Jennifer Lichter (pre-race interview) and France’s Vincent Bouillard took advantage of spectacularly cool weather and scorching competition to set new course records at the 2026 Western States 100.
Lichter’s time of 15:28:05 was a bit under Courtney Dauwalter’s course record of 15:29:33 set in 2023, while Bouillard smashed Jim Walmsley’s 2019 course record of 14:09:23 by 23 minutes by running 13:46:15.
Jennifer Lichter setting a course record at the 2026 Western States 100. Photo: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
The 5 a.m. start in Olympic Valley, California, saw runners line up in jackets on the 51 Fahrenheit (F) morning. As the day progressed, the unofficial high at the finish in Auburn reached only 74F, which would be the third coolest high temperature in race history and a full 16F under the race’s average high of 90F. Cool years have a history of being conducive to fast race times, with both Dauwalter’s and Walmsley’s previous course records run on below-average-temperature years.
It was safe to say that expectations were high for a new record or two this year as runners set out on the 100.2-mile journey across the Sierra Nevada over a course that challenges with its 18,000 feet of climbing and 22,000 feet of descent.
In a testament to the ideal race temperatures, and the exceptionally strong field, the second to fourth runners – Francesco Puppi of Italy, Ryan Montgomery, and Thomas Cardin of France, were all under the previous men’s course record, with Zach Miller’s fifth-place time still the 10th fastest time in men’s race history.
Perhaps even more incredibly, in the women’s race, Fu-Zhao Xiang’s (pre-race interview) seventh-place time was good enough for the 10th fastest time in women’s race history… by more than 11 minutes. This time would have been no worse than second in any other year, and would have beaten the previous fastest second-place time by 17.5 minutes.
Read on to see how the race played out.
Vincent Bouillard winning the 2026 Western States 100 in course record time. Photo: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
2026 Western States 100 Women’s Race
This year’s women’s field was likely the strongest the race has ever seen. Nine of the top 10 finishers from the previous year were back, including defending champion Abby Hall (pre-race interview), second-place Fu-Zhao Xiang (pre-race interview) of China, and third-place Marianne Hogan (pre-race interview) of Canada. Other top contenders included Jennifer Lichter (pre-race interview) and Olympic Marathon bronze medalist Molly Seidel, in their much-anticipated 100-mile debuts. Riley Brady and Martyna Młynarczyk of Poland were both back and eager to prove themselves on the course after disappointing abandons in 2025.
The start of the 2026 Western States 100. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Lichter was the fastest out of the starting blocks, leading the pack over the top of the Escarpment climb, seconds ahead of the rest of the field. Less than two minutes separated first through 10th place, and the situation would remain the same for the next 20 miles, all the way to Duncan Canyon at 24.4 miles. Hogan and Hậu Hà of Vietnam took turns to lead the pack, closely followed by Lichter, Młynarczyk, Hall, Hannah Allgood, and Brady.
By Robinson Flat, 30.3 miles into the race, Lichter and Brady had broken slightly from the pack, with Lichter in the lead by about 70 seconds. Młynarczyk held third, a further 20 seconds back. Allgood, Hogan, and Hall were in fourth to sixth positions, all within roughly one minute of each other. The frontrunners were incredibly tight, with first through 11th positions within seven minutes of each other.
Hannah Allgood running in fourth at Robinson Flat, mile 30, at the 2026 Western States 100. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Hà, after running near the front for the first 24 miles, dropped down to 10th place in the climb up from Duncan Creek to Robinson Flat. However, Hà managed to regroup and ran around 10th position the remainder of the race.
Over the next 13 miles, as runners made their way down toward Deadwood Canyon and the Last Chance aid station, Brady took the reins, running just ahead of Lichter. Lotti Brinks of Germany, having moved up from eighth position, led a chasing pack ahead of Hogan, Allgood, Tara Dower (pre-race interview), and Hall. This was to be the beginning of a fierce competition for third place between Hogan, Dower, and Brinks over the next 30 miles or so.
Tara Dower running in eighth at Dusty Corners, mile 38 of the 2026 Western States 100. Photo: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
The 1,8000-feet climb up to Devil’s Thumb at 47.8 miles proved to be a defining moment for Lichter. Well known for her fast climbing, she moved past Brady to take an almost five-minute lead. Brinks arrived at the top 3.5 minutes behind Brady, and one minute ahead of Hogan. Hall and Dower followed together in fifth and sixth places, one minute ahead of Allgood, and 10 minutes off the lead.
Młynarczyk struggled with the pace over this section, drifting down to ninth place by Last Chance, mile 43.3, and continuing to drop down the rankings in the climb up Devil’s Thumb before dropping at mile 62 in Foresthill.
