From Olympic Valley to Auburn, California, HOKA athletes turned out fearless performances at the 2024 Western States Endurance Run. On Saturday night at Placer High School, six runners claimed top 10 finishes in the men’s and women’s 100-mile race, highlighted by a commanding victory from Jim Walmsley.

About an hour before sunset, Jim won his fourth Western States title in 14:13:45, his second fastest time ever on the course, while leading the quickest men’s podium in race history. In a tight battle against Rod Farvard for the remaining top two spots, a hard-closing Hayden Hawks kicked to third in 14:24:31, just 16 seconds behind his rival.

Ahead of the 100-mile showdown, it was clear the course record-holder was on a mission to reclaim his place at the top of the podium after three years away from the event. “I’m returning to Western States because it’s almost like people forgot,” Jim said.

Running an average mile pace of 8:32 for 100 miles through the Sierra Nevadas, Jim left no doubt that he’s the best runner to ever compete on the historic course. But the victory didn’t come easy. For most of the last 30 miles, Jim and Rod battled back-and-forth for the lead until Jim ultimately pulled away for good with less than 10 miles to go.

Sitting for an interview near the finish line, the four-time champion choked up when reflecting on the arduous day. “That was the toughest fight I’ve ever had here at Western States,” Jim said.

“For the first time, I was really getting passed several times and just trying to take care of myself all day, which caused more stopping at aid stations, making sure I’m getting ice, staying cool and just hoping it pays off at some point. Rod had an incredible day, and it just brings up a lot of emotion because it was just really hard.”

Racing against one of the deepest fields ever, Jim kicked off the competition in the lead pack. Climbing from the start in Olympic Valley to the escarpment and down to the Robinson Flat aid station at mile 30.3, he was leading the group with a 4:25 split, a solid pace in between his fastest and slowest past performances.

While Jim remained in the lead through Miller’s Defeat and the Last Chance aid stations, a fast-closing chase pack, including Hayden and Daniel Jones, formed as temperatures increased.

Looking comfortable and in control, Jim tried to widen the gap through Devil’s Thumb and the old mining town of Michigan Bluff at mile 55.7. Behind him, a battle for the second and third-place positions heated up. Climbing out of a fire-scorched canyon, Rod and Dakota Jones emerged in second and third ahead of Hayden and Daniel.

As avid Western States fans know, the race truly begins at Foresthill. On the men’s side, the saying rang true when Rod began to close in on Jim at the 62-mile mark. Only 8 seconds separated the competitors when they arrived at the aid station. Shortly after passing through the small town, Rod took advantage of the downhill section to pass Jim. Around the same time, Hayden regained his position in third place.

For the next 30 miles or so, Jim and Rod fought each other for the lead. But every time Rod passed Jim, the reigning UTMB champion couldn’t be shaken. After the river crossing at Rucky Chucky, Jim kept him within striking distance, changing his shoes and socks and gaining support from a pacer. At the start of the race, Jim wasn’t sure if he would run with a pacer but as the pressure increased, he decided to bring in Ben Stolwell, a friend from Flagstaff.

With one brave push up the hill to the Green Gate aid station, Jim overtook Rod and ultimately broke away for good around mile 92. The victory is Jim’s fourth title after winning in 2018, breaking his own course record in 2019, and dominating once again in 2021.

Behind Jim, Hayden nearly caught Rod heading down the hill from Robie Point, closing in a 5:20 last mile. While the kick wasn’t quite fast enough to finish second, Hayden said he was proud to achieve his goals after coming back from injury in the spring. “I’ve always said I want to run my own race. I want to run a race that I’m proud of. I want to run a complete race,” Hayden said. “Check, check, check. I did that, and Jim and Rod were just better, and that’s all that it was. I did everything I possibly could.”

Team HOKA rounded out the top 10 spots in the men’s race with a ninth-place finish from Jonathan Rea, who completed the 100-mile course in 14:57:01. Ji Duo finished 12th at his first Western States.

In the women’s race, more breakthrough performances followed with a historic debut and personal bests. In her first ever attempt at the grueling course, Fuzhao Xiang placed second in 16:20:03, the third-fastest time in Western States history behind 2024 race winner Katie Schide (15:46:57) and course record-holder Courtney Dauwalter (15:29:33). For the second year in a row, Eszter Csillag finished third in 16:42:17, taking 30 minutes off her time from the 2023 race. Heather Jackson also had a great day with a seventh-place finish in 17:16:43, a triumphant return after dropping out of the race last year.

2016 Western States Champion Kaci Lickteig finished the race for her tenth time, earning herself the coveted 1,000-mile buckle and placing 18th. Emily Schmitz finished in 12th and Kellie Angel placed 17th.

After Katie got off to a blistering start, a chase pack that included Eszter, Fuzhao, and Heather started to form in the early miles through Miller’s Defeat and Last Chance.

Just past halfway at Michigan Bluff, Eszter moved into second behind Katie, who was chasing the course record. Including Eszter, HOKA athletes were dominating the top five with Fuzhao and Heather running strong through the second half of the course.

Past Foresthill, Fuzhao utilized the downhill sections to blaze past Eszter. By the river crossing at Rucky Chucky, the Chinese athlete had moved into second and Eszter had fallen back to fifth.

But the Hungarian athlete wasn’t down for long. Up the hill to Green Gate and all the way through Pointed Rocks (mile 94.3), Eszter ran the entire ascent and fought her way to third for another podium finish.

Looking back on the day, Heather summed up the unique combination of defeat and self-fulfillment runners often navigate when they take on Western States.

After closing for seventh, the six-time Ironman winner reflected on the importance of persistence in tough moments, a hard-earned skill that’s required to conquer the world’s oldest 100-mile trail race.

“This is the hardest athletic event I’ve ever done,” Heather said. “And I’ve done so many sports, so many races, and this is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I still can’t believe it.”