Vincent Bouillard and Jenn Lichter Win the 2026 Western States 100 in Massive Course Records
Updated June 28, 2026 12:18AM
In her 100-mile debut, American Jenn Lichter won the 2026 Western States 100 in a mind-blowing time of 15:28:05. She battled back-and-forth throughout the day before pulling away after the river at mile 79. But she wasn’t just racing the competition, she was racing history. Lichter smashed Courtney Dauwalter’s seemingly untouchable course record by 1 minute and 28 seconds and finished 11th place overall.
Jenn Lichter crosses the line at the Placer High School track in Auburn, California, as the winner of the 2026 Western States 100. (Photo: Jacob Zocherman)
Lichter’s meteoric rise has been precipitous after only getting into trail running while working at Glacier Mountain National park half a decade ago. Though she’s seen resounding success in the 50K scene in recent years—highlighted by a fourth-place 45K finish at the World Trail and Mountain Championships in 2023—her Western States victory is a massive breakthrough.
She’s also been on a heater over the past year, winning the Black Canyon 100K—her first 100k—in a course record. Lichter also won the Broken Arrow 46K last year, won Speedgoat 50K last year. Sadly, she didn’t race 2025 worlds due to last-minute injury.
Lichter’s journey to this finish line has been a long and winding one: She and her two siblings grew up in Columbia where her family was torn apart by drug cartels. She and her siblings were adopted by Nicholas and Margaret Lichter and grew up in Wisconsin, before she settled in Missoula, Montana.
Third time’s a charm for American Riley Brady with a second-place finish. After a 14th-place finish in 2023 and a DNF last year, Brady stormed back to run at the front back and forth all day, battling through losing vision in one eye for a large chunk of the race due to a lack of salt and projectile vomiting in the final third of the race.
Brady’s time of 15:42:14 is the third-fastest time ever in the women’s race.
For (third-time) third-place finisher Marianne Hogan of Canada, her time of 15:51:44 is a just reward for the queen of Western States consistency.
This would be Marianne Hogan’s third third-place finish at the Western States 100. (Photo: Jacob Zocherman)
How the 2026 Western States 100 Women’s Race Played Out
While the men’s race was a rollercoaster of emotion, the women’s race was an exercise in patience, intelligent racing, and old-school punch-for-punch battling. A large, tight group of women came through the Duncan Canyon aid station at mile 24 together, and this picture would look pretty similar throughout the first half of the day.
At the pointy end, the race would look like two boxers trading blows: In the six miles between Duncan Canyon and Robinson Flat at mile 30, Jenn Lichter would throw a jab, pulling away from Riley Brady in second place, before Brady countered at mile 38 by retaking the lead and getting a 1:20 gap over Lichter.
However, Lichter would respond and strike back, passing Brady, her ACG teammate, near mile 48 at the Devil’s Thumb aid station. Both would be far ahead of course record pace at this point.
Riley Brady sitting in second place at the Foresthill aid station near mile 62. (Photo: Jacob Zocherman)
To prove how dense the front of the women’s race was, the top four women at mile 73 (Lichter, Brady, Marianne Hogan, and Lotti Brinks) were separated by only 12 minutes; 10 minutes separated places five through eight.
Lotti Brinks crossing the Middle Fork of the American River in fourth place at mile 78. (Photo: Jacob Zocherman)
It would be between mile 80 and 85 where Lichter would break the cable with Brady, extending her lead to seven minutes after battling back and forth up to this point. From there, her lead would only grow, while she remained on course record pace all the way to the finish.
The 2026 Western States 100 Men’s Race
After a crushing DNF 80 miles into this race last year, France’s Vincent Bouillard once again defied all expectations by winning the 2026 Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run in a course-record time of 13:46:15. Using a courageous-but-patient approach, the surprise 2024 UTMB winner gauged his energy perfectly, moving into the lead in the final 15 miles of the race and breaking Jim Walmsley’s previous course record—set in 2019—by 23 minutes and 12 seconds. Bouillard’s victory is also notable as he still works a “day job” as a shoe engineer at Hoka.