Riley Brady running in second through Robinson Flat, mile 30, during the 2026 Western States 100. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Lichter held on to a four-minute lead over Brady down into El Dorado Canyon and up to Michigan Bluff at 55.7 miles. The two front-runners were extending their lead, and the rest of the field began to spread out at last. Hogan held onto third place, 12 minutes behind the lead, and Hogan, Brinks, Dower, Hall, and Allgood were separated by just six minutes. Teammates Yngvild Kaspersen of Norway and Caitlin Fielder of New Zealand were running together in eighth and ninth places, 15 minutes off the lead, and six minutes ahead of 10th-place Seidel. From there, Seidel would continue on, though out of top 10 contention.
Caitlin Fielder running in eighth in Foresthill, mile 62 of the 2026 Western States 100. Photo: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Over the next six miles through Volcano Canyon, Brady threatened to close in on Lichter, reducing the gap to around 90 seconds. However, Lichter rallied in the descent into Dardanelles at 65.7 miles to gain some ground. Brady stayed dangerously close through the Cal Street section and hung a mere two minutes back at the river crossing at mile 78, but by mile 85.2, Lichter had built a seven-minute lead. At this point, she was ahead of the course record by four minutes.
Jennifer Lichter crossing the American River in first at the 2026 Western States 100. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Third through fifth places were held by Hogan, Brinks, and Fielder, separated by under 10 minutes. Hall struggled through Cal Street, slipping out of the top 10 for the first time, and eventually withdrew at Green Gate at mile 80.
Lichter powered through the final miles, extending her lead on the rest of the field as she went. As she came through Robie Point, one mile from the finish, she was around one minute ahead of the course record.
Jennifer Lichter grit her teeth through that final mile to finish in a groundbreaking 15:28:05, 85 seconds ahead of Courtney Dauwalter’s previous record of 15:29:33 from 2023. This was her second course record of the year after her win at the 2026 Black Canyon 100k in February.
Ten miles from the finish, it seemed that Hogan could be closing in on Brady. Instead, Riley Brady rallied, pulling away and crossing the line in second place in 15:42:14. This was their third, and by far their best, participation at Western States, following a 14th-place finish in 2023 and dropping out in 2025.
Riley Brady taking second at the 2026 Western States 100. Photo: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Marianne Hogan crossed the line in third place in 15:51:44, cementing a huge personal best on the course, and matching her position from both 2022 and 2025.
Marianne Hogan taking third at the Western States 100 for the third time. Photo: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Caitlin Fielder came into the finish in fourth at 15:57:09, improving on her eighth place from 2025. Her conservative start, which saw her sitting back in 13th place at mile 34, paid off, seeing her move through the field in the closing half.
Lotti Brinks rounded out the top five, finishing in 16:04:38. Her consistent effort saw her run near the front of the pack for the entirety of the race, improving on her 14th place in the 2024 Western States.
Tara Dower held tough all day to finish seventh in 16:13:07, while Fu-Zhao Xiang ultimately took eighth 16:25:59, after running outside the top 10 for much of the race.
Lotti Brinks crossing the American River on her way to placing fifth at the 2026 Western States 100. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
2026 Western States 100 Women’s Results
- 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 in the women’s race.
Hậu Hà finishing ninth at the 2026 Western States 100, her second top 10 finish in a row. Photo: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
2026 Western States 100 Men’s Race
Calling the men’s race stacked would be an understatement. It proved to be a dynamic race from start to finish, with cooler temperatures allowing for more aggressive pacing — no one really knew how fast the course could be run without blazing heat putting a governor on everyone’s speed. Several tried their hand near or at the front, but the miles, speed, and afternoon warm temperatures led to a race that saw seemingly just as much attrition as the years when temperatures blazed.
Hans Troyer setting the pace alone up front on Red Star Ridge, 15 miles into the 2026 Western States 100. Photo: iRunFar/Gabe Joyes
As expected, the men went out hot from the start, with the top 18 runners all coming through the Escarpment 3.5 miles and 2,200 feet of climbing from the start within one minute of each other. Hans Troyer (pre-race interview) led the charge through the high point 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 rest of the field strung out behind. By Lyon Ridge at 10.3 miles, he had broken away from the pack. He continued to lead into Duncan Canyon, 24.4 miles into the race, using the big descent to put almost three minutes onto the chasing pack of Puppi, Walmsley, and Bouillard. Zach Miller and Montgomery followed around two minutes back, ahead of Jornet and Cardin in seventh and eighth positions.
Ryan Montgomery running in fifth through Robinson Flat during the 2026 Western States 100. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Walmsley attacked in the following stretch down to Duncan Creek, then up the long climb to Robinson Flat, coming through the aid station at 30.3 miles just ahead of Troyer. However, four miles later, at Miller’s Defeat, Troyer was back in the lead, and Walmsley had nestled back in with teammates Bouillard and Puppi, 75 seconds behind. Jornet had dropped out of the top 10 at this point and would later pull from the race at mile 38, with Montgomery, Miller, and Cardin running in fifth through seventh.
