The generation inspired by Kilian Jornet defeats him at Western States.

Western States resisted the assault from Kilian Jornet 14 years after adding it to his achievements for the first and only time. The oldest hundred-mile race in the world is also one of the fastest, with only 5,500 meters of positive elevation gain—almost half of that of the Ultra Trail of Mont Blanc—and a true furnace among Californian canyons. The antithesis for the Spaniard—due to the challenge of sweating and the lack of greater inclines—proved to be impossible, defeated by two young Americans wholly dedicated to ultra-distance events, partly out of admiration for him. It marked the pinnacle for Caleb Olson, the ultimate prize for a 29-year-old computer scientist from Utah who already broke the record for Transgrancanaria in February. What was a discovery then became simply historic this Saturday. With a time of 14h11m25s, the second-best in history, just two minutes from the record. And because the greatest mountain runner of all time finished third, 7m57s behind, he doesn’t give away losses.

Like many major American events, Western States was born to show that something exotic was possible. The adventure of Wendell T. Robie in 1955, from the tourism office in Tahoe City, in Olympic Valley, home of the 1960 Winter Olympics, to Auburn, aimed to prove that horses could cover 100 miles in one day. In the first edition in 1977, horses had more resources—three veterinary checkpoints—than runners, who had to supply everything but water. Of 14 participants, only three finished. The event was successful, and the following year there were already 61 participants.

Growth hit a limit: crossing private property, which only allowed 369 runners. This ceiling remains despite over 10,000 people entering the lottery, a decision that elevates the race compared to the 171 kilometers of the Ultra Trail of Mont Blanc, which offers nearly 2,000 bibs. The alliance between these two races has led to more foreigners coming to the U.S. since 2021, qualifying through events worldwide. Thus, Jornet secured his entry with a second-place finish in March in Tuscany behind Jim Walmsley, the American who became a legend in Western States after getting lost in 2016 while leading, then winning four times between 2018 and 2024.

Walmsley put half an hour on Jornet that day, someone who, at 37, is competing less frequently and has now had two consecutive races without standing on the top of the podium, an anomaly in his triumphant curriculum. This tormentor, the only American to win UTMB, fell in May during Western States due to a knee injury that prevented him from holding both crowns. The record he set and that Olson nearly matched—14h09m28s in 2019—was the peak for a young man from Phoenix who thrives in extreme heat, an advantage that his rivals attempt to replicate with two-hour sauna sessions or by conditioning training on treadmills or bikes.

Jornet’s debut in Western States was in 2010: he started without a water bottle, drinking only at aid stations. He was in the lead when he suffered almost the first cramps of his life. Geoff Roes won, but Jornet maintained third place after a series of surges among competitors alongside Nick Clark, testing his pride in the most extreme state of dehydration. He returned in 2011 to complete the task with a time of 15 hours and 34 minutes; the improvement 14 years later is astronomical: 14h19m22s, the fifth-best in history. “I’m very happy with the race I ran.” But the next generation has raised the bar. “They’re going too fast; they should enjoy the views and the lakes,” he joked.

Walmsley described the 18 degrees with which the race began at five in the morning in Olympic Valley as “not crazy hot, but warm.” From there, a wild race ensued with a leading group of 12 breaking the best records in the first ten-mile segment. Tested American ultrarunners like Olson or the great surprise, Chris Myers, came with just the right elevation. Jornet and Vincent Bouillard, the engineer who surprised the world by winning UTMB last year from nowhere, were also in the mix.

The Spaniard was wielding his sickle, ignoring the attacks and leaving behind the first weary competitors, from overly hopeful Americans to Bouillard, who arrived exhausted at Dusty Corners (61.2 kilometers) more than 15 minutes behind the lead. Neither the Coca-Cola nor the encouragement from his supporters, donned with the slogan ‘I knew Vincent before he was famous,’ revived the newcomer. The Spaniard was fourth at that point, 1m42s back. The temperature was already above 30 degrees in a stretch that combines the fastest part—a downhill half marathon—with the steepest ascent, Devil’s Thumb, with segments over 20%. Kilian’s gap widened on the next hill, Michigan Bluff, to 7m49s.

Veterans say the race starts at Forest Hill, at kilometer 99. Olson advanced an hour ahead, and his attack went unanswered. Kilian arrived there 12m45s later, swapping third place with Jeff Mogavero. The question remained about how much the leader was consuming, at a pace still below the record, but the distance continued to grow. At Golden Gate (mile 79.8), he not only kept the Spaniard 18 minutes behind but also stretched the lead over Chris Myers to five minutes. By then, the thermometers at the finish were already reading 35 degrees. The temperature in those bare canyons at the worst part of the afternoon is known only to the runners.

His methodical strategy allowed Jornet to cut the gap in the final stretch and nearly reach silver, but 14 hours fell short for someone used to dominating rivals in 20. Thus, Olson indulged himself by entering the track of Auburn High School with fans running alongside, a distinctive touch of the race, and picked up his seven-week-old baby, who watched from the womb as he dominated Gran Canaria. He may not know yet, but his father has entered the elite of global ultra-distance running.