It’s one other yr, and as soon as once more, the 2024 Western States 100 is more likely to be one of the aggressive males’s ultrarunning fields on U.S. soil this yr.
The purpose-to-point course from Olympic Valley to Auburn, California, will see runners cowl simply over 100 miles with 18,000 toes of climbing and a bit extra descending on this internet downhill course.
Comparatively quick situations and an excellent robust area noticed the 2023 race equal the 2019 race’s mark for probably the most runners below 16 hours, with 10 such runners. Regardless of one other robust area that sees seven of final yr’s top-10 males, in addition to course file holder Jim Walmsley returning, there’s no assure that the robust area will produce equally quick instances. As at all times, the potential of a “scorching yr” looms, with the opportunity of turning a observe meet right into a march of attrition for these on the entrance of the pack.
Jim Walmsley successful the 2021 Western States 100. He returns in 2024 as the boys’s favourite. Photograph: iRunFar/Alex Potter
Headlining this yr’s version, together with Walmsley, shall be two-time runner-up Tyler Inexperienced and reigning CCC, Les Templiers, and Transvulcania champion Jon Albon. We additionally anticipate Hayden Hawks, who took second in 2022, to characteristic prominently.
Learn on to see who else needs to be up on the entrance of this yr’s area. We’ll even be updating this text till race day with any last-minute adjustments.
iRunFar shall be there to report firsthand on all of the motion because it unfolds beginning at 5 a.m. U.S. PDT on Saturday, June 29. Keep tuned!
A particular due to HOKA for making our protection of the Western States 100 doable!
Thanks additionally to Fractel for sponsoring our race protection.
You’ll want to additionally take a look at our 2024 Western States 100 girls’s preview.
Tom Evans and Dakota Jones locked in a duel climbing to Michigan Bluff on the 2023 Western States 100. Jones returns to the 2024 males’s area. Photograph: iRunFar/Jaja Ferrer Capili
Returning Prime 10
Seven of final yr’s high 10 males stay on the entrant checklist for the time being. Each final yr’s champion, Tom Evans, and sixth-place man Mathieu Blanchard declined their invites to return forward of final December’s race lottery. Third man Anthony Costales initially accepted his spot however has since withdrawn from the race.
Tyler Inexperienced – 2nd, 15:04:09 (2023 post-race interview)
Tyler Inexperienced
The highest returning runner at this yr’s Western States is Tyler Inexperienced, who took second final yr. Tyler additionally took second on the race in 2021, whereas ending fourth in 2022. No different man has seen constant success at Western States within the 2020s like Inexperienced has. And that success isn’t restricted to Western States, as final yr he additionally took third at Transgrancanaria and sixth at UTMB. Inexperienced ran effectively in early Could, successful the Tillamook Burn 50 Mile, working 16 minutes sooner than his time there in 2021, and taking fourth within the accompanying 50k the next day.
Jia-Sheng Shen (China) – 4th, 15:19:42
Whereas Chinese language ultrarunners have seen growing success globally over latest years, Jia-Sheng Shen’s 15:19 in taking fourth ultimately yr’s Western States could also be one of the best efficiency by a Chinese language ultrarunner on U.S. soil so far. Much less recognized within the U.S., Shen has been successful ultras since a minimum of 2017. In simply the previous few years, he’s been third on the 2022 Lavaredo Extremely Path, first on the 2022 Eiger Extremely-Path 101k, in addition to taking fourth, after which second, on the previous two CCCs. Thus far this yr, Shen has been fifth at Transgrancanaria and third at Mount Yun 100k.
Daniel Jones (New Zealand) – fifth, 15:22:15
Daniel Jones
New Zealand’s Daniel Jones returns to Western States after ending fifth in his debut final yr. He adopted that effort up with a Twelfth-place end at UTMB later in the summertime. This previous February, Jones received the Tarawera 100k, repeating his win from 2023. It seems as if Jones is spending important time within the U.S. forward of Western States, as he was second on the Canyons 50k in late April and received the Bryce Canyon 50k in mid Could.
Ryan Montgomery – seventh, 15:38:35
Whereas having run all kinds of occasions previous to final yr, Ryan Montgomery noticed probably the most success in flat and quick races, resembling working 12:59 on the Brazos Bend 100 Mile in 2019, taking fourth on the 2020 Bandera 100k, and working 13:33 on the 2021 Javelina 100 Mile. Then, he completed seventh with a 15:38 ultimately yr’s quick, however decidedly not flat, Western States. Since then, Montgomery took third on the 2023 Javelina 100 Mile in 12:59 and second on the Quad Rock 50 Mile final month. Montgomery identifies as non-binary, and competes within the males’s class.
