Gordy Ainsleigh in
1974 |
1974 • The Way it all Began 1 Starter, 1 Finisher - 100%
On August 3, 1974, Gordy Ainsleigh joined the 198 Tevis
Cup horses on foot. Twenty-three hours and forty-two minutes later he arrived
in Auburn, proving that a runner could indeed traverse the rugged 100 miles in
one day.
1975 • Ron Kelley Gives It a Try 1 Starter, No Finisher - 0%
Ron Kelley ran the Tevis Cup Ride with the horses as
Gordy had done, but he withdrew at No Hands Bridge, despite being good enough
on time for a sub-24-hour finish.
1976 • Then Cowman 1 Starter, 1 Finisher - 100%
Ken "Cowman" Shirk hooted and hollered his way through
the Tevis Cup course, finishing just 30 minutes over the 24-hour mark. He was
paced by his pal Gordy Ainsleigh for the last 25 miles. |
1977 • "This race is gonna be BIG!"
16 Starters, 3 Finishers -
18.8%
The first official Western States Endurance Run!
Fourteen men from four states ran with the Tevis Cup horses. Three "aid"
stations were planned at the horses' veterinary checks, where Dr. Bob Lind, was
the first official M.D. for the runners.
Only 22-year-old Andy Gonzales, the eventual winner and
sole sub-24-hour finisher in the record-breaking time of 22:57, was monitored
after Michigan Bluff, since all other runners had dropped out or were "too
late." Peter Mattei and Ralph Paffenbarger, ages 53 and 54, continued on their
own, arriving at the finish line in a then-unofficial 28:36. Their performance
and persistence resulted in the decision to provide official finisher status
and an award to sub-30-hour finishers.
In November of 1977, the first Western States Endurance
Run Board of Governors was established under the corporate umbrella of the
Western States Trail Foundation. Members were Gordy Ainsleigh, Andy Gonzales,
Jim Larimer, Bob Lind, M.D., Mo Livermore, Peter Mattei, Ralph Paffenbarger,
M.D., Paul Reese, Joe Sloan, Curt Sproul, Kathy Tellington, Don Walker, and
visionary Shannon Weil, who kept maintaining, "This race is gonna be BIG!"
Turned out she was right. |
1978 • The Run Breaks from the Ride
63 Starters, 30 Finishers -
47.6%
Bob Bunnell, 1978 |
Culminating a year-long effort by the infamous Gang of
Four (Phil Gardner, Mo Livermore, Shannon Weil, and Curt Sproul) to create an
independent event, the race took place in June, a month earlier than the Tevis
Cup Ride.
The event included 21 aid stations, six medical checks,
and sixty-three adventurers, including five women, entered. It was the first
year of the sub-30-hour finish award.
Andy Gonzales won for the second year, and Pat Smythe
became the first official woman finisher (and winner) in 29:24. Some of the
runners were paced by horseback riders! |
1979 • WSER Goes Global 143 Starters, 96 Finishers - 67.1%
Th e Western States Endurance Run became an
international event, with 143 athletes from three foreign countries and 21
states. This was the first year that a qualifying standard was required to
enter - certification of having run 50 miles in under 10 hours. Aid station
cut-off times were also established for the first time.
Winner Mike Catlin overslept on race morning, reaching
the starting line ten minutes after everyone else. Skip Swannack became the
first female buckle winner (21:56) and was also the first winner of the
Thurmond-Drucilla Barner trophy. |
1980 • Two Women in the Top Ten 251 Starters, 124 Finishers - 49.4%
Much of the first ten miles was covered with snow as 250
athletes challenged the course. Another repeat occured with Mike Catlin
winning. Two women, winner Sally Edwards and second placer Bjorg
Austrheim-Smith, finished in the top ten. Runners used a boat to ford the
swollen Rucky Chucky crossing. |
1981 • Lottery Instigated 251 Starters, 146 Finishers -
58.2%
A lottery system for race entry was established due to
the increasing number of entries and the need to limit the number of entrants.
Acknowledging the unique camaraderie and mutual respect which fl ourishes among
runners of the Western States Trail, leaders Doug Latimer and Jim Howard
decided to tie for first place. Bjorg Austrheim-Smith was the first woman.
|
1982 • "Newcomer" Jim King Wins 278 Starters, 176 Finishers -
63.3%
Dispelling the accepted theories of ultra-marathon
pacing by running nearly all of the hills on the course, Jim King became the
first Western States "newcomer" to win the race. Bjorg Austrheim- Smith won
again. "Desperate Dreams - I" by Centreburn Productions became the first
Western States film shown to a national TV audience. |
1983 • Year 10 -- the Big Snow 282 Starters, 196 Finishers- 69.5%
The first 24 miles of the course were covered with snow,
punctuated by steep climbs over drifts as high as 15-20 feet. The route had to
be changed to avoid treacherously full Duncan Creek, yet the race times were
consistent with those of past years from Last Chance on.
Over 30 top runners followed leader Jim King's
footprints in the snow when he took a wrong turn at the Red Star Ridge aid
station, which for the first time in race history had to be accessed by
helicopter. Jim Howard overtook Jim King in the final 1/2 mile to win by one
minute! Bjorg Austrheim-Smith became the first "threepeat" women's winner.
