Olson and Greenwood blaze trails at WS100
Olson strolls across the WS100 line for a new course record
Tim Olson and Ellie Greenwood made history at the Western States 100 this weekend as the pair not only took famous and masterly wins but destroyed the men’s and women’s course records in this most historic of 100 milers…
Their times of 14:46:44 (Olson) and 16:47:19 (Greenwood) sliced mins off the previous bests of Geoff Roes and Ann Trason.
For Olson it appeared to be a patient waiting game, sitting in a large group always with sight of the front of the race, before continually applying the pressure all the way to Auburn, blast his way to an amazing new best time for this iconic ultra-trail race which has inspired new events since its inception in 1974.
Ryan Sandes took a brilliant second place in his first effort at the race, we’re sure that once he gets this under his belt the South African winner of the Leadville in 2011 could also be a contender for the WS100 in future.
Ryan Sandes finishing runner-up
Greenwood was a class act. Her time took an amazing 50 mins off the old course record, set by Trason all the way back in 1994, and after letting Lizzie Hawker lead the way for 50 miles or so the Montrail runner hit the front shortly after halfway to continually extend her lead and crush the field in a classy display of ultra trail running.
Anything you need to know about this weekend’s happenings, just head on over the iRunFar where Bryon Powell has prepared a feast of interviews and reactions to the race.
Ellie with her WS100 trophy
