Ready-made star of the running world Tom Evans, born February 1992 in Sussex, boasts a plethora of race wins and course records over a range of distances despite only entering his first ultra in 2016. 

Once the youngest captain in the British Army, the beginning of Evans’ career in the sport is partly credited to a drunken bet with his friends. 

A natural athlete, he dabbled in track events and hockey as a youngster, but rugby was his primary focus – he represented England schoolboys and had trials with top-flight club Harlequins. 

It was during his army days he discovered his passion for endurance running – after winning the 2016 Beacons Ultra he agreed to take on the grueling desert ultra ‘Marathon De Sables’, albeit under the influence of a few beers. 

But he stuck to his word and achieved a remarkable result in the 2017 event, as he came home in third. 

Since then, Evans has continued to astound and impress, setting records and picking up medals over a variety of distances across several countries. 

He suffered a setback in 2021 as he was forced to undergo knee surgery, ending his dream of flying the flag for Britain in the marathon event at the Tokyo Olympics. However, after a five-month recovery period, he picked up where he left off and has since had numerous impressive finishes and overall wins- with his most famous win being the Western States 100 in 2023.

Away from the trails, Tom is keen to make a positive impact on the world and is an ambassador for spinal cord research foundation Wings for Life. 

He pays tribute to his military background at every race, saluting as he crosses the finish line in what has become his trademark celebration. 

Tom Evans record and results

After winning his maiden ultra, 2016 Beacons Ultra, Evans finished third at the 2017 Marathon des Sables in 2017, the highest-ever finish by a European. 

He followed that up with fourth-place finishes at the 101km CCC race at UTMB and Eiger Ultra-Trail 2 later that year. 

2018 proved a prosperous year as he set course records en route to triumphs at Coastal Challenge Costa Rica and South Downs Way 50, as well as winning Montreux Trail Festival Switzerland. 

He improved on his result at the 101km CCC race at UTMB to claim an impressive victory and finished third at both the Trail Running World Championships and Spain’s Penyagolosa Trails. 

Two more podium finishes came in 2019 as he picked up third at Lake Sonoma 50 and Western States 100, the latter of which saw him post the fastest time by an overseas runner. 

Away from trail running, Evans also helped Great Britain to European XC Championships Team Gold in 2019. 

There was more success in cross country the following year as he finished third at the British XC Championships, and he also represented Great Britain at the World Half Marathon Championships. 

However, he continued to thrive on the ultra scene, with another course record and win coming at Tarawera Ultra.  

After an injury-hit 2021, Evans returned to action in 2022 and marched to victory at the 62km Transgrancanaria – Advanced race before conquering Madeira Island Ultra-Trail. 

An impulsive decision to sign up for Scafell Sky Race saw him register another victory, as well as another course record. 

He then came third at the full UTMB in 2022, before he recorded his biggest achievement to date in 2023 when he became the first-ever British man to win the iconic American race, Western States 100.

Evans then attempted to complete ‘the double’ of Western States and UTMB in one year, but failed to finish the 2023 edition of the UTMB after going missing on the course. He ended up needing to be hospitalised.