Centreburn produced and syndicated "Desperate Dreams -
II." The first Friend of the Trail award for outstanding volunteer service to
the Run was awarded to Ermin and Nettie Sands. |
1984 • Congress Threatens 369 Starters, 250 Finishers - 67.8%
Outside Magazine rated the Western States Endurance Run
as the "toughest endurance event in the world." Congress enacted the California
Wilderness Act, which created the Granite Chief Wilderness Area. This
threatened the Western States' continued use of the four miles of historic
trail which lie within its boundaries and stimulated a four-year effort among
ultrarunners nationwide to allow the Run to use the trail. Jim King notched his
second WSER win; Judy Milkie was the first woman.
The Little Cougar Award was established for people who
make extraordinary contributions to the Run. |
1985 • Hey Everyone - it's 100.2 Miles!
294 starters, 163 finishers -
55.3%
Th e Western States course was measured to the nearest
1/10 mile, and it officially became a 100.2-mile event. The 1985 event was
dedicated to the memory of Wendell T. Robie, founder of the Western States
Trail Ride and its offshoot, the Western States Endurance Run. ABC Wide World
of Sports televised the race on its popular 90-minute show. Teri Gerber is
first woman and Jim King becomes the first men's "three-peat" winner.
|
1986 • Big Numbers 415 Starters, 210 Finishers - 50.6%
The highest ever number of starters (415) enjoyed the
debut of the tricky California Street Trail as a permanent addition to the
course. The race was televised once again by ABC Wide World of Sports. It was
Norm Klein's first year as race director. Chuck Jones was the first to cross
the finish, and Kathy D'Onofrio topped the women's field.
|
1987 • An Out-of-Stater Wins 353
Starters, 183 Finishers - 54.9%
Herb Tanzer, 1987 Winner |
Unfazed by the stifling heat (114° recorded in El
Dorado Canyon), Mary Hammes of Fort Worth, Texas, became the first
non-Californian (man or woman) to win the Western States. Herb Tanzer overtook
Steve Warshawer in the last six miles to win overall. |
1988 • Granite Chief Trail Granted 341 Starters, 250 Finishers - 73.5%
Pursuant to Congressional guidance, the U.S. Forest
Service granted permission for the Western States to continue forever its
historic use of the trail within the Granite Chief Wilderness Area. This
decision culminated four years of negotiation and appeal, led by Antonio
Rossmann.
Doug Latimer became the first person to win a 1,000-MILE
Buckle, finishing in the top ten for the tenth time. Winners Brian Purcell and
Kathy D'Onofrio led the field which produced the highest number of finishers
ever (250).
Golden Gaters Productions produced a nationally
syndicated film about the Run. |
1989 • Ann Trason's Debut 372 Starters, 246 Finishers - 66.2%
Phenomenal Ann Trason was the women's winner and became
the first woman to finish in the top ten on the 100.2-mile course. Mark
Brotherton was the top finisher while Jim Pellon won his 1,000-Miles - 10 Days
Buckle, becoming the first person to win ten silver buckles consecutively.
Bjorg Austrheim-Smith became the first woman to finish ten consecutive years.
NBC Sports World aired this year's film, produced by
Golden Gaters Productions. |
Squaw Valley Start, 1989 |
| |
1990 • More Big Numbers! 351 Starters, 208 Finishers -
59.2%
Over 1,000 athletes from 46 states and 12 foreign
countries submitted entries to the 1990 race, which was won by Tom Johnson and
Ann Trason. Three finishers were disqualified due to rule violations by their
crews.
A cougar and a brown bear were spotted by several
runners in the neighborhood of the Cal-4 (Ford's Bar) aid station.
|
1991 • The Coldest and the Wettest 368 Starters, 242 Finishers -
65.8%
This was the coldest, wettest race in Western States
history. Heavy pre-race rains at Squaw Valley, snow flurries on Emigrant Pass
and frigid temperatures in the high country, which required aid station
personnel to chop up the energy bars with axes, created an unusual race.
46° was the high at Robinson Flat, with 74° being the highest
temperature recorded anywhere along the course. Tom Johnson (15:54:05) and Ann
Trason (18:29:07) repeated their impressive wins, each establishing a new
course record. For the first time, two runners in the 60+ division, Rob
Volkenand and Dick Laine, won silver buckles. |
1992 • Trail Protected 374 Starters, 230 Finishers -
61.4%
On June 25, the U.S. Dept. of Interior entered the
Michigan Bluff to Last Chance Trail in the National Register of Historic
Places, capping a two-year cooperative effort by the U.S.F.S. (Tahoe National
Forest), the Western States Trail Foundation and the Western States Run. Th e
phenomenal Ann Trason (18:14:48) shattered her course record and finished third
overall. Tim Twietmeyer won both the race and his 11th silver buckle. One
finisher was disqualified for breaking a rule, and 1992 was the first year that
runners had to qualify in order to apply to the race. |
1993 • The Year of the Sierra
Triangle 387 Starters, 209
Finishers - 54.0%
Many runners succumbed to the triple whammy of
temperatures to 105°, deep snow in the high country and the
ever-challenging California Trail. Th is was a combination of conditions which
led to the lowest percentage of sub-24-hour finishers since 1977. Ann Trason
extended her