Abby Hall triumphantly reclaims victory after sustaining an injury, vanquishing competition at the Western States, though the demanding course outlasts Riley Brady and Tara Dower.
In a thrilling comeback, American ultrarunner Abby Hall claimed victory at the Western States 100 women's race, marking her return to the competitive circuit after a two-year absence due to a knee injury.
Hall finished the gruelling 100-mile race in an impressive time of 16 hours, 37 minutes, and 16 seconds, securing her place as the fourth fastest woman in Western States 100 history. Her time was, however, over an hour behind Courtney Dauwalter's record-breaking performance in 2023.
Chinese runner Fuzhao Xiang finished second, crossing the finish line in 16:47:09, 10 minutes behind Hall. Marianne Hogan of Canada took third place with a time of 16:50:58. Notably, Eszter Csillag of Hungary, who finished third in both 2023 and 2024, improved her time by 33 minutes on her second attempt. Emily Hawgood of the United States also maintained a consistent streak of top ten finishes, taking fifth place in 2023.
The race conditions were challenging, with the course featuring hard-packed snow and scorching temperatures reaching the 90s. Despite these difficulties, Hall demonstrated her resilience and determination, pushing through to claim the top spot.
Riley Brady, a favourite to win, dropped out at Forest Hills after nearly 13 hours in the race. Tara Dower also faced challenges, dropping at Ford's Bar after 16 hours. Notable dropouts earlier in the race included Csillag, Mlynarczyk, and Heather Jackson.
Hall's victory comes after her win at the Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko by UTMB 100k last year. Her sponsors at Adidas Terrex have praised her comeback, describing her as "owning" the race line. Her finish time in the Western States 100 is six hours faster than her debut in 2021.
A unique aspect of this year's race was the low river levels, allowing runners to cross on foot, holding onto a rope, instead of being ferried across in rafts. This added an extra layer of challenge to an already demanding race.
As the dust settles on the 2023 Western States 100, Abby Hall's comeback victory is a testament to her grit, determination, and unyielding passion for the sport. The ultrarunning community eagerly awaits to see what she will achieve next.
Sports enthusiasts worldwide are celebrating Abby Hall's impressive comeback victory in the Western States 100, as she demonstrates her resilience and determination in the face of challenging race conditions. Her unyielding passion for sports drives her to continue pushing her limits, leaving the ultrarunning community eager to see what she achieves next.
