Kilian Jornet managed to win the WS 100 after completing the 161 Km route in a time of 15:34 hours, the third best time in the history of this race.
After 38 years, the Catalan athlete has become the first non-American to win the WS 100.
“It’s a really exciting victory for me as the WS 100 was the very first ultra trail race. There is a sense of history. I am very proud to be the first non-American to win this race.”
The Catalan athlete Kilian Jornet has made history yet again when he was proclaimed winner, with a time of 15:34 hours, of the WS 100, a race which takes place in the USA and is one of the most important ultra distance races in the world. With a distance of 100 miles (161 km) the Western States starts at the ski resort of Squaw Valley and finishes in Aubrun, California.
At the end of the race, Killian said that, “There was a lot of snow in the early stages of the race, which meant we lost a lot of time and most of the runners fell on the ice. Once we had run 20 miles, 6 of the favorites were at the front and we made good progress with a record time like last year.”
A problem with the controls at the 30 mile mark meant that the leading group, including Killian, strayed off the route and got lost, adding 2 miles to the distance and wasting 20 minutes. “We turned back to the mile mark and at that time there were 5 runners ahead of us” Killian commented that “I was very surprised by the attitude of the runners who were favorites but did not get angry about it. We continued running and talking in a relaxed way while we regained our original positions.”
“A little later, a group made up of myself, Mike Wolf, Jezz Braf and Nick Clark broke away from the field. I felt really good and took advantage of the climbs to gain an advantage, be able to take it easier on the flat and the descents and so relax until the others caught me up. I knew that I would have the advantage in the final climbs,” said Killian, who launched his attack 20 miles before the end of the race. “When I was 20 miles from the end of the race, crossing the River Rucky Cucky, I made good use of a climb to gain 5 minutes on my rivals. I held this difference until the end.”
With this incredible victory, Killan has become the first non-American to win this race. “It’s a really exciting victory for me as the WS 100 was the very first ultra trail race. There is a sense of history. I am very proud to be the first non-American to win this race. I feel particularly satisfied because it is not my favorite kind of race, with very flat terrain and very high temperatures,” stated Killian when he crossed the finishing line in Aubrun.
Killian also thanked his ‘pacers’, those runners who ran alongside him during certain stretches of the race, Rickey Gates from mile 60 to 80 and Simon Muy from mile 80 to 100.
FOOD, HYDRATION AND MATERIALS, 3 ALLIES FOR VICTORY
After last year’s experience, when Killian had problems with dehydration and cramp, this year Killian said that “The hydration went very well, my legs have not suffered nor have I had any unexpected problems during the course of the race. With the lessons I learned last year, I drank a lot, I took salts (sodium), liquid food and sandwiches. By the finishing line, I had even gained a kilo!”
With regards to material, Killian commented that “When I finished last year’s race, I spoke to the team from Salomon about changing my race strategy, which also meant changing the material so as to adapt better to the heat. This is why, in just one year, I have a completely new outfit.”
This set of factors has led to Killian’s victory. “This year I have really enjoyed the race as I have felt really well and so much better than last year.”
5 RACES 5 CONTINENTS
With his victory today in the WS100, the Catalan athlete Killian is moving forward in the most positive way possible in his project 5 races 5 continents in which he will participate in the most important race in each continent. The project began in Australia with his victory in The North Face 100 K, now today’s victory in the WS100, to be followed by the UTMB in Europe, the Table Mountains in Africa and Kinabalu in Asia.
RESULTS WS 100:
1. Kilian Jornet 15:34 h
2. Mike Wolfe 15:38 h
3. Nick Clarck 15:50 h
Complete finish list: www.ultralive.net/ws100/webcast.php
Link to the race: www.ws100.com/
Movescount link: www.movescount.com/moves/move2210196
Images by Salomon