:25:59, after operating exterior the highest 10 for a lot of the race.
Lotti Brinks crossing the American River on her method to inserting fifth on the 2026 Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
2026 Western States 100 Ladies’s Outcomes
- Jenn Lichter (Nike ACG) – 15:28:05 (pre-race interview)
- Riley Brady (Nike ACG) – 15:42:14
- Marianne Hogan (Salomon) – 15:51:44 (pre-race interview)
- Caitlin Fielder (adidas) – 15:57:09
- Lotti Brinks (Hoka) – 16:04:38 (pre-race profile)
- Tara Dower (Altra) – 16:13:07 (pre-race interview)
- Fu-Zhao Xiang (Arc’teryx) – 16:25:59 (pre-race interview)
- Fiona Pascall (adidas) – 16:32:05 (pre-race interview)
- Hậu Hà (Kailas Fuga) – 16:40:38
- Hannah Allgood (adidas) – 16:45:56
Riley Brady identifies as non-binary and competes within the girls’s race.
Hậu Hà ending ninth on the 2026 Western States 100, her second prime 10 end in a row. Picture: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
2026 Western States 100 Males’s Race
Calling the boys’s race stacked can be an understatement. It proved to be a dynamic race from begin to end, with cooler temperatures permitting for extra aggressive pacing — nobody actually knew how briskly the course could possibly be run with out blazing warmth placing a governor on everybody’s pace. A number of tried their hand close to or on the entrance, however the miles, pace, and afternoon heat temperatures led to a race that noticed seemingly simply as a lot attrition because the years when temperatures blazed.
Hans Troyer setting the tempo alone up entrance on Crimson Star Ridge, 15 miles into the 2026 Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar/Gabe Joyes
As anticipated, the boys went out scorching from the beginning, with the highest 18 runners all coming by means of the Escarpment 3.5 miles and a pair of,200 toes of climbing from the beginning inside one minute of one another. Hans Troyer (pre-race interview) led the cost by means of the excessive level of the course, and he was chased by Spain’s Kilian Jornet (pre-race interview), Ryan Montgomery, Francesco Puppi (Italy), Thomas Cardin (France), 2024 UTMB-winner Vincent Bouillard, Jim Walmsley (pre-race interview), and the remainder of the sphere strung out behind. By Lyon Ridge at 10.3 miles, he had damaged away from the pack. He continued to steer into Duncan Canyon, 24.4 miles into the race, utilizing the large descent to place nearly three minutes onto the chasing pack of Puppi, Walmsley, and Bouillard. Zach Miller and Montgomery adopted round two minutes again, forward of Jornet and Cardin in seventh and eighth positions.
Ryan Montgomery operating in fifth by means of Robinson Flat throughout the 2026 Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Walmsley attacked within the following stretch right down to Duncan Creek, then up the lengthy climb to Robinson Flat, coming by means of the help station at 30.3 miles simply forward of Troyer. Nevertheless, 4 miles later, at Miller’s Defeat, Troyer was again within the lead, and Walmsley had nestled again in with teammates Bouillard and Puppi, 75 seconds behind. Jornet had dropped out of the highest 10 at this level and would later pull from the race at mile 38, with Montgomery, Miller, and Cardin operating in fifth by means of seventh.
Troyer put in a giant effort to construct up a lead of six minutes by means of Final Likelihood at 43.3 miles, holding his tempo within the descent into Deadwood Canyon, then placing out on the 1,800-foot climb to Satan’s Thumb at 47.8 miles alone on the entrance. In a testomony to his blistering tempo over the opening miles, he got here by means of the highest of the canyon a full 26 minutes forward of the course file, and practically 5 minutes forward of Puppi and Walmsley. Nevertheless, his lead margin started to slide by means of his fingers over the following 20 miles.
Adam Peterman climbing to Michigan Bluff, after midway, on the 2026 Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
By the Michigan Bluff help station at 55.7 miles, Troyer’s lead over Puppi had shrunk to a few minutes. Bouillard arrived in third place, 11 minutes behind the lead, and two minutes forward of Walmsley, who took a second to regroup right here. He saved going, but it surely was finally the tip of his quest for victory and he would DNF at Forresthill.
Simply earlier than Foresthill at 62 miles, Puppi caught Troyer briefly, however Troyer dug in by means of the descent to return into the help station with a lead of 15 seconds. Bouillard adopted in third place, nonetheless roughly 11 minutes behind the leaders, and one minute forward of Montgomery. Roughly 20 minutes off the lead, Miller and 2022 champion Adam Peterman (pre-race interview) have been operating collectively in fifth and sixth, 90 seconds forward of Cardin, who bested Bouillard in incomes his Golden Ticket with a win on the 2026 Chianti 120k. Canyon Woodward, Jeff Mogavero (pre-race interview), and Anthony Costales, who was third on the race in 2023, rounded out the highest 10 at what is commonly thought-about the turning level of the race. Sadly, Costales would begin to descend within the rankings right here earlier than finally ending 18th.