Italy’s Francesco Puppi would also go on to break the previous course record in his 100-mile debut with his second-place finishing time of 13:51:08. American Ryan Montgomery would also break 14 hours to round out the podium in third with a time of 13:53:55.
In fact, the 2026 edition of the Western States 100 heaped records upon records, as the entire podium (and fourth-place finisher, Thomas Cardin who ran 14:07:58) would smash Walmsley’s seemingly insurmountable 2019 course record.
(Photo: Andy Cochrane)
How the 2026 Western States 100 Men’s Race Played Out
It’s an understatement to say that the 2026 edition of the men’s Western States 100 was a rollercoaster of emotion. In the days leading up to the start, cool conditions descended upon the 100-mile stretch between Olympic Valley and Auburn, California, creating course-record buzz. From the gun, the men’s race was ultra fast, with the young-and-fit 26-year-old Hans Troyer seizing the lead just past the first major climb to Emigrant Pass. At 10 miles, Troyer had already set a course-record pace, pulling along a fast lead pack behind him.
Hans Troyer at the Foresthill aid station, while he was still leading the race. (Photo: Jacob Zocherman)
And Troyer’s youthful confidence would cause chaos with two of the most decorated runners in the field: First, Kilian Jornet would withdraw at the Dusty Corners aid station over five hours in near mile 40; second, four-time Western States winner Jim Walmsley pulled out just before the Foresthill aid station, not quite making it through nine hours of racing.
Four-time Western States 100 winner Jim Walmsley withdrew from the 2026 edition just before the Foresthill aid station near mile 62. (Photo: Jacob Zocherman)
The final victim of Troyer’s hubris would be the young Georgia native himself, as he faded badly after 10 hours of racing, not taking in nutrition throughout the day, bonking and eventually being reduced to a slow walk as a patient Francesco Puppi took the lead between miles 65 and 70. Troyer would eventually drop.
Italy’s Francesco Puppi at the Foresthill aid station at mile 62. (Photo: Jacob Zocherman)
But the front of the race came back together near the Auburn Lake Trails time check at mile 85 when Bouillard got within 1:30 of Puppi—the closest they’d been since the Foresthill aid station over 20 miles earlier. In fact, with Ryan Montgomery only four minutes back from Puppi, this was the closest spread between the top three at mile 85 in Western States 100 race history.
From there, it was a battle for the podium, as the trio of Puppi, Bouillard, and Montgomery ran intelligent and courageous races. Bouillard played the game just right, taking the lead from Puppi between mile 85 and 90, where the Frenchman created a gap of two minutes at the Quarry Road aid station. Ironically, this was close to where Bouillard DNF’d in 2025.
But it was Bouillard’s day in 2026, and he becomes the seventh person (fourth man) to win both the UTMB main event and the Western States 100. He also becomes the first Frenchmen and fifth European to win.
2026 Western States 100 Men’s Results
PlaceNameTime1.Vincent Bouillard (France)13:46:152.Francesco Puppi (Italy)13:51:083.Ryan Montgomery (U.S.)13:53:554.Thomas Cardin (France)14:07:585.Zach Miller (U.S.)14:20:096.Adam Peterman (U.S.)14:26:117.Jeff Mogavero (U.S.)14:38:368.Canyon Woodward (U.S)14:45:249.Will Murray (U.S.)15:23:1210.Hiroki Kai (Japan)15:26:34
2026 Western States 100 Women’s Results
PlaceNameTime1.Jenn Lichter (U.S.)15:28:052. Riley Brady (U.S.)15:42:143.Marianne Hogan (Canada)15:51:444.Caitlin Fielder (New Zealand)15:57:095.Lotti Brinks (U.S.)16:04:386.Tara Dower (U.S.)16:13:077.Fuzhao Xiang (China)16:25:598.Fiona Pascall (U.K.)16:32:059.Hau Ha (Vietnam)16:40:3810.Hannah Allgood (U.S.)16:45:56
Read below for the play-by-play account, and keep following here until the conclusion of the women’s event.
