Western States 100-mile Endurance Run 2025 women’s results: Abby Hall crowns fairytale comeback

American star Abby Hall claimed a hugely emotional and career-defining win when she triumphed in the women’s race at the 52nd edition of the Western States Endurance Run, the oldest and most iconic 100-mile race in the world.

Hall’s journey to the start line was arguably far more dramatic than her emphatic success in California as she first had to battle back from a serious injury before grabbing a last-gasp Golden Ticket.

But she took her chance in brilliant style, making a statement start as she led at the very first checkpoint after just four miles at Escarpment. And though she was headed not long after, she was back in front after 60 miles and gradually eased clear of her rivals with a masterclass display.

Her time of 16:37:16 was the fourth fastest in history and 10 minutes ahead of Fuzhao Xiang (CHN) in second, with Marianne Hogan (CAN) rounding out the podium in third.

Unexpected opportunity

The story of Hall’s build up to the race was a rollercoaster one.

A two-time UTMB Mont Blanc CCC (100km) podium finisher, she had endured a frustrating couple of years while she recovered from a serious knee injury.

But she returned to winning ways at the Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko by UTMB last December – which booked her return to Chamonix – and then set about trying to snare a Golden Ticket for Western States.

Abby Hall wins 2024 Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko by UTMB 100km title [Photo credit: Tim Bardsley-Smith | UTMB]

That didn’t prove easy however and she looked to have agonisingly missed out when taking fifth at the Black Canyon Ultras earlier this year, with the three rolldowns going to second, third and fourth as winner Riley Brady had already secured their spot with a victory at the 2024 Javelina 100 Mile.

But weeks later, Hall revealed a huge change of fortune on her Instagram page as she explained: “One of the golden tickets 🎫 from @blackcanyonultras has rolled down to me, and I’m thrilled to say I’ve officially accepted and am registered for 2025 @wser! 🥳

“The best news, which some of you may have already seen, is that the ticket rolls down to me because @emkaysulli is pregnant! 🥲 she gets to defer her entry through WSER’s pregnancy deferral option. she called and shared the news with me over the weekend. it was such a beautiful passing of the baton, if you will, and I’m so inspired watching an incredible athlete like emkay enter this new season of her own as she becomes a mother.”

How the race played out

It was Hall’s second appearance at Western States following her debut in 2021 (when she was 14th) and she made her intentions clear early on by forging to the front.

She was then part of a leading group of four alongside Ida Nilsson (SWE), Eszter Csillag (HUN) and Martyna Mlynarczyk (POL).

But while others then dropped away, Hall stood firm and not long after the halfway point she powered past Młynarczyk and into the lead, a position she would never relinquish.

With 10 miles to go at the Quarry Road checkpoint she was 10 minutes ahead of Fuzhao Xiang and still looking comfortable.

And that was how it stayed as almost exactly 10 minutes separated them on the line at the Placer High School track, with the Chinese athlete repeating last year’s runner-up spot. Marianne Hogan moved past Nilsson late on to take third.

Hall was the 11th-placed finisher overall, with the men’s race won by Caleb Olson.