Western States 100: Kilian’s Back & the Race is On

What happens when the greatest trail runner of all time returns to the Western States 100, and the four-time defending champ suddenly drops out?
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You get one of the most unpredictable, wide-open, and talked-about race lineups in years.
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With last-minute shakeups, Golden Ticket surprises, snow in the high country, and a blazing-fast men’s field, the 2025 edition of Western States is already rewriting expectations.
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Here are 10 things to know before the shotgun fires in Olympic Valley for the 2025 Western States 100-Miler...

He won Western States in 2011 and then disappeared from the race for more than a decade.
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Now Kilian’s back, having punched his ticket with a second-place finish at Chianti Ultra Trail in Italy.
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He’s even crowdsourcing a pacer for the final 20 miles...just one more reason fans are watching his return with serious curiosity (and awe).
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And he co-founded the trail-running shoe brand NNormal just a few years ago.

Jim Walmsley, the four-time Western States 100 champion and current course record holder (14:09:28) quietly dropped out of the race last month.
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In May, his bib #392 was reassigned Cocodona 250 champion Dan Green.
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Jim’s absence leaves a huge hole at the front of the pack and invites a new champion to make their move.
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For the first time in years, there’s no clear favorite to win, and that’s part of the thrill. 

With Walmsley, Hayden Hawks, and several other top contenders from 2024 missing, the men’s race is wide open.

• Rod Farvard is on a hot streak. 
• Daniel Jones brings speed and experience. 
• Caleb Olson is rising fast. 
• Add Adam Peterman, David Roche, Vincent Bouillard + Kilian, and you’ve got a race with no script. 

Expect bold moves, lead changes, and a finish that’s anything but predictable.

While past editions have seen runners post-holing through heavy snow, 2025 looks different. 
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Most of the high country is clear, though runners may still encounter lingering patches of snow and runoff in shady sections, especially between miles 4 and 20. 
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It’s not enough to alter the course, but it could affect early pacing and shoe choice. 
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The bigger challenge will likely come later…when the heat kicks in.

The Golden Ticket series did more than fill the field, it injected it with serious talent. 

• Jornet earned his at Chianti. 
• Vincent Bouillard secured his at Canyons 100K. 
• Garrett Corcoran punched his at Bandera, and...
• Hannah Allgood won her ticket at Javelina Jundred

These athletes didn’t just qualify, they dominated. And now they’re lining up in Auburn at Western States 100 with a point to prove. 
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Don’t be surprised if one (or more) makes the podium.

The women’s field for 2025 is deeper and more competitive than ever. 

• Returning veterans like Emily Hawgood and Katie Asmuth bring the course knowledge and resilience needed to thrive in mountain heat. 
• But don’t underestimate the newcomers like Allgood and Riley Brady, who punched their Golden Tickets with top finishes at Javelina 100
• Tara Dower, Abby Hall, and Lin Chen claimed theirs at Black Canyon 100K. 

With this mix of experienced course-blazers and hungry qualifiers, expect the podium race to go down to the wire.

Sure, there might be snow early, but the real test comes in the canyons. 

• Temps can spike above 100°F, especially in exposed stretches like Devil’s Thumb and El Dorado Creek. 
• Runners who haven’t prepped for the heat are going to suffer. 

Saunas, heat chambers, and long runs in mid-day sun? All part of the plan. 
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Western States rewards smart pacing and heat resilience. And punishes those who ignore it.

Whether you're chasing the 24-hour silver buckle or just racing to finish under the 30-hour cutoff, time rules everything at Western States 100. 
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Even seasoned runners get humbled here. 

• The terrain, the heat, the stomach...something always goes sideways. 
• Miss a cutoff, and your race ends early. 
• But finish, and you’re part of ultrarunning history. 

Every second counts, from the snowy climbs to the final lap around the track in Auburn.

While most recognize Gordy Ainsleigh as the first to finish Western States 100 in 1974, he technically wasn't the first.

• "In 1972, 20 soldiers from Fort Riley Kansas attempted to march the Western States Trail Ride course," says Davy Crockett, author of Western States 100 on Foot: The Forgotten First Finishers 
• "Seven made it. They were the first, two years before Gordy Ainsleigh."

From the pre-dawn shotgun start to the electric finish in Auburn, Western States is about more than miles. 

• It’s the volunteers who hike in to remote aid stations. 
• The pacers who carry broken runners to the finish. 
• The families who camp out for hours to cheer. 

The spirit of this race lives in the people who show up, give back, and believe in the power of one long, unforgettable day.
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In a year full of unknowns, the people around the course might be the most reliable part of the journey.

One thing’s for sure: Western States 100 never unfolds the way you expect.
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With legends returning, champions stepping aside, and the field wide open, the 2025 edition promises all the heat, heartbreak, and history this race is known for. 
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Whether you’re running, crewing, or cheering from the sidelines, you’re part of something bigger...100 miles of grit, tradition, and community that never gets old. 

Tell us all about it in the comments. Or create a WeeView and give us the scoop on your Western States 100 experience.