New to the Western States 100? Check out our 2026 Elite Athlete analysis and course guide. You can also watch the race on Youtube for free.
2026 Western States 100 Live Updates
14:29:35 elapsed: Jenn Lichter is still on course record pace as she grows her lead at mile 94.3
Jenn Lichter is flying as she runs through the Pointed Rocks aid station with only six miles to go, splitting 14:29:35. Trailing far behind, Riley Brady continues to sit in second, though she has faded to 14 minutes back at mile 94.3.
As the day has gone on, the women’s field has spread out greatly after being dense for so long—as such, Marianne Hogan trails Brady by 12 minutes sitting in third. Behind her, Caitlin Fielder is still in the hunt for a podium finish, less than five minutes being Hogan and closing, with Lottie Brinks less than five minutes behind Fielder.
13:04:14 elapsed: Jenn Lichter extends her lead at Auburn Lake Trails (mile 85.2)
Despite a sparring match that saw traded leads throughout the day, Jenn Lichter has seemingly broken the string and put over seven minutes on Riley Brady in second place. Nine minutes behind Brady, Marianne Hogan is now sitting in third at 13:20:53 through mile 85.2 at the Auburn Lake Trails aid station.
Lotti Brinks continues to run well in fourth, less than seven minutes off the podium with Caitlin Fielder closing in, 1:30 behind Brinks in fifth.
12:25:04 elapsed: Vincent Bouillard has taken the lead at Quarry Road
For the first time since the beginning of the race, France’s Vincent Bouillard has moved to the front of the race, passing Italy’s Francesco Puppi between mile 85.2 at the Auburn Lake Trail aid station and the Quarry Road aid station at mile 90.7. At Quarry Road, Bouillard had already grown his gap to two minutes over Puppi—who passed straight through the aid station—in third, Ryan Montgomery was breathing down the Italian’s neck, less than two minutes behind Puppi.
12:15:40 elapsed: Jenn Lichter has grown her lead slightly by mile 80 at Green Gate
Though she lost some time heading toward the Rucky Chucky river crossing, Jenn Lichter’s lead grew to three minutes over Riley Brady in second place at the Green Gate aid station near mile 80. At this point, Lichter is still four minutes ahead of course record time.
Riley Brady exits the Rucky Chucky river crossing in second place en route to the Green Gate aid station. (Photo: Jacob Zocherman)
Behind Brady, Marianne Hogan has finally begun to lose time to the duo, fading to almost nine minutes back in third, while Lotti Brinks is less than three minutes behind Hogan in fourth.
Lotti Brinks crossing the Middle Fork of the American River in fourth place. (Photo: Jacob Zocherman)
As they push forward, the women’s field also continues to march their way into the men’s field. At mile 80 Lichter and Brady were 12th and 13th overall.
11:46 elapsed: Vincent Bouillard has closed the gap at the Auburn Lakes Trails aid station (mile 85.2)
Despite leading by nearly 10 minutes at Cal-3, Francesco Puppi has bled time since the Rucky Chucky river crossing to a hard-charging Vincent Bouillard of France.
At the Auburn Lakes Trails time check near mile 85, Bouillard has run strong to get within 1:30 of Puppi. Also in the hunt for the front is Ryan Montgomery, who is 2:30 behind Bouillard and only four minutes behind first place. According to the livestream, this is the closest spread between the top three at mile 85 in Western States 100 race history.
11:26 elapsed: Only 12 minutes separate the top four women at the Cal-3 aid station (mile 73)
Jenn Lichter continues to lead the 2026 Western States 100 with a five-minute lead over Riley Brady in second place. Marianne Hogan still trails in third, another five minutes behind Brady, with Lotti Brinks trailing Hogan by only two minutes in fourth place.
