Western States 100 2026: Walmsley Returns, Elite Field Preview, and Everything You Need to Know
In 17 days, 400 runners will leave Squaw Valley and head toward Auburn, California — 100 miles (161 km) and over 18,000 feet of elevation later, the best ultrarunner of the day will cross the finish line. The 2026 Western States Endurance Run has one of the deepest elite fields in the event's history, and one name is driving most of the conversation.
Jim Walmsley is coming back.
Key Takeaways
- Race date: Saturday, June 28, 2026, 5AM PT start from Squaw Valley, California
- Distance: 100 miles (161 km), 18,000 feet of elevation gain
- Jim Walmsley — three-time winner, course record holder (14:09:28) — is racing in 2026
- Courtney Dauwalter — women's CR holder (15:29:34) — enters in the women's field
- 2026 elite field considered among the deepest in event history
Walmsley's Return: Why It Matters
Jim Walmsley isn't just the defending champion and course record holder. He's the athlete who redefined what running Western States fast meant. His first victory in 2018 — after two iconic DNFs in 2016 and 2017 where he took a wrong turn while leading — has already entered the sport's mythology.
His 2023 course record of 14:09 broke the 14:15 barrier that had seemed untouchable for years. At 34, Walmsley returns for a potential fourth victory — which would put him alone at the top of the men's all-time winners list.
The real question isn't whether he can win. It's whether anyone can finally push him.
Men's Field: Who Can Challenge Walmsley
The 2026 men's title contenders draw several serious challengers. The international field is particularly stacked this year, with athletes who've performed at the top of mountain and ultra races throughout the 2025-26 season.
Western States has a specific challenge: California's June heat — reaching 100°F (38°C) in the canyons — is often as decisive as the legs. Runners accustomed to cold European mountain races must manage a variable they're not always prepared for. That's where Walmsley's course experience becomes a concrete advantage.
Women's Field: Dauwalter and the Competition
Courtney Dauwalter operates in a different category in women's ultrarunning. Her 2023 course record of 15:29 set a standard that would have been competitive in men's results in many prior years — she's not just dominating her gender division, she's redefining what human performance on this course looks like.
The 2026 women's field includes world-class runners with real ambitions to push her. But Dauwalter on Western States in June is the clearest favorite in any ultra race in 2026 — as she proved just weeks ago crushing the Chianti Ultra Trail course record by over an hour.
The Course: Why Western States Remains the Standard
The Squaw Valley-to-Auburn course has an internal logic that makes it unique. The first 30 miles climb into the Sierra Nevada — with potential snow in June. Then the next 70 miles descend toward the California canyons where the heat builds. Managing the mountain-to-heat transition is the tactical key to the race.
The aid stations are legendary in the ultra community: Michigan Bluff, Foresthill, Green Gate, Pointed Rocks. Each has its own history. Following them in real time via the official tracker has become a global ritual for fans of the sport.
How to Follow the Race on June 28
The start is 5:00 AM Pacific time (2:00 PM Paris / 8:00 AM New York). Live tracking is available at wser.org. The men's leaders typically reach Foresthill (mile 62) in 8-9 hours, and Auburn in 14-16 hours for the top finishers.
Western States is one of the only ultras followed with the intensity of an Olympic final — part of a stacked June ultra calendar that makes this month the sport's biggest. On June 28, don't miss it.