Podium awaits new champs from loaded Western States field

Auburn will live up to its name as the Endurance Capital of the World this weekend as ultramarathon fans around the world will be locked in on the foothills for the 52nd Western States Endurance Run. Long before the sun rises over the Sierra this Saturday, 369 of the world's toughest runners will toe the line of a 100-mile odyssey with the same goal: to cross the finish line at Placer High School's Ralph LeFebvre Stadium. For the second consecutive year, there will be a new winner in the men's and women's races, as 2024 champions Jim Walmsley and Katie Schide are not competing. Both posted the second-fastest times in Western States history. There will be no shortage of elite runners in action. Four of last year's top 10 men and five of the top 10 women return. With so many of the world's elite in action, this promises to be one of the deepest fields. Men Rod Farvard should attract a lot of attention after breaking through last year with a second-place finish. He stormed onto the scene after not finishing his first go in 2021, placing in 58th in 2022 and 12th in 2023. Farvard posted the third-fastest time in course history at 14 hours, 24 minutes, 15 seconds, collapsing in exhaustion after crossing the finish line. He notched a ninth-place finish in The Canyons 100K in Auburn in April and will be eager to prove last year was no fluke. Daniel Jones returns to Auburn, making the trek across the Pacific from New Zealand after placing fourth last year. He won the Tarawara 100K in New Zealand in February and seeks his third consecutive top-five finish at Western States. Adam Peterman returns for the first time since winning Western States in 2022. Peterman was sidelined with an injury in 2024 but has returned to his elite form and looks to be one of the favorites. Other notable runners in the men's field include 2024 fifth-place finisher Caleb Olson and Kilian Jornet, who is seeking his first Western States win in his third attempt. Women It's wide open this year as Schide and course record holder Courtney Dauwalter are absent from the field. With five of last year's top 10 returning and no former winners in the field, the stakes have never been higher as several elites look to capture the sport's ultimate title. Last year's second-place finisher Zhao Xiang of China posted the third-fastest time in course history in her first attempt, finishing at 16:20:03. Another significant runner to keep an eye on is Canyons 100K winner Emily Hagwood, who set a course record with her victory. Hagwood finished fourth in 2024 at Western States. Other notable runners include 2025 third-place finisher Eszter Csillag, sixth-place finisher Ida Nilsson and seventh-place finisher Heather Jackson. One new runner to keep an eye on is Riley Brady, who placed 14th in 2023. Brady set course records at the Black Rock 100K and the Quad Rock 50 Mile in the last year. Stomach issues plagued Brady's first Western States attempt in 2023, resulting in a 14th-place finish. Weather impact While it won't be as cool as some years, it's favorable weather for the runners Saturday as the temperature looks to stay in double digits at 94. Last year's favorable temperatures resulted in one of the most impressive weekends in Western States history, with the men recording the fastest podium in race history and posting three of the four fastest times on the course. It was equally impressive on the women's side, with the top nine all finishing inside of the top 20 times in course history. Western States royalty on the trails Three runners in the field have double-digit finishes at Western States, as they seek another journey through the rugged foothills terrain. Charley Jones of Folsom has the most in this year's field with 15. Nicholas Bassett of Cheyenne, Wyoming, has 14 finishes, and Philip Sanderson of Mill Valley has 10. Bassett will also be the oldest competitor in the field, traversing the course at 80 years young. He made history in 2018 as the oldest finisher of Western States at 73 but aims to set a new mark Saturday.