11:07:34 elapsed: Francesco Puppi leads across Rucky Chucky; Vincent Bouillard and Ryan Montgomery look strong close behind
Francesco Puppi was the first to cross the Rucky Chucky river crossing, tentatively donning a life jacket, looking slightly tired, and taking his time at the nearby aid station with a time of 10:33. Less than five minutes behind, Vincent Bouillard blazed across the river, spending very little time in aid; Ryan Montgomery also flew down the stairs into the water, 2:30 behind Bouillard in third.
Over nine minutes behind Montgomery, spotters saw Thomas Cardin (fourth) followed by Zach Miller a minute later and then Adam Peterman two minutes after Miller in sixth. Rounding out the top eight, we saw Jeff Mogavero—who was feeling nauseous through mile 40, but has improved and moved up since—linking up with Canyon Woodward in eighth.
10:46:24 elapsed: Jenn Lichter is leading the women’s race at the Cal-2 aid station (mile 70.7)
Jenn Lichter continues to move quickly along the course, leading the women’s field, now sitting in 15th place overall, leading Riley Brady by just under six minutes. The gap between Lichter and Brady has grown substantially since the previous time check at Cal-1 (mile 65.7). Lichter is now 11 minutes ahead of course record pace.
Behind them, Marianne Hogan is over six minutes back from Brady in third, and Lotti Brinks sits less than two minutes behind Hogan in fourth at Cal-2. All of the top four women sit in the top 20 overall.
10:12 elapsed: Francesco Puppi is pulling away in the lead
Hans Troyer has seemingly fallen apart and faded from second place at mile 70.7 to running in fourth place 13 minutes behind the leader at the Cal-3 aid station at mile 73.
Vincent Bouillard is running strong alongside Ryan Montgomery in second and third, respectively—nine minutes behind race leader Francesco Puppi.
Zach Miller is now only four minutes behind Troyer in fifth; Thomas Cardin and Adam Peterman are running together three minutes behind Miller in sixth and seventh, respectively.
9:33:04 elapsed: Jenn Lichter remains in the lead at Foresthill, Riley Brady trails by 1:37
Jenn Lichter has entered the Foresthill aid station at mile 62, smiling and leading the women’s race while now making her way through the overall top 20, now sitting in 17th place among the men. Lichter is being paced by Makenna Morley and is entering uncharted territory: She’s never raced more then 100km before today, but spotters say she is focusing on cooling and looks good.
Jenn Lichter (right) leading the 2026 Western States 100. (Photo: Jacob Zocherman)
Riley Brady trails by less than two minutes, putting them in 18th place overall. Spotters say they’re wincing out of one eye and need salt, as Brady’s been drinking only Coke, not electrolytes. They left hot in the hunt, screaming out of the aid station with a 6:39 mile.
Riley Brady (center) running strong in second place. (Photo: Jacob Zocherman)
When the women left the Michigan Bluff aid station, there were seven women within 20 minutes of the lead, one of the largest, latest packs in nearly a decade.
Crowds of fans and supporters swarm racers at the Foresthill (Photo: Jacob Zocherman)
Marianne Hogan and Lotti Brinks are running in third and fourth, separated by only 30 seconds at Foresthill, while another two-woman group with Tara Dower and Abby Hall sit four minutes behind the Hogan/Brinks duo. Hannah Allgood (seventh, 9:53:51), Caitlin Fielder (eighth, 9:55:41) round out the top eight. Eight women are within 22 minutes of each other.
8:44 elapsed: Jim Walmsley has withdrawn from the 2026 Western States 100
(Photo: Jacob Zocherman)
The four-time Western States 100 winner stopped just outside of the Foresthill aid station at mile 62 to consult with his wife, saying that his hip is hurting. Less than 10 minutes later, he made the decision to withdraw: “It’s not my day,” Walmsley said.
(Photo: Jacob Zocherman)
8:21:38 elapsed: Welp, we’ve got a race on our hands, folks
Italy’s Francesco Puppi leads Hans Troyer into the Foresthill aid station at mile 62. (Photo: Jacob Zocherman)
They say the race doesn’t start until Foresthill, and it’s certainly become a race up front. Despite slowing and being passed a shortly by Francesco Puppi before the Foresthill aid station (which sits at mile 62), Hans Troyer has retaken the lead.
