Course records were smashed and history made as France’s Vincent Bouillard and America’s Jenn Lichter took the respective titles at the iconic Western States Endurance Run.
The world’s oldest 100-mile trail run takes athletes from Olympic Valley to Auburn in California and with the third coolest day in the race’s 53-year history, predictions beforehand suggested that record times could be under threat.
And that was the case as Bouillard joined a very select group of runners by adding a Western States title to his 2024 UTMB crown as he knocked more than 20 minutes off Jim Walmsley’s previous best time.
He crossed the line at the Placer High School track in 13 hours, 46 minutes and 15 seconds, the first person to go sub-14. And two more quickly followed as first Francesco Puppi in 13:51:08 and then Ryan Montgomery in 13:53:55 followed him home.
Meanwhile Lichter was writing ultrarunning folklore of her own as she triumphed in what was her 100-mile debut.
And what’s more she went under the previous course record, set by the GOAT in Courtney Dauwalter, stopping the clock in 15:28:05.
Men’s race
It was Hans Troyer who lit up the race from the start in what were unusually cold conditions, prompting the majority of the runners to wear zipped up jackets for the start at 5am local time.
A stunning sunrise was the reward at the top of the first and biggest (2,500-feet) climb up to Emigrant Pass and it was Troyer and course record holder Walmsley who put the hammer down from the outset.
When things settled down Troyer led the way at Lyon Ridge after 10.3 miles, chased by a who’s who of ultrarunning – Bouillard, Puppi, Kilian Jornet and Walmsley.
Undaunted by that Troyer continued to extend his advantage and he reached the halfway point in six and a half hours, fully 25 minutes ahead of the course record schedule.
The 2011 winner Jornet had by this point dropped out as his pre-race knee issue flared up again.
But Puppi, last year’s CCC winner, was still going strong in second, Walmsley third and Bouillard fourth.
Walmsley was the next big name to exit proceedings at mile 62 and suddenly Troyer’s race would start to unravel soon after and he would officially drop at the mile 78 Rucky Chucky river crossing.
All of which left Puppi in the lead but it was Bouillard who was moving strongest and he powered to the head of the race and would never look back.
His time of 13:46:15 knocked a whopping 23 minutes and 13 seconds off Walmsley’s 2019 mark.
Puppi was second in 13:51:08 on what was his 100-mile debut while Montgomery’s 13:53:55 would have won every previous edition by a huge margin but was only good enough for third on this occasion.
Women’s race
In stark contrast to the men’s race which spread out early on, the women were tightly packed.
After 10 miles last year’s third Marianne Hogan led the way and not far behind was defending champion Abby Hall.
Not much more than 30 seconds covered the top seven at Red Star Ridge but the complexion then started to change and by Robinson Flat at 30.3 miles Lichter led by over a minute to Riley Brady.
Brady then took over in front by the Dusty Corners aid station (mile 38), with Lichter two minutes adrift. Running together in third and fourth at that point were Hogan and Hannah Allgood, five minutes back.
And for the next 40 miles there was little between the front two, with Lichter just 90 seconds to the good at the river crossing at Rucky Chucky 78 miles in.
But from then on it was all about Lichter as she pulled clear – and the big question was whether she would be able to lower Dauwalter’s incredible course record.
It was close but a super-strong finish on her first attempt at the distance saw Lichter power around the track to finish in 15:28:05, a minute and 28 seconds under the previous best.
Brady was second in 15:42:14 while Hogan bagged a third third-place finish in 15:51:44.
Western States 2026 results
100.2 miles – Olympic Valley to Placer High School, Saturday 27 June
MEN
| Position | Athlete | Overall Time |
| 1 | Vincent Bouillard | 13:46:15 |
| 2 | Francesco Puppi | 13:51:08 |
| 3 | Ryan Montgomery | 13:53:55 |
| 4 | Thomas Cardin | 14:07:58 |
| 5 | Zach Miller | 14:20:09 |
| 6 | Adam Peterman | 14:26:11 |
| 7 | Jeff Mogavero | 14:38:36 |
| 8 | Canyon Woodward | 14:45:24 |
| 9 | Will Murray | 15:23:12 |
| 10 | Hiroki Kai | 15:26:34 |
WOMEN
| Position | Athlete | Overall Time |
| 1 | Jennifer Lichter | 15:28:05 |
| 2 | Riley Brady | 15:42:14 |
| 3 | Marianne Hogan | 15:51:44 |
| 4 | Caitlin Fielder | 15:57:09 |
| 5 | Lotti Brinks | 16:04:38 |
| 6 | Tara Dower | 16:13:07 |
| 7 | Fuzhao Xiang | 16:25:59 |
| 8 | Fiona Pascall | 16:32:05 |
| 9 | Hau Ha | 16:40:38 |
| 10 | Hannah Allgood | 16:45:56 |
