The lottery for the 2017 Western States 100 took place today, confirming the vast majority of next year’s field, including a few top runners. However, most top runners either secured entry prior to the lottery or will do so in the coming months.
A total of 4,248 runners entered the lottery for the 2017 edition, up from 3,510 applicants for the 2016 race and 2,566 for the 2015 edition. A total of 11,021 tickets went into today’s drawing representing those runners.
The starters list in June of 2017 will ultimately contain 369 runners, a number decided by the race’s permit through the Granite Chief Wilderness. Among this there will be 117 automatic entrants (some decided and some yet to be decided), 2 that were drawn from those who were in the audience for the lottery itself, and 250 runners who were chosen in today’s lottery.
An interesting change was announced to the WS100 entrance process this past July, and will be implemented for the first time this year, a 50-person ‘General Wait List.’ If a registered entrant decides not to race, members of the waitlist will move onto the entrants list. Today, that wait list was also filled from among the lottery entrants.
The WS100 website has an up-to-date list of the 2017 Western States 100 entrants as well as the wait listers.
Let’s take a look at the top runners who have made it into WS100 so far.
Women’s Top-10 Returnees
The women’s top 10 from this year are invited to return in 2017, and every woman has chosen to do so!
- Kaci Lickteig (Nike) — 17:57:59 (pre-race, finish-line, and post-race interviews)
- Amy Sproston (Montrail) — 18:54:44 (post-race interview)
- Devon Yanko (Oiselle) — 19:10:08 (pre-race and post-race interviews)
- Amanda Basham (Nike) — 20:11:39
- Alissa St. Laurent (Salomon) — 20:27:11
- Meghan Arbogast (Altra) — 20:30:11 (post-race interview)
- Bethany Patterson (Nathan) — 20:40:42 (pre-race Taproom interview)
- Maggie Guterl (Nathan) — 20:50:07
- Jodee Adams-Moore (7 Hills) — 20:54:54
- Erika Lindland — 21:07:40
Men’s Top-10 Returnees
The men’s top 10 from 2016 are also invited to return. The only man who has chosen not to return is Didrik Hermansen, who took second place.
- Andrew Miller (Salomon) — 15:39:36 (finish-line and post-race interviews)
Didrik Hermansen (ASICS) — 16:16:08 (post-race interview)- Jeff Browning (Patagonia) — 16:30:40 (post-race interview)
- Thomas Lorblanchet (Altra) — 16:39:55 (pre-race interview)
- Paul Giblin (Nathan) — 16:53:20
- Ian Sharman (Altra) — 16:55:11
- Chris Mocko — 17:01:47
- Kyle Pietari (Altra) — 17:05:01
- Christopher DeNucci (Hoka One One) — 17:07:57
- Jesse Haynes (Patagonia) — 17:12:30 (post-race interview)
This number of top-10 returnees (19 out of 20) is believed to be a record and is truly indicative of the prestige associated with a top-10 finish.
Other Fast Runners Who Achieved Entry Pre-Lottery
These are some speedy men and women who achieved entry to next year’s race via one of the other pre-lottery auto-entry methods. Here they are and how they obtained their entry:
- Zach Bitter — Sponsor
- Jonas Buud — Sponsor
- Stephanie Case — Sponsor
- Jamie Frink — Bonus Lottery
- Lon Freeman — Sponsor
- Mandie Holmes — Race Admin
- Nate Jaqua — Sponsor
- Sarah Keyes — Sponsor
- Bree Lambert — Raffle
- Jess Mullen — Sponsor
- Ryan Sandes — Special Consideration
- Michael Wardian — Sponsor
Top Lottery Entrants
A total of 250 names were drawn during today’s lottery, and among them were a small number of speedy and notable athletes.
- Davide Grazielli — 4th place 2016 Rio del Lago 100
- Mark Hammond — Winner 2016 Squaw Peak 50 Mile, 2nd 2016 Run Rabbit Run 100, winner 2016 Rio Del Lago 100
- Jesse Lang — Winner 2015 and 2016 Cascade Crest 100
- Dominick Layfield — Winner 2015 Rio del Lago 100, 2nd 2016 Angeles Crest 100
- Maddy McCarthy — 2nd 2016 Rio del Lago 100
- Mallory Richard — 3-time Superior 100 winner
- Jay Smithberger — Winner 2014 Mohican 100
- Steven Speirs — Winner 2016 Iron Horse 100
- Rebecca Watters — 2nd 2015 Georgia Jewel 50 Mile, winner 2016 Yeti 100
- Jeremy Wolf — 5th 2016 Chuckanut 50k, 9th 2016 Lake Sonoma 50 Mile
Top General Wait List Entrants
Here are the top entrants on the 50-person General Wait List:
- John Fegyveresi — Finisher 2012 Barkley Marathon
Methods of Later Automatic Entry
Top runners still have three routes by which they can gain non-lottery entry into the 2016 WS100.
Golden Ticket Races
The six-race Altra Golden Ticket Races offers up to 24 WS100 entries will be given to top finishers of these races. The series remains unchanged in the number of races participating, which races, and the system by which runners can gain WS100 entry. Basically, the top-2 men and top-2 women finishers of each race gain entry, and if they already have an entry or if they decline it, the entry rolls down as far as fifth place.
- January 7 — Bandera 100k (Texas)
- February 4 — Sean O’Brien 100k (California)
- February 18 — Black Canyon 100k (Arizona)
- March 25 — Gorge Waterfalls 100k (Oregon)
- April 1 — Georgia Death Race (68 miles) (Georgia)
- April 15 — Lake Sonoma 50 Mile (California)
Ultra-Trail World Tour
For 2017, six slots are given to top international contenders via the WS100’s participation in the Ultra-Trail World Tour. Update, December 22: The race administration has announced the UTWT slots today. They are:
- David Byrne
- Tòfol Castanyer
- Erik Clavery
- Fiona Hayvice
- Andrea Huser
- Ildikó Wemescher
UltraRunning Race Series
The UltraRunning Race Series will award entry to the male and female runner at the top of its ranking on April 30, 2017.
One Other Noteworthy Entrant
For the first time, the Western States 100 granted entry to one runner over the age of 60 who has made outstanding contributions to ultra running in general and Western States in particular. The first recipient of the ‘Silver Legend Award’ presented at the conclusion of the lottery was 17 time Western States finisher Scott Mills.
Call for Comments
- Any contenders who are already in the race who we’ve not included above? Let us know who we missed!
- Who can you see winning the women’s and men’s races in 2017?
- Anyone you’re hoping will try to gain entry via the Ultra-Trail World Tour or Golden Ticket Races? If you’re a speedster and are trying to get in via either route, let us know!
