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Caleb Olson may be a new name, but it won’t be anymore. At 7:11 p.m. on Saturday, the 29-year-old from Salt Lake City broke the tape holding his seven-week old son, Marshall, at the 2025 Western States 100 on a 95-degree here in Auburn. His time of 14 hours, 11 minutes, and 25 seconds is the second-fastest ever, behind only Jim Walmsley.
He was pushed all day, at first by a runner “peloton” that included big names like Kilian Jornet and David Roche. Nearly all faded away, save for another 29-year-old rising star, Chris Myers, who nipped on Olson’s heels as they descended into the hellish heat of the canyons during the middle of the race.
Walmsley’s course record splits started to slip slightly out of reach as Mother Nature turned up the thermostat to a blistering 120 degrees in the canyon convection oven. But not by much. Olson crossed the line just an astonishing two minutes behind the four-time champ’s fastest time ever, and the fastest time ever recorded here.
“That hurt really bad. I’m just excited to not be running anymore,” Olson said at the finish line before reflecting on winning the race as a new dad. “I wasn’t even sure I was going to make it to the start line, I was playing it by ear.”
His status as a new dad is a large reason Olson, who finished 5th last year in the fastest debut ever, managed to fly a bit under the radar before the race.
Meanwhile Myers continued chasing Olson while also looking over his shoulder at none other than Jornet, who by all accounts had a fantastic race. Myers finished in second in 14:17:39—an 80-minute improvement from his 10th-place debut last year. Jornet crossed the line, bowing backwards to the crowd, in third in 14:19:22. It’s an hour improvement from when he won in 2011.
That means, of course, that just eight minutes separated the podium.
Abby Hall Completes Remarkable Comeback in Nearly Wire-to-Wire Win
The women’s race proved equally thrilling, with Abby Hall surging to the lead nearly from the gun while going up the Escarpment. She didn’t hold onto the lead outright for all of those early miles, battling with Poland’s Martyna Mlynarczyk and Ida Nilsson of Sweden for most of the high country. But by the halfway mark all signs pointed to it being her race to win.
And she did. Hall broke the tape in 16:37:16. It’s the fourth-fastest women’s time ever and a seven-hour improvement on her first and only time here in 2021 when she finished 14th. The 34-year-old from Flagstaff, Arizona, has been a star at the 100K distance for half a decade, podiuming at the CCC 100K at the UTMB World Series Finals twice. But the 100-mile distance has alluded her, including two finishes at the Leadville 100 where she was fighting cutoffs.
Apparently all it took was a horrific injury and just squeaking into the 2025 Western States at the last second.
On a training run in 2022, Hall hyperextended her knee, shattering it in the process and requiring surgery. It’s been a long road back since, including a 31-hour finish at UTMB last summer. She began her 2025 Western States campaign in February by trying to earn a Golden Ticket at the Black Canyon 100K. She finished fifth, one spot out of a Ticket. She continued the quest at the Chianti by UTMB 100K in April and finished fourth, two spots out from that coveted entry into States.
But fate wouldn’t have it. EmKay Sullivan, who earned a Golden Ticket at Black Canyon, ended up deferring her spot into States when she became pregnant, landing the Ticket in Hall’s lap.
Hall finished 10 minutes ahead of China’s Fuzhao Xiang, who repeated her runner-up performance from last year. Canada’s Marianne Hogan hauled over the back half to take third in 16:50:58.
2025 Western States Results
Men’s Results
- Caleb Olson (U.S.), 14:11:25 (second-fastest time ever)
- Chris Myers (U.S.), 14:17:39
- Kilian Jornet (Spain), 14:19:22
- Jeff Mogavero (U.S.), 14:30:11 (fastest debut)
- Dan Jones (New Zealand), 14:36:17
- Seth Ruhling (U.S.), 14:59:36
- Ryan Montgomery (U.S.), 15:54:29
- Hans Troyer (U.S.), 16:06:52
- Peter Frano (Slovakia), 16:10:44
- Kai Hiroki (Japan), 16:22:46
Women’s Results
- Abby Hall (U.S.), 16:37:16
- Fuzhao Xiang (China), 16:47:09
- Marianne Hogan (Canada), 16:50:58
- Ida Nilsson (Sweden), 17:00:48
- Fiona Pascall (U.K.), 17:21:52
- Hau Ha (Vietnam), 17:23:47
- Hannah Allgood (U.S.), 17:39:02
- Caitlin Fielder (New Zealand), 17:47:26
- Keely Henninger (U.S.), 17:57:24
- Emily Hawgood (Zimbabwe), 18:11:05
2025 Western States Live Updates
At 5 a.m. PT on June 28, 369 lucky runners departed from the base of the Palisades Tahoe ski resort to begin their 100-mile quest to Auburn. And we were on the ground to bring you behind-the-scenes coverage.