Troyer emerged from the aid station moving much faster than he entered it, hyping the crowd at the front of the race; behind him, Puppi left Foresthill without a pacer, and spotters say the Italian was teary-eyed with emotion in the aid station.
An emotional Francesco Puppi prepares to head out on the final 38 miles—sans pacer. (Photo: Jacob Zocherman)
Conditions on the ground right now at Foresthill are closer to long-sleeve weather, while fans could usually be found hiding in the shade trying not to melt, so expect times to remain fast and course-record-y.
Almost 11 minutes later, Vincent Bouillard entered Foresthill in a time of 8:32:47 in third place.
2024 UTMB winner Vincent Bouillard as he heads into the Foresthill aid station at mile 62. (Photo: Jacob Zocherman)
Less than two minutes behind, Ryan Montgomery made his way into Foresthill, still on the hunt for a podium finish and was overheard saying, “I’m going to go mow down some straights.” Montgomery stopped to retie his shoes, due to blisters, but spotters said he looked good overall. Notably, the lead group of four were in and out of the aid station very quickly—much faster than when it’s hot.
Ryan Montgomery enters Foresthill in fourth place with a time of 8:34:02. (Photo: Jacob Zocherman)
Meanwhile, the group of Zach Miller (8:40:34) and Adam Peterman (8:40:40) continue to work well together in fifth and sixth, respectively, and Thomas Cardin remains close behind in seventh. However, the big comeback story of the day belongs to Canyon Woodward, who has made his way into eighth place (8:56:02), over four minutes ahead of Jeff Mogavero in ninth.
8:15 elapsed: Francesco Puppi has taken the lead from Hans Troyer
Closing in on the Foresthill aid station, Francesco Puppi makes the pass on a slowing Hans Troyer to take the lead of the 2026 Western States 100. This will be the first time we’ve seen someone else at the front of this race since Troyer made a decisive move over 50 miles earlier near Lyon Ridge.
7:56:17 elapsed: Jenn Lichter continues to lead at El Dorado Creek (mile 52.9)
After retaking the lead from Riley Brady during the last 10 miles, Jenn Lichter has entered El Dorado Creek at 7:56:17 with a nearly four-minute lead over Brady.
Behind Brady, a women’s chase group of Tara Dower, Marianne Hogan, Lotti Brinks, Abby Hall, and Hannah Allgood sit in third through seventh place, spread over roughly four minutes.
7:45 elapsed: Jim Walmsley is on the ground in Michigan Bluff (mile 55.7)
The four-time champion and course record holder is sitting on the tarmac in this tiny town. He’s stretching, talking with his crew, and changing his shoes. Meanwhile, Ryan Montgomery has passed him in aid to leave Michigan Bluff in fourth.
Up ahead, Hans Troyer continues to lead, 3 minutes up on Italy’s Francesco Puppi and a staggering 33 minutes up on course record pace. 2024 UTMB champion and Hoka engineer Vincent Bouillard is in third, 11 minutes back on Troyer.
(Photo: Jacob Zocherman)
The battle just behind is heating up as well, with Zach Miller and Thomas Cardin running together nearly 20 minutes behind the fast-charging Troyer at Michigan Bluff in sixth and seventh, respectively.
7:15:49 elapsed: Jenn Lichter retakes the lead coming into Devil’s Thumb (mile 47.8)
Grab your popcorn, folks, this women’s race is cinema. Western States newcomer Jenn Lichter has surged with a vengeance past her ACG teammate Riley Brady to retake the lead up the long climb to Devil’s Thumb (mile 47.8). Given her strengths on the climbs and Brady’s on the descents, we wouldn’t be surprised to see them duke it out throughout the canyons.
“Feeling great,” Lichter said as she arrived at the aid station in 7:15:49, a massive 21 minutes up on Courtney Dauwalter’s course record splits. She was in and out of the aid station in 20 seconds. Brady followed 5 minutes back.
