Rob Krar wins Western States 100 for second consecutive year

Canadian runner Rob Krar has just won the Western States 100 ultra race for the second year in a row. Krar ran the 100 miler in 14:48:59 knocking minutes off of his last year’s time of 14:53:22.

Again he finished the race, which serves as a sort of championships for ultra runners, with the second-fastest time ever ran on the course. He missed the course record by just over two minutes this year.

Krar took the lead around the Michigan Bluffs at mile 56. By mile 62, where he came out of the Volcano Canyon, he had a five-minute lead. Another similarity to last year’s race was the runner up. Seth Swanson (sponsored by The North Face like Krar) finished second to Krar again. He ran 15:17:28. Jared Hazen was the third place runner. He finished the race in 15:37:55.

Krar is Canada’s top trail and ultra runner however he hasn’t always been on the top. In university, the Hamilton runner swore off running throwing his spikes in the garbage after competing. He started dabbling in running again in 2004 but really made a comeback in 2013.

The women’s race

As for the women, the champion was Magdalenda Boulet. Boulet managed to take the lead at mile 62 after going off course for two miles. She certainly managed to get back on track and catch the lead runner. Boulet ran the 100-mile race in 19:05:21. Following her was Kaci Licktey who ran 19:20:31. In third was Stephanie Howe in 19:32:58.

Nicole Studer, holder of the North American 100-mile women’s record, was also running. She placed sixth with a time of 20:19:56. Studer set her record in Texas during the winter.

About Western States 100

The Western States 100 is one of the most prominent races in the trail and ultra running world. It runs from Squaw Valley, California to Auburn, California. It is the oldest 100-mile race in the U.S.

For more on yesterday’s race, see photos from social media.

Krar and D’Haene are about a minute under Timothy Olson’s course record split at Michigan Bluff (mile 56). #WS100 pic.twitter.com/9WW3evMrF4

— iRunFar (@iRunFar) June 27, 2015

Here was Rob Krar sharing the lead at mile 38 a bit ago. Water, water, everyone wants cold water on them. #WS100 pic.twitter.com/cYSgDHgTwf — iRunFar (@iRunFar) June 27, 2015

Squaw Valley, CA vs. Squaw Valley USA, CA. Don’t get confused! The weather will scare you. #seeyouinsquaw #ws100 pic.twitter.com/2uZ11HUhAg

— Mark Yeaman (@mryeaman) June 4, 2015

1 race, 100 miles of trail, 2 winners, and lots and lots of support: http://t.co/DvvtPeXH4h #WS100 pic.twitter.com/E5bVFJWsta — The North Face (@thenorthface) June 26, 2015

Rob Krar takes home his 2nd consecutive @wser100 win. Solid racing, congrats! #WS100 pic.twitter.com/84YwyJYngu

— Salomon Running (@SalomonRunning) June 28, 2015

.@robkrar after his #ws100 finish. Very meritorious. #TNFLocals pic.twitter.com/V8Ke324zZf — Fuller (@FullerRunsFar) June 28, 2015

Magdalena Boulet (@HokaOneOne) wins the 2015 Western States 100 in 19:05:21. #WS100 pic.twitter.com/NDcCSH23C4

— iRunFar (@iRunFar) June 28, 2015

Congratulations to @runner_kc for taking second female at @wser100 in 19:20. #WS100 pic.twitter.com/t8NsDeXwqu — UltraSportsLive (@UltraSportsLive) June 28, 2015

Get ready to rumble #WS100 #wser runners! @wser100 @Montrail #seeyouinsquaw pic.twitter.com/fnhpMwOu0P

— ATRA (@ATRAtrailrunner) June 25, 2015