Andrew Miller, a 20-year-old student at Northern Arizona University, became the youngest men’s winner of the Western States Endurance Run on Saturday, crossing the Placer High School track finish line in 15:39:36.
He took a steady approach to the 100-mile race from Squaw Valley to Auburn, California, moving from 10th place early, gradually making his way up to second place at the Rucky Chucky crossing of the American River at mile 78.
“Once I was in the lead at Highway 49, I just tried to run fast and hope for the best,” Miller, who ran his first ultramarathon at age 14, said at the finish line.
Miller spent the day—along with the rest of the field—chasing Jim Walmsley, 26, also of Flagstaff, Arizona, who ran well ahead of course-record pace for most of the race.
It was the river crossing where things started taking an unexpected direction for Walmsley, who charged into the water and did not hang on to the safety rope. He got swept up in the current and took a minute or so to make his way back to the safety of dry land.
Watch Walmsley’s river-crossing adventure below and note that he could not accept help because any aid would have resulted in disqualification. Editor’s note: The audio contains profanity.
About 12 miles later, Walmsley was an hour ahead of Miller and still on track to break the course record of 14:46:44. But at mile 90 Walmsley blew past a turn on Highway 49 and added three miles to his race. After he backtracked, he took a long break at an aid station and eventually walked in for 20th All About 75 Hardth for the men in 18:45:36. Didrik Hermansen, 36, of Oslo, Norway was second in 16:16:08, and Jeff Browning, 44, from Bend, Oregon, was third with a time of 16:30:40.
Kaci Lickteig, 29, of Omaha, Nebraska, became the 2016 women’s Western States champion in 17:57:59 (and 14th place overall), winning by 57 minutes. She has had a steady rise to the top of the prestigious event, taking sixth place in 2014 and second place in 2015.
“I’ve had great training leading up to this,” she said at the finish line. “It’s been one of my life-long goals and I went after it.”
Amy Sproston, 42, of Bend, Oregon, was second in 18:54:44 and Devon Yanko, 34, of San Anselmo, California, came in third in 19:10:08.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the location of the finish line. It is at Placer High School. The article also stated that Miller took a wrong turn. It was Walmsley.