Lotti Brinks has moved up to third, 8 minutes down on Lichter. She was followed by Marianne Hogan (+9 on Lichter), Abby Hall (+10), Tara Dower (+10), and Hannah Allgood (+11).
5:15 elapsed: Hans Troyer extends lead to 5 minutes coming into Devil’s Thumb (mile 47.8)
The kid is young, fit, and absolutely crushing this 100-mile quest so far. He’s an astonishing 25 minutes up on course record pace and seems to be in good spirits. Francesco Puppi and Jim Walmsley are still essentially running together in second and third, 5 minutes back, followed by Vincent Bouillard (10:30+ on Troyer).
Ryan Montgomery is seemingly having a banner day running in fifth and on the hunt, according to intel on the ground at Devil’s Thumb. He’s 15 minutes back. Rounding out the top 10: Zach Miller, Anthony Costales, Thomas Cardin, Adam Peterman, and Dan Jones.
5:48:20 elapsed: Riley Brady takes the lead of the women’s race
Riley Brady (left) getting crewed by 2019 champ Clare Gallagher (right). (Photo: Jacob Zocherman)
They came into the Dusty Corners aid station (mile 38) 1:20 up on Jenn Litcher and 18 minutes up on course record pace. When we saw Brady on the ground in Robinson Flat, they said they were feeling really good. Marianne Hogan and Hannah Allgood are still running strong in third and fourth, a little under 4 minutes back from Brady.
Poland’s Martyna Młynarczyk is right behind in 5th, followed by Lotti Brinks (+6 min from Brady), Abby Hall, Lotti Brinks, and Molly Seidel (+7), and Yngvild Kaspersen (+11).
A cloudy, windy morning is giving way to a bluebird day.
5:45 elapsed: Kilian Jornet drops out of the race
(Photo: Jacob Zocherman)
The 2011 champion, widely considered the greatest ultrarunner of all time, has abandoned the race at the Dusty Corners aid station (mile 38). He has been vocal about dealing with a knee injury this spring (slash for years).
4:57:35 elapsed: Hans Troyer is extending his lead at the Dusty Corners aid station (mile 38)
Hans Troyer has not only maintained his lead, but has increased it to 3:30 over Vincent Bouillard in second place (5:01:09) and Francesco Puppi (5:01:13) in third at mile 38. Jim Walmsley is in fourth and has fallen over 1:30 behind Puppi, hitting Dusty Corners in 5:02:50.
Ryan Montgomery is still running solo, entering Dusty Corners at 5:08:12, less than six minutes behind Walmsley and almost three minutes ahead of a group with Zach Miller, Anthony Costales, and Thomas Cardin at the aid station.
Adam Peterman and Jeshurun Small round out the top 10.
4:48:55 elapsed: Jenn Lichter enters Robinson Flat (mile 30.3) in the lead
(Photo: Jacob Zocherman)
Jenn Lichter has made a decisive move in the six miles between Duncan Canyon and Robinson Flat, putting over a minute on Riley Brady who is now in second place at 4:50:08. They both came into aid and got watered down by their crews.
Not far behind, a four-person group with Martyna Mlynarczyk, Hannah Allgood, Marianne Hogan, and Abby Hall entered the Robinson Flat aid station with less than two minutes between them. Spotters report conditions are breezy in the aid station but much warmer in the trees. Most runners were coming in and dumping water.
Tara Dower, Lotti Brinks, Molly Seidel, and Hau Ha round out the top 10 at Robinson Flat—Dower is 3:30 back from the leader at 4:52:25, Ha comes through at 4:55:09.
4:35:13 elapsed: Hans Troyer has retaken the lead, entering Miller’s Defeat (mile 34.4) in first place
In the course of only four miles, Troyer put 1:18 on the group of Vincent Bouillard, Francesco Puppi, and Jim Walmsley. After remarking that this section was one of the most dangerous of the entire race, Walmsley entered the Miller’s Defeat aid station at mile 34.4 in fourth place but in close contact with Puppi and Bouillard.
