The 53rd edition of the iconic Western States Endurance Run (WSER) is this weekend and brings together one of the deepest elite fields in the event’s history.
Great Britain’s Fiona Pascall, who finished an impressive fifth in last year’s race, lines up alongside defending champion Abby Hall, China’s Fuzhao Xiang and Canadian Marianne Hogan in what promises to be a fiercely contested women’s race across the iconic 100.2-mile course from Olympic Valley to Auburn, California.
The return of Hall is particularly significant. The American produced one of the standout performances of 2025, winning in 16:37, the fourth-fastest women’s time ever recorded at Western States. Xiang, who finished second last year, is expected to provide strong competition once again.
Escarpment Shot: Howie Stern/WSER
For British fans, however, much of the attention will be on Pascall. The Peak District-based athlete has established herself as one of the leading figures in European trail running and arrives at Western States with valuable experience of the race after last year’s top-five finish.
We chatted to Fiona on the RunUltra Podcast leading up to last year’s WSER, discussing everything from training and recovery to the challenges of balancing racing ambitions with everyday life. The conversation offered listeners a fascinating insight into the mindset of one of Britain’s most accomplished ultra runners ahead of another major test on the global stage.
While the women’s race looks exceptionally competitive, the men’s field is equally strong. Four-time champion Jim Walmsley returns to the race where he holds the course record of 14:09, set in 2019. He will face a formidable challenge from 2011 champion Kilian Jornet, widely regarded as one of the greatest trail runners of all time, who finished third last year and continues to compete at the very highest level.
Former champion Adam Peterman is also back after securing his place through the HOKA Golden Ticket series, while Italian star Francesco Puppi will make his eagerly anticipated 100-mile debut.
Race Director Craig Thornley believes the combination of returning champions, rising stars and favourable conditions could produce one of the fastest editions in recent memory.
“The HOKA Golden Ticket season (the months-long series of qualifying races where elites battle for a Western States entry) was as competitive and as fast as I can ever remember. Abby Hall ran a tactically brilliant race last year and has had a great spring. And for both the women and the men, many of the top 10 are returning from last year, along with some really strong and interesting Western States newcomers joining us for the first time through the HOKA Golden Ticket series. Having past champions like Jim Walmsley, Kilian and Adam Peterman back add even more to the tradition that is Western States. These are some of the great and inspiring figures from our history. And they are going to have a definite say in what transpires this year. It’s going to be exciting to see how it all plays out.”
Abby Hall and Caleb Olson: WSER
Adding to the excitement is the prospect of ideal race conditions. A relatively dry spring means there is no snow remaining on the course, while forecast temperatures are expected to remain considerably cooler than the extreme heat that has often shaped previous editions.
The race begins at 5am local time on Saturday 27 June and will be streamed live throughout the weekend on YouTube. Commentators Dylan Bowman and Corrine Malcolm will start broadcasting at 4:15am and you can watch the entirety of the event through to it’s conclusion at 11am on Sunday, June 29. Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/WSER100.
All photos courtesy of Western States Endurance Run
