"Composed, Serene, and Victorious": Caleb Olson Emerges Victorious at Western States, Kilian Jornet Finishes Third, Turmoil for Roche and Bouillard
Scroll down for the women's results, you dirty dogs!
Caleb Olson snatched victory at the Western States 100 men's race like a ravenous grizzly, becoming one of the fastest blokes ever to do so. Meanwhile, the unpredictable beast of a race left several hungrier runners licking their wounds and scratching their heads.
Olson, the young Utah runner, kept a blistering pace from the get-go at Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort on June 28th. After leaving Chris Myers in the dusty canyons, he charged ahead for the final 45 miles, looking as cool as a cucumber in an Instagram snap crossing the American River at mile 78. He clocked in at 14 hours, 11 minutes, and 25 seconds, just two minutes behind Jim Walmsley's 2019 record.
The dude's a newcomer on the scene but made headlines earlier this year when he shattered a course record at Transgrancanaria, allegedly wearing the soon-to-be-released Nike Ultrafly shoe.
So, what else went down?
Colorado's Chris Myers held onto second place, coming in a whisker behind Olson in 14:17:39 - one of the fastest times ever on the course and an hour better than his 2024 time.
After Jim Walmsley bailed on the race five weeks prior due to a busted knee, all eyes were on Kilian Jornet, who was making his return to the race after a win 14 years ago. Though Jornet stayed near the front of the pack throughout the race, his time of 14:19:22 was over an hour and 15 minutes slower than his last victory. Man, time ain't waitin' for no one, is it, Kilian?
Jornet promptly took to Instagram, praising Olson and Myers: "The thrill of stepping outside your comfort zone is that nothing's guaranteed. What an intense race from start to finish - running an hour and 15 minutes slower than my 2008 win, but today even that wasn't enough."
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Was there chaos?
As always, the course dished out its fair share of carnage. David Roche was one of the first male casualties, dropping out at Foresthill after around 10 hours on the course. Last year's UTMB winner Vincent Bouillard also gave it a go after placing third behind Walmsley and Jornet at this year's UTMB Chianti. The French runner fought the good fight for nearly 14 hours before turning in his race bib at Green Gate.
You can check out the full men's results here.
Despite the temperature soaring into the 90s on race day, runners and spectators braved the elements, navigating snow as well as searing heat. The balmy weather even allowed the runners to cross the American River on foot, rather than hopping on rafts for a ride across.
Now, we couldn't ignore the ladies' performances, could we? In 2024, the women's race boasted some fierce competition, with Fuzhao Xiang of China, Ida Nilsson, Abby McKee, Elizabeth Omodt, Nadine Bennett, and Carolina Rubio Macwright tearing up the course with impressive times.
In 2025, Abby Hall snatched the women's title in a remarkable comeback from injury, finishing in 16 hours, 36 minutes, and 16 seconds. So there you have it, ladies - keep competing and push your limits!
After the intense battle at the Western States 100, Abby Hall emerged victorious in the 2025 women's race, showcasing resilience and determination in her comeback from injury. Meanwhile, the men's division was dominated by Caleb Olson, who set a blistering pace to claim victory in one of the fastest times ever recorded on the course.