Ryan Montgomery still sits in fifth place, running solo less than seven minutes behind Walmsley.
4:07:17 elapsed: Jim Walmsley has made up a huge gap and enters Robinson Flat at mile 30.3 in the lead (barely)
Jim Walmsley proved his experience and closed the gap to previous race leader Hans Troyer, entering Robinson Flat in the lead at mile 30.3. Not far behind, Vincent Bouillard and Francesco Puppi are still very close to the lead, only 33 seconds back from Troyer. Troyer did exit Robinson Flat ahead of Walmsley as the former took his time in the aid station.
For reference, Walmsley is 10 minutes faster than his 2016 splits and a whopping 17 minutes ahead of his course record splits from 2019!
Running alone, Ryan Montgomery entered Robinson Flat at 4:13:12 in fifth place, over four minutes from the lead group of four with Zach Miller and Thomas Cardin just trailing.
Notably, Killian Jornet has dropped back, now over nine minutes from the leaders in eighth place. Jeshurun Small and Anthony Costales round out the men’s top 10 in 4:17:28 and 4:17:30, respectively.
Last year’s fourth-place finisher Jeff Mogavero has continued to lose time to the front and now sits roughly 16 minutes back from the leaders.
3:50:22 elapsed: Marianne Hogan leads tight group of seven through mile 24.4 at Duncan Canyon
Boasting one of the tightest women’s races in Western States history so far, seven women enter the Duncan Canyon aid station at mile 24.4. At 3:50:22 Marianne Hogan narrowly leads Jenn Lichter, Martyna Mlynarczyk, Hannah Allgood, Riley Brady, Abby Hall, and Tara Dower—all less than a minute apart.
Only another 1:20 back from Dower, Lotti Brinks enters the Duncan Canyon time check at 3:52:21. Behind her, Molly Seidel, Honoka Akiyama, Yngvild Kaspersen, Caitlin Fielder, and Fiona Pascall are all trickling in between 3:53:28 (Seidel) and 3:57:31 (Pascall).
3:16:10 elapsed: Hans Troyer has broken away from the group, now nine minutes under course record pace
Troyer has pulled away from the group of three that includes Francesco Puppi, Jim Walmsley, and Vincent Bouillard. The trio is now three minutes behind the 26-year-old 2026 Western States 100 leader at Duncan Canyon (mile 24.4).
Killian Jornet has fallen back and joined up with Ryan Montgomery, Zach Miller (missing tracker), and Thomas Cardin at 3:21:51, over five minutes behind the race leader.
Two minutes farther back from the Jornet group in places 8-12 are Anthony Costales, Tracen Knopp, Adam Peterman, Dan Jones, and Jeff Mogavero.
Hayden Hawks came into the Duncan Canyon aid station struggling and sitting down before continuing on.
2:41:28 elapsed: Marianne Hogan leads a large group of women through Red Star Ridge (mile 15.8)
Not much has changed in the five miles since Lyon Ridge as a group of five—separated by 30 seconds—have come into the Red Star Ridge aid station at mile 15.8. Marianne Hogan continues to lead over Jenn Lichten, Hau Ha, reigning champ Abby Hall, and Martyna Mlynarczyk. Hogan is no stranger to the front of a race, with two previous podium finishes at Western States (2022, 2025) and a pair of podiums at UTMB Mont Blanc (2022, 2024).
Jenn Lichter is killing her first Western States. (Photo: Andy Cochrane)
Just behind the lead group is a pack of women including Hannah Allgood, Lotti Brinks, Riley Brady, Tara Dower, and Molly Seidel coming through at 2:42:07-2:42:55.
Last year’s runner up, Fuzhao Xiang has lost more time to the leader and sits about 6:30 back from Hogan, sitting in 15th place at 2:48:00 and still missing a tracker. Other notable names farther back include Addie Bracy at 2:55:32 and Emily Hawgood at 3:00:36.