Troyer put in a big effort to build up a lead of six minutes through Last Chance at 43.3 miles, holding his pace in the descent into Deadwood Canyon, then striking out on the 1,800-foot climb to Devil’s Thumb at 47.8 miles alone at the front. In a testament to his blistering pace over the opening miles, he came through the top of the canyon a full 26 minutes ahead of the course record, and nearly five minutes ahead of Puppi and Walmsley. However, his lead margin began to slip through his fingers over the next 20 miles.
Adam Peterman climbing to Michigan Bluff, after halfway, at the 2026 Western States 100. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
By the Michigan Bluff aid station at 55.7 miles, Troyer’s lead over Puppi had shrunk to three minutes. Bouillard arrived in third place, 11 minutes behind the lead, and two minutes ahead of Walmsley, who took a moment to regroup here. He kept going, but it was ultimately the end of his quest for victory and he would DNF at Forresthill.
Just before Foresthill at 62 miles, Puppi caught Troyer briefly, but Troyer dug in through the descent to come into the aid station with a lead of 15 seconds. Bouillard followed in third place, still roughly 11 minutes behind the leaders, and one minute ahead of Montgomery. Roughly 20 minutes off the lead, Miller and 2022 champion Adam Peterman (pre-race interview) were running together in fifth and sixth, 90 seconds ahead of Cardin, who bested Bouillard in earning his Golden Ticket with a win at the 2026 Chianti 120k. Canyon Woodward, Jeff Mogavero (pre-race interview), and Anthony Costales, who was third at the race in 2023, rounded out the top 10 at what is often considered the turning point of the race. Unfortunately, Costales would start to descend in the rankings here before ultimately finishing 18th.
Zach Miller and Adam Peterman running into Foresthill together at the 2026 Western States 100. Photo: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Troyer held onto a lead of just under a minute over the next five miles, but Puppi was moving better, and by Peachstone, halfway through the Cal Street section at mile 71, he had moved into the lead, two minutes up on Troyer. The Italian was also an impressive 15 minutes up on the course record. On the other hand, Troyer’s bold race would end at Rucky Chucky at mile 78.
Francesco Puppi crossing the American River at mile 78 in first place during the 2026 Western States 100. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Bouillard had been a constant presence behind the leaders since the beginning of the race, coming through Foresthill in third, then moving through the Cal Street section just behind Montgomery. By mile 78 at Rucky Chucky, Bouillard had moved back ahead of Montgomery and was just five minutes behind Puppi. Two miles later, he was only 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 at the 2026 Western States 100. He would go on to win the race. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Bouillard made his winning move coming into Quarry Road, 10 miles from the end of the race. He flew past Puppi to come through the aid station with a two-minute lead, and Montgomery was closing in dangerously, now less than two minutes back from Puppi. Much like he did when he won the 2024 UTMB, Bouillard was once again at the front of one of the biggest races in the world.
From here, it was Bouillard’s race. He didn’t falter under the pressure, powering through Pointed Rocks at mile 94 and Robie Point, and into the closing mile. Vincent Bouillard turned into the Placer High School track to meet the crowds, crossing the line to cement a new course record of 13:46:15, an awe-inspiring 23 minutes ahead of the previous course record of 14:09:23 set by Walmsley in 2019.
In a nail-biting finish, Francesco Puppi held on to second place to cross the line in 13:51:08, in what has to be one of the greatest 100-miler debuts of all time. Two separate falls earlier in the year threatened to jeopardize his race preparation, making this performance all the more impressive. Although this was his first time over this distance, Puppi came into the race as one of the top contenders after dominating wins at the Canyons 100k and CCC in 2025.
Francesco Puppi taking second at the 2026 Western States 100. Photo: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Ryan Montgomery paced their race to perfection, holding back just outside of the lead pack in the opening miles, then picking off the places as other runners faded to cross the finish line in third place in 13:53:55. This was Montgomery’s fourth year running at Western States, including seventh place last year.
Ryan Montgomery finishing third at the 2026 Western States 100. Photo: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Thomas Cardin crossed the line in fourth place in his first-ever 100 miler in 14:07:58. He was also under the previous course record.
Zach Miller was fifth in his first Western States, finishing in 14:20:09, which was still good enough for the 10th fastest time in race history.
Thomas Cardin running in seventh in the early going at Robinson Flat. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Adam Peterman improved on his run from last year to finish in sixth in 14:26:11, Jeff Mogavero finished seventh in 14:38:36, and Canyon Woodward moved up to finish in eighth in 14:45:24.
2026 Western States 100 Men’s Results
- 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 in the men’s race.
Hiroki Kai crossing the American River on his way to his second-straight tenth-place finish at the Western States 100. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Coverage Thanks
Thanks so much to the following individuals who helped iRunFar cover this race: Gabe Joyes, Ellie Greenwood, Marissa Harris, Casey Wyatt, Ashley Saloga, Paula Leuzzi, Paulina Popovskaia, Rosey Vaughan, Faith Akioyamen, Rachel Barrington, Margaret Moody, Megan Isom, and Verity Breen.