Jeff Colt – eighth, 15:42:09
Jeff Colt
In 2022, Jeff Colt ran 16:51 to complete eleventh at Western States. Final yr, he minimize greater than an hour off his time by working 15:42 and gaining an entry into this yr’s occasion by ending eighth. That enchancment wasn’t all that stunning provided that between these two races, Colt took 14th on the 2022 Path World Championships — Lengthy Path in Thailand and received the 2023 Bandera 100k. Whereas he had a comparatively tough go at UTMB final summer season, he received the Sean O’Brien 50k this January.
Cole Watson – ninth, 15:54:36
Cole Watson was one other runner who upped his recreation between the previous two Western States, enhancing from 14th man in 17:56 to ninth man in 15:54 in 2022 and 2023, respectively. In between, he was fourth on the 2023 Black Canyon 100k and first on the 2023 Canyons 100k. Later final yr, he took 14th on the 53-kilometer OCC. Thus far this yr, Watson completed effectively again within the area at February’s Black Canyon 100k earlier than successful the Rattlesnake Dick 50k in late March and taking third on the Canyons 50k in late April, about 5 minutes behind second-place Daniel Jones.
Janosch Kowalczyk (Germany) – tenth, 16:09:19
Janosch Kowalczyk
In February 2023, Janosch Kowalczyk ran his manner into final yr’s Western States by taking third on the Black Canyon 100k. Then, in late June, he ran his manner again into the occasion for 2024 by ending because the tenth man. That success was no shock, as lately, the German has taken sixth on the 2021 CCC and received the 2022 Mozart 100k. Earlier this yr, Kowalczyk confirmed he ought to as soon as once more be within the combine, having received the Istria 100k in April.
The highest 10 males on the 2023 Western States 100. Photograph: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Extra Prime Contenders
Jim Walmsley
Barring some stunning information, Jim Walmsley ought to return to the Western States beginning line as the favourite to take residence his fourth win at Western States after taking the previous two years off from the race to give attention to UTMB. That shift in focus led to him taking fourth at UTMB in 2022 earlier than successful in course file time in 2023. Walmsley’s historical past at Western States is well-known. After just a few stumbles in his first two aggressive makes an attempt on the race in 2016 and 2017, he received in a then-course file time of 14:30 in 2018 earlier than setting the usual once more together with his bonkers 14:09 win in 2019. He got here again once more in 2021 to win comfortably in 14:46. That offers Walmsley three of the 5 quickest instances ever run at Western States in his three most up-to-date runs. Nobody else on this yr’s race has damaged 15 hours on the course. Walmsley’s been quiet on the racing entrance since successful the Good Côte d’Azur 100k late final September.
Jon Albon (U.Ok., residing in Norway) has been crushing ultras for a minimum of a decade now and is exhibiting no indicators of slowing down. Whether or not it’s an excellent technical course or a burner, Albon has an opportunity to win any race he enters. Over simply the previous two years, he’s been second at CCC in 2022 and received it final yr, received Les Templiers final yr, not for the primary time, and received Transvulcania this yr. That mentioned, this shall be a step into the unknown for Albon, as I don’t see any proof of him having tried a 100 miler, and it doesn’t appear to be he’s been in a pure working race longer than 11 hours. Nonetheless, that lack of expertise on the distance needn’t maintain him off the rostrum.
Hayden Hawks
After shifting up from eighth in 2021 to take second at Western States in 2022, Hayden Hawks dropped out of final yr’s race with an harm. That was no barrier to Hawks returning to this yr’s Western States as he set a course file at February’s Black Canyon 100k. Apart from that, Hawks has been quietly robust the previous few years, additionally taking second on the 2023 Tarawera 100k and first on the 2023 Canyons 50k.
Dakota Jones has had an up-and-down previous two years, with a win at Transvulcania and a 3rd at CCC final yr, together with a Seventeenth-place end at Western States final June and one other Seventeenth-place end at Transvulcania this Could. However trying again only a hair additional suggests there’s no motive Jones shouldn’t be within the combine on the entrance of the sphere at any 100 miler, as he was third on the 2022 Hardrock 100 and received the 2022 Javelina 100 Mile in lower than 13 hours.
Petter Engdahl
A Swede residing in Norway, Petter Engdahl ran his manner into Western States with a third-place end on the Canyons 100k in April. He probably had his finest season thus far in 2022 when he received the Innsbruck Alpine Marathon, Zermatt Marathon, CCC, and Transvulcania. Apparently, Engdahl has DNFed his two longest races so far, failing to complete each Madeira Island Extremely-Path 115k and UTMB final yr. Perhaps this would be the race through which he finds success past 100k.
Rod Farvard is on a particular uptrend at Western States. He DNFed in 2021, was forty first man in 2022, and was eleventh man in 2023, lacking the coveted tenth place and an computerized entry again into this yr’s Western States by all of seven minutes. Thankfully for him, he ran arguably his finest ultramarathon so far in April, when he received the Canyons 100k, besting third-place Petter Engdahl by 11 minutes.
China’s Ji Duo has primarily raced inside Asia and, certainly, principally in China. Meaning much less direct competitors amongst these he’ll face at Western States and even the technique of evaluating instances on shared programs. That mentioned, he did end 14th ultimately yr’s UTMB in his European debut. Since early final yr, he’s additionally received the Extremely-Path Ninghai 105k, been third on the 2023 TransJeju 100k, received the 2023 Doi Inthanon 100 Mile forward of third-place Robert Hajnal, and received the 2024 Mount Yun 100k forward of third-place Jia-Sheng Shen.
It’s a bit arduous to put Jonathan Rea on this preview as he’s not run as much as his potential in two goes at Western States, ending sixteenth after which 14th among the many males the previous two years. One might then take a look at his Javelina 100 Mile outcomes, a second to Dakota Jones in 13:05 in 2022 and a win in 2023 in 12:43 and suppose perhaps he’s a flat and quick specialist. However that’s not the case, as evidenced by his fourth place ultimately yr’s CCC behind three males he’ll see once more at this race, Jon Albon, Jia-Sheng Shen, and Dakota Jones. Wanting additional again in 2022, he received races as disparate because the Bandera 100k and Quad Rock 50 Mile. Perhaps the third time’s the appeal for Rea at Western States!
I’ll admit I’m simply studying about Blake Slattengren as I write this preview … and, dang, what an ascendance! Since leaping into ultras simply three years in the past, he was sixth on the 2022 Chuckanut 50k, second on the 2023 Gorge Waterfalls 100k, and second on the 2023 Javelina 100 Mile, working a 12:58 in his 100-mile debut. Sizzling rattling!
Robert Hajnal
For me, it’s straightforward to consider Romania’s Robert Hajnal as standing out throughout the heyday of the Extremely-Path World Tour within the late 2010s, a time which included him taking second at UTMB in 2018 and fourth at Madeira Island Extremely-Path in 2019, however he’s nonetheless working robust. In simply the previous two years, he was seventh after which second at Lavaredo Extremely Path, in addition to ninth at UTMB in 2022.
Mexico’s Jupiter Carera hasn’t raced a lot overseas, however he did take second behind Hayden Hawks at this February’s Black Canyon 100k. Carera appears to be like to have solely taken up ultrarunning just a few years in the past and solely has one different 100k on his resume, a win of the small Ultramaratón de los Cañones in 2022. Timewise, his longest race so far seems to have been an 11:18 Fortieth-place ultimately yr’s Path World Championships — Lengthy Path in Austria.
Chris Myers has been speedy since leaping into ultras in his early twenties round 5 years in the past, working a 3:31 at Manner Too Cool 50k in 2020 and dropping that to three:21 in 2022. Nonetheless, it was simply final yr that he made the leap as much as 100ks, ending fourth on the Bandera 100k in 8:37. He continued rolling alongside final yr, taking third on the Manner Too Cool 50k, fifth on the Lake Sonoma 50 Mile, eleventh on the Damaged Arrow Skyrace 46k, and third on the Mammoth Trailfest 50k. He kicked issues off this yr by working his manner into Western States by taking third on the Black Canyon 100k in February earlier than successful the Gorge Waterfalls 50k in April.
Caleb Olson ran his manner into this yr’s Western States by successful final autumn’s Grindstone 100k. Since then, he was second at Extremely-Path Cape City 100k in November and second on the Madeira Island Extremely-Path 85k this April. Wanting a bit additional again to 2022, he was ninth at each the Canyons 100k and Speedgoat 50k, whereas ending thirteenth at CCC.
Hayden Hawks throughout the 2022 Western States 100. He went on to complete second that yr and returns for the 2024 race. Photograph: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Nonetheless Extra Quick Males to Watch
Caleb Bowen – 2nd 2023 Grindstone 100k; third 2023 Gorge Waterfalls 100k
Nick Coury – fifth 2022 Javelina 100 Mile; eighth 2022 Hardrock 100; 173 miles at 2021 Desert Soltice 24 Hour
Guo-Min Deng (China) – 1st 2024 Mount Fuji 100 Mile; eighth 2023 KAT100k; twentieth 2022 UTMB
Simon Gosselin (France) – 2nd 2023 Good Côte d’Azur 100k; 4th 2022 Les Templiers
Paul Jacobs – 4th 2023 Grindstone 100k; 1st 2022 Massanutten 100 Mile (2nd quickest time in race historical past); tenth 2021 JFK 50 Mile
Harvey Lewis – 1st 2023 Massive Canine’s Yard Extremely; 12 Badwater 135 Mile finishes, together with wins in 2021 and 2014
Drew Mueller – fifth 2023 Quebec Mega Path; 1st 2023 Superior Spring 50k; 18th 2023 Chuckanut 50k
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Tyler Inexperienced opening up his stride coming into Foresthill at over midway into the 2023 Western States 100. He would go on to take second, and is returning for 2024. Photograph: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