Zach Miller and Adam Peterman operating into Foresthill collectively on the 2026 Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Troyer held onto a lead of just below a minute over the following 5 miles, however Puppi was transferring higher, and by Peachstone, midway by means of the Cal Avenue part at mile 71, he had moved into the lead, two minutes up on Troyer. The Italian was additionally a formidable quarter-hour up on the course file. Then again, Troyer’s daring race would finish at Rucky Chucky at mile 78.
Francesco Puppi crossing the American River at mile 78 in first place throughout the 2026 Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Bouillard had been a continuing presence behind the leaders because the starting of the race, coming by means of Foresthill in third, then transferring by means of the Cal Avenue part simply behind Montgomery. By mile 78 at Rucky Chucky, Bouillard had moved again forward of Montgomery and was simply 5 minutes behind Puppi. Two miles later, he was solely 3.5 minutes behind Puppi, and by mile 85.2, Puppi’s lead was a mere 90 seconds.
Vincent Bouillard crossing the American River in second on the 2026 Western States 100. He would go on to win the race. Picture: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Bouillard made his profitable transfer coming into Quarry Street, 10 miles from the tip of the race. He flew previous Puppi to return by means of the help station with a two-minute lead, and Montgomery was closing in dangerously, now lower than two minutes again from Puppi. Very similar to he did when he received the 2024 UTMB, Bouillard was as soon as once more on the entrance of one of many largest races on the earth.
From right here, it was Bouillard’s race. He didn’t falter below the stress, powering by means of Pointed Rocks at mile 94 and Robie Level, and into the closing mile. Vincent Bouillard became the Placer Excessive Faculty observe to fulfill the crowds, crossing the road to cement a brand new course file of 13:46:15, an awe-inspiring 23 minutes forward of the earlier course file of 14:09:23 set by Walmsley in 2019.
In a nail-biting end, Francesco Puppi held on to second place to cross the road in 13:51:08, in what must be one of many biggest 100-miler debuts of all time. Two separate falls earlier within the 12 months threatened to jeopardize his race preparation, making this efficiency all of the extra spectacular. Though this was his first time over this distance, Puppi got here into the race as one of many prime contenders after dominating wins on the Canyons 100k and CCC in 2025.
Francesco Puppi taking second on the 2026 Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Ryan Montgomery paced their race to perfection, holding again simply exterior of the lead pack within the opening miles, then choosing off the locations as different runners light to cross the end line in third place in 13:53:55. This was Montgomery’s fourth 12 months operating at Western States, together with seventh place final 12 months.
Ryan Montgomery ending third on the 2026 Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Thomas Cardin crossed the road in fourth place in his first-ever 100 miler in 14:07:58. He was additionally below the earlier course file.
Zach Miller was fifth in his first Western States, ending in 14:20:09, which was nonetheless adequate for the Tenth quickest time in race historical past.
Thomas Cardin operating in seventh within the early going at Robinson Flat. Picture: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Adam Peterman improved on his run from final 12 months to complete in sixth in 14:26:11, Jeff Mogavero completed seventh in 14:38:36, and Canyon Woodward moved as much as end in eighth in 14:45:24.
2026 Western States 100 Males’s Outcomes
- Vincent Bouillard (Hoka) – 13:46:15
- Francesco Puppi (Hoka) – 13:51:08
- Ryan Montgomery (Janji) – 13:53:55
- Thomas Cardin (Kiprun) – 14:07:58
- Zach Miller (The North Face) – 14:20:09
- Adam Peterman (Hoka) – 14:26:11 (pre-race interview)
- Jeff Mogavero (On) – 14:38:36 (pre-race interview)
- Canyon Woodward (Mount to Coast/Patagonia) – 14:45:24
- Will Murray (Brooks) – 15:23:12
- Hiroki Kai (Nike ACG) – 15:26:34
Ryan Montgomery identifies as non-binary and competes within the males’s race.
Hiroki Kai crossing the American River on his method to his second-straight tenth-place end on the Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Protection Thanks
Thanks a lot to the next people who helped iRunFar cowl this race: Gabe Joyes, Ellie Greenwood, Marissa Harris, Casey Wyatt, Ashley Saloga, Paula Leuzzi, Paulina Popovskaia, Rosey Vaughan, Religion Akioyamen, Rachel Barrington, Margaret Moody, Megan Isom, and Verity Breen.