2:17:08 elapsed: Hans Troyer maintains his lead through Red Star Ridge (mile 15.8)
Hans Troyer continues at the front, heading into Red Star Ridge, 15.8 miles into the race. Behind him is an all-star group of Europeans (Killian Jornet, Vincent Bouillard, and Francesco Puppi) and American and four-time Western States winner (2018, 2019, 2021, and 2024) Jim Walmsley. Troyer is now five minutes ahead of last year’s lead pace at this point, and only 30 seconds separates the top five men.
The next group, 2:29 behind, includes Ryan Montgomery, Thomas Cardin, and Zach Miller, while a third pack of nine men, including Hayden Hawks, Jeff Mogavero, and Dan Jones sit around 4:30-5:00 back from Troyer’s lead.
1:46:53 elapsed: Two-time podium finisher Marianne Hogan leads through Lyon Ridge (mile 10.3)
She’s almost 2 minutes behind course record pace and closely followed by Vietnam’s Hau Ha, defending champ Abby Hall, Jenn Lichter, Martyna Mlynarczyk, Lotti Brinks, and many more including Molly Seidel and Tara Dower. The top 10 are separated by less than 2 minutes. Lots of smiles were seen on their faces and some of them stopped to fill up bottles and others blew right through aid.
Notably, China’s Fuzhao Xiang sits in about 15th, 5 minutes behind. Last year she came through this aid station in about 35th before moving all the way up to second by the finish line. (Her bib has come off so she is currently not showing up in the live results.)
1:31:53 elapsed: Hans Troyer leads through Lyon Ridge (mile 10.3) well under course record pace
Just as we predicted, there’s been no fussing around so far on this cool and windy morning. Hans Troyer, who was 8th here in his debut last year, has gapped the field coming into Lyon Ridge (mile 10.3), over 2 minutes under course record pace.
Four-time champ and course record holder Jim Walmsley followed about 20 seconds back, with Kilian Jornet, Vincent Bouillard, and Francesco Puppi another 1:40 behind. A huge pack of 19 in total came through in under 1:36 elapsed.
00:39 elapsed: The first runners are up the escarpment
(Photo: Thomas Woodson)
High winds gusting to 55mph and low, near-freezing temperatures have chased the lead runners up the 2,550-foot climb to Emigrant Pass (mile 3.5), which sits at 8,750 feet above sea level. As the sun rose over Lake Tahoe, runners were still shrouded in jackets and hoods. Pre-race favorite Hans Troyer, who was 8th here last year in his debut, led the pack up and over the pass in just under 40 minutes elapsed. He was closely followed by 2011 winner Kilian Jornet, Francesco Puppi, Thomas Cardin, Vincent Bouillard, and Jim Walmsley.
At 44 minutes, spotters saw Jennifer Lichter, Abby Hall, Lottie Brinks, Yngvild Kaspersen, Molly Seidel (with a newly shaved head!), Caitlin Fielder, Martyna Mlynarczyk, and Honoka Akiyama in the lead pack with another group of women including Addie Bracy, Fiona Pascall, and Ellaney Matarese following shortly after.
Apparently trackers were being affected by the extra clothing and conditions, so some of the timing check results have been affected.
5:00 a.m. Saturday, June 27: The 2026 Western States 100 has begun!
(Photo: Jacob Zocherman)
Runners turned their eyes west and up for the first challenge of the day: scaling the 2,550-foot climb up the escarpment to the highpoint of the course, Emigrant Pass, at 8,750 feet above sea level. High winds mean the tram, which goes up most of the climb, won’t be running for the throngs of fans who typically greet runners at the top. We’ll see how many of them hoof it under their own power.
Abby Hall is ready to try and defend her title. (Photo: Jacob Zocherman)
For the first time, runners took off in 45-degree F temperatures with a blue-and-purple laser shining their names on the rock face looming over the start line.
Notably, defending champ Abby Hall was starting at the front near the pro men, signaling she’ll start hard and try to run off the front again like she had in 2025.
(Photo: Jacob Zocherman)