It’s Western States afterall, and the altitude and punchy terrain of the high country, convection-oven heat and quad-bashing downhills of the canyons, and rude runnability of the final 20 or so miles chew runners up and spit them out in highly unpredictable patterns.
Scroll down for our live, boots-on-the-ground updates. And if you’re just tuning in, check out our comprehensive race coverage:
- Our Guide to the 2025 Western States 100
- Our Expert Picks for the 2025 Western States 100
- How to Watch the Western States 100 livestream
13:18 Elapsed: Caleb Olson is Under Course Record Pace with 5 Miles to Go
That’s it. That’s the update. Olson absolutely flew through Pointed Rocks (mile 94.3) a minute under Jim Walmsley’s ghost from 2019. He’s also re-extended his lead over Chris Myers in the process. Myers marched through the aid station six minutes later. These two 29-year-olds are putting on a clinic among the likes of Kilian Jornet, who’s six minutes back in third.
12:42 Elapsed: We are Officially on Course Record Watch
Stop what you’re doing! Caleb Olson flew into the Quarry Road aid station (mile 90.7) in 12:40 elapsed—exactly on Jim Walmsley’s course record splits.
And that’s not all. Olson has been on a mission all day. But so has Chris Myers, who has eaten into Olson’s lead over the final runnable section of the course. Myers came into the aid station just 2.5 minutes later. The race is on.
11:00 Elapsed: Women’s Race Blows Open
The women’s race has been remarkably steady in recent years, with very little change in the top 10 over the second half. This year is already proving anomalous, with Martyna Mlynarczyk, Eszter Csillag, and Heather Jackson all dropping at Michigan Bluff and pre-race favorites Riley Brady and Tara Dower nowhere to be seen.
Why? It could partly be the blistering early pace or the heat—it’s about 5 degrees warmer in Auburn than last year. But it’s also most likely luck. Csillag took an early tumble, Jackson suffered from a debilitating calf cramp which is no rumored to be a calf strain or tear, Dower was sick last week, and Brady was reported puking early on.
9:58 Elapsed: Abby Hall Extends Lead at Foresthill
Second-place Martyna Mlynarczyk dropped at Michigan Bluff (mile 55.7) as Abby Hall continued her campaign off the front. She came into Foresthill (mile 62) looking strong and in good spirits. After a lightening-quick pit stop with her crew she booked it back out with her pacer Scott Traer, who finished 10th here in 2022.
Notably, it feels about 30 degrees cooler in the shade here. Unfortunately for the runners, the course here is fully exposed.
While Hall looks money, so do the women behind her. Ida Nilsson came into Foresthill in 10:08 elapsed in second, followed by Fuzhao Xiang in third (10:17 elapsed). Xiang and her crew put on quite the clinic she’s quickly become known for: someone changed her shoes from what looked like the Hoka Mufate X (a workhorse trail runner) into the unreleased Hoka Rocket X Trail (a rocketship) while someone else downed her in water and ice and while Xiang herself slurped a bowl of noodles while talking to her team. She was in and out in less than three minutes.
Marianne Hogan hauled into town after moving up to fourth in 10:21 elapsed, followed 30 seconds later by Hannah Allgood who’s also running a smart, patient race. Hau Ha (Vietnam), Caitlin Fielder (New Zealand), Emily Hawgood (Zimbabwe) continue the international continent in 6-9, and 24-year-old Shea Aquilano rounds out the top 10. Thirty 38 minutes separate first from 10th.
9:00ish Elapsed: David Roche Drops Out in Foresthill
After leading the charge up the Escarpment and hanging on to the lead back for much of the first half of the race, David Roche came into Foresthill 8:58 in 8th place before spending 10 minutes with his crew. He ultimately emerged and continued on, pale-faced and looking a bit defeated as the crowd tried to rally him as he ran by.
It was a sign of what was soon to come. After starting down Cal Street, he soon returned walking back up the trail to officially DNF. Reports are coming in that his body his structurally intact, but he’s dealing with GI issues and blurred vision.
Hans Troyer and Hannes Namberger are keeping the Battle of the Han(ne)s alive in 9th and 10th. Both appear to be in good spirits.
