In honor of Timothy Olson’s and Ellie Greenwood’s course record-setting runs at the 2012 Western States 100, here’s a tribute to the history of the Western States course records.
[Click here for a full-size version of the comic.]
Western States 100 Men’s Course Record Progression
Unofficial Running of WS CRs
1974 – Gordy Ainsleigh – 23:42
1977 – Andy Gonzalez – 22:57
1974 – Gordy Ainsleigh – 23:42
Official Running of WS on Old Course Men CRs
1978 – Andy Gonzalez – 18:50 (only two-time men’s course record holder, although one is unofficial)
1979 – Mike Catlin – 16:11:56
1981 – Jim Howard and Doug Latimer – 16:02:37 (first and only tie for course record)
1984 – Jim King – 14:54
1986 – Chuck Jones – 16:37:47
1988 – Brian Purcell – 16:24:00
1991 – Tom Johnson – 15:54:05
1997 – Mike Morton – 15:40:41
2004 – Scott Jurek – 15:36:27 (Star Fire course)
2010 – Geoff Roes – 15:07:04 (snow course)
2012 – Timothy Ols0n – 14:46:44
Western States 100 Women’s Course Record Progression
Official Running of WS on Old Course Women CRs
1978 – Pat Smythe – 29:34
1979 – Skip Swannack – 21:56:27
1982 – Bjorg Austrheim-Smith – 18:46:00
1982 – Bjorg Austrheim-Smith – 18:23:00 (first of three women to have set course record more than once)
Official Running of WS on New (Post-1984) Course Women CRs
1986 – Kathy D’Onofrio-Wood – 20:58:16
1988 – Kathy D’Onofrio-Wood – 18:52:40 (second woman to set multiple course records)
1989 – Ann Trason – 18:47:46
1990 – Ann Trason – 18:33:02
1991 – Ann Trason – 18:29:37
1992 – Ann Trason 18:14:48
1994 – Ann Trason – 17:37:51 (set course record five times)
2012 – Ellie Greenwood – 16:47:19
