After a year of devastating wildfires and epic snowfall, the highlight of the 2023 Western States Endurance Run could have easily been the significant damage to the trails and surrounding landscape. But it was just the opposite. This year’s event was one of hope and inspiration, proving that this legendary race seems to have grown that much stronger after being faced with some of the biggest hurdles in its 50-year history.
Without returning champions from the 2022 race, Adam Peterman and Ruth Croft, the top spots were up for grabs, and many wondered who would prevail. Approximately 22 miles of snow in the high country slowed the pace down early, with a bit of carnage before the aid station at Robinson Flat. Runners weren’t able to meet their crews until mile 30 due to road damage from excess snow melt and rain earlier in the year which limited access to other aid stations, but that made the festivities at the Robinson Flat even more electric.
Robinson Flat aid station at mile 30.
Tom Evans and Dakota Jones took the lead spots as the early miles ticked away, while Courtney Dauwalter and Katie Schide kept each other company as lead women throughout the first half of the race.
At mile 62, Evans and Jones cruised through Foresthill, 11 minutes ahead of last year’s fourth-place finisher, Tyler Green. Dauwalter had been gaining on the lead men’s pack and arrived in Foresthill just behind Ryan Montgomery in the top 10. Dauwalter would arrive at mile 78, the Rucky Chucky aid station, 7 minutes ahead of Montgomery, maintaining a course record lead and inching closer to the front.
Tyler Green refuels in Foresthill at mile 62.
Schide arrived at Foresthill 11 minutes after Dauwalter, looking strong and still maintaining an hour-plus lead over Hungary’s Eszter Csillag, Emily Hawgood, Katie Asmuth, Ida Nilsson, Keely Henninger and Taylor Nowlin who were running together.
Evans eventually gained a 24-minute lead over Green, winning the 2023 Western States in 14:40:22, his second top-10 finish and first win at the event. Green finished in 15:04:09, placing second. Anthony Costales finished 5 minutes behind Green in 15:09:16.
Dauwalter would build on her lead, finishing sixth overall in 15:29:33 and taking the win for the women along with a new course record previously set by Ellie Greenwood in 2012 in 16:47:19. Schide also beat the previous course record finishing in second in 16:43:45 and finishing 17th overall. Csillag finished in third for the women in 17:09:20.
Courtney Dauwalter crossed the finish in 15:29:33 for the win.
As the evening cooled and runners completed their final mile from Robie Point (mile 99) to the finish line at the Placer High track, former UR Podcast guest Zach Bates finished in 23:37:39, earning a silver buckle in his first WS finish. The 21-year-old Bates has autism and earned a spot in the race with just one ticket in the lottery. He also earned a spot in the hearts of many spectators throughout the weekend. Veteran Pam Reed, 62, finished her race in 28:52:52. She is also signed up to compete this year at both Hardrock and Badwater 135.
As the Golden Hour approached, runners continued to steadily stream onto the track, with a total of 67 finishers arriving in that 1 hour before the 30-hour cutoff.
The 2023 Western States concluded with one runner finishing just 21 seconds before the clock ticked down, and another runner missing it by 2 minutes. However, inspiration triumphed over disappointment throughout the weekend as volunteers had spent hundreds of hours on trail work, course modifications and 50-year celebration festivities, on top of the monumental amount of work it typically takes throughout the year to put on this legendary event. Runners who traveled from near and far ran the most storied 100-miler in the world and got to experience a course that, while previously damaged, didn’t prevent them from getting to the start at Olympic Valley and experiencing the magic that is Western States.
Highlights from the 2023 Western States Endurance Run including Golden Hour coverage and finish line interviews.
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