8:32 Elapsed: Caleb Olson, Chris Myers, Kilian Jornet 1-2-3 at Foresthill
They used to say the race starts at Foresthill. That may not be true anymore—the front end has gotten too fast to be caught—but it’s fair to say the race takes shape here. Caleb Olson, came into this typically sleepy town temporarily transformed into a very hot, very sweaty day rave in 8:32:58, 8 minutes up on course record pace. He looked cool, calm, and collected, saying thank you to cheering fans. Chris Myers followed two and a half minutes back, stopping before the timing mat for an F1-style pit stop with his crew. They doused him in water and changed out his ice bandana as he chugged fluids and continued on his way down the road about two minutes later.
Kilian Jornet looked equally strong when he came through next in 8:42 or so elapsed, also opting to meet his crew before the timing chip. He was in and out in about two minutes as his crew bathed him in water, he changed his shirt, and yes, this time he took an ice bandana. While he was in aid, Jeff Mogavero ran by as the two began leap frogging down Cal Street.
Seth Ruhling, Dan Jones, and Rod Farvard came through next looking in good spirits, with Farvard 20 minutes back on the lead.
7:31 Elapsed: Martyna Mlynarczyk Extends Lead at Devil’s Thumb
So far so good so far for the Polish ballerina-turned-triathlete-turned-ultrarunner. Martyna Mlynarczyk came into Devil’s Thumb (mile 47.8) in 7:31 elapsed. That’s five minutes up on course record splits. Abby Hall came in just 20 seconds back, followed by 44-year-old Ida Nilsson three minutes later.
Marianne Hogan, Hannah Allgood, Fuzhao Xiang, Eszter Csillag, Hau Ha, Heather Jackson (who seems to have recovered from a calf cramp in the high country), and Emily Hawgood round out the top 10 extending to 20-plus minutes back on the lead.
6:32 Elapsed: Chris Myers and Caleb Olson Neck-in-Neck at Devil’s Thumb (47.8mi)
Caleb Olson, who’s 5th-place last year was the fastest debut ever, caught Chris Myers on the completely exposed climb up to the Devil’s Thumb aid station at mile 47.8. The two entered aid together, with Myers barely stopping before continuing on. Hopefully that decision to not take a beat to cool himself down doesn’t haunt him later. Both are 10 minutes up on course-record pace.
Kilian Jornet, David Roche, and Adam Peterman all came into the aid station three-ish minutes later. Jornet left without taking ice. Roche was heard begging for caffeine, and Peterman looked cool as a cucumber.
The top 10 men are separated by 11 minutes, with Dan Jones, Hans Troyer, Jeff Mogavero, Seth Ruhling, and Rod Farvard bringing up that second half.
5:46 Elapsed: Chris Myers Takes the Lead at Last Chance (43.3mi)
Chris Myers from Boulder, Colorado has taken charge of the men’s race. He was 10th here in his debut last year. Myers came into the Last Chance aid station (mile 43.3) in 5:46 elapsed. He’s 9 minutes ahead of Jim Walmsley’s course record pace.
Myers is a minute up on Caleb Olson and three minutes up on Adam Peterman, Dan Jones, David Roche, and Hans Troyer. Rod Farvard, Seth Ruhling, and Kilian Jornet are a minute back from them. It’s 75 degrees and without a cloud in the sky it feels very hot already.
4:53 Elapsed: Abby Hall and Martyna Mlynarczyk Lead Through Robinson Flat
Abby Hall’s campaign continues from the high country into the canyons. She came into the final high-country check point in 4:53 elapsed, along with Martyna Mlynarczyk, in the lead. Both women have wheels—Mlynarczyk recently ran a 33-minute 10K—which should make things interesting as they enter the more runnable, albeit very hot, miles ahead. They’re 14 minutes up on Courtney Dauwalter’s course record splits.
The women’s race is starting to blow open. Ida Nilsson’s dropped 90 seconds back since we last saw her. Eszter Csillag, who appears to have taken a tumble, is another three minutes behind, with Marianne Hogan another three minutes back.
4:18 Elapsed: It’s Getting Hot in Here at Robinson Flat (30.3mi)
After a 40 minute climb coming into the Robinson Flat aid station (mile 30.3) Rod Farvard emerged still in the lead right with Seth Ruhling in 4:18:51 elapsed. One through 10 remain just 90 seconds apart, with all of the top contenders, including Kilian Jornet, David Roche, Caleb Olson, and Adam Peterman, still in the mix. Top runners were in and out in about 35 seconds as they refueled and cooled down with ice and water.
The leaders are eight minutes ahead of Jim Walmsley’s course record pace, which means they’ve lost two minutes to chasing Walmsley’s ghost since Duncton Canyon six miles ago. The real feel is hotter than those on site remember it ever feeling at this final checkpoint before the canyons begin.
3:51 Elapsed: Abby Hall, Ida Nillson, Martyna Mlynarczyk in Front at Duncan Canyon
After trading places for the last 20 miles or so, Abby Hall followed closely by Ida Nillson came into Duncan Canyon (mile 24.4) in 3:51:44 and 3:51:46 elapsed, respectively. Less than 10 seconds back was Martyna Mlynarczyk, the Polish athlete with a background in dance and triathlon. They’re 13 minutes up on Courtney Dauwalter’s course record splits from 2023, but keep in mind that Dauwalter set the record on a high snow year, when moving through the high country was slower due to post-holing and route-finding but the canyons weren’t as hot as we’re expecting today.
Eszter Csillag and Marianne Hogan blitzed through each a minute back, followed four minutes later by Hannah Allgood, Heather Jackson, Hau Ha, and Fuzhao Xiang. This trickle of women stands in stark contrast to the giant pack we saw in the men’s race. But like with the men, most of the women are taking a few seconds to swap out ice packs and grab ice bandanas. Both Ha and Xiang’s crews called the women back to collect their ice.
3:24 Elapsed: Rod Farvard Leads “Peloton” Through Duncan Canyon (24.4mi)
It’s curious how we often see wildly different race strategies and pack dynamics between the men’s and women’s races. This year is no exception. The train of men (a runner’s peloton, if you will) we saw crest the Escarpment together remain intact 24.4 miles into the race at the Duncan Canyon aid station. Last year’s runner-up Rod Farvard is once again going for broke. He was first in and out of aid, barely stopping as he swapped out packs (filled with ice) with his crew. He was immediately followed by Jeff Mogavero, the Montanan who earned a Golden Ticket with a second-place finish at the Javelina 100-miler in October. They’re 10 minutes under Jim Walmsley’s course record splits from 2019.
Less than 30 seconds back were 2024 UTMB champ Vincent Bouillard, last year’s sixth-place Caleb Olson, the Boulder trio of David Roche, Chris Myers, and Seth Ruhling, Hans Troyer, and Kilian Jornet. 2022 champ Adam Peterman, Hannes Namberger, and Daniel Jones followed suit less than a minute back. Nearly all quickly stopped to refuel and cool down with ice.
43 Minutes: Abby Hall is First Woman Up
Up the Escarpment, that is. After sitting on the heels of a very comfortable-looking Riley Brady, Abby Hall went around them about two-thirds up the climb to put in a pretty hefty gap on the field. She crested the Escarpment, bone-conduction headphones wrapped around her head, surrounded by hundreds of fans. Hall’s 43-minute split was three and a half minutes behind Katie Schide’s split from last year, when she was only a minute behind the lead men.
Hall was followed thirty seconds later by Ida Nilsson, followed one-by-one by Martyna Mlynarczyk, Eszter Csillag, Riley Brady, Hannah Allgood, Shea Aquilano, Heather Jackson, Marianne Hogan, Emily Hawgood, and Fuzhao Xiang.
Runners have 27 miles of high altitude, punchy, often wet, rocky, and rooty terrain averaging 7,000 feet of elevation ahead of them until they reach the infamous canyons.
38 Minutes Elapsed: 12 Men Crest the Escarpment Together
After a lot of chatter about various men taking the race out hot, it looks like Group Think won the morning. A dozen men strung out by David Roche leading the charge reached the top of the Escarpment together in 38 minutes and 45 seconds, about 20 seconds under course-record pace.
That pack includes pretty much all of the heavy hitters, including (in order): Jeff Mogavero, Vincent Bouillard, Caleb Olson, Adam Peterman, Seth Ruhling, Kilian Jornet, Chris Myers, Dan Green, Rod Farvard, and Hans Troyer.
5 a.m. on June 28: The 2025 Western States Has Begun
Just as the sun began to creep into the Palisades Tahoe valley, the gun fired and the 369 entrants took off up the Escarpment. They have a 3.5-mile climb with 2,550 feet of elevation gain to kick off the day. At the top awaits the sunrise bathing Lake Tahoe—along with hundreds of fans. It’s pretty chilly down here right now, light coat weather for fans watching the start. But that won’t be the case for long. Forecasts call for 97 degrees in Auburn today, which means closer to 120 degrees in the depths of the canyons, especially after a couple of hot days to warm up the oven down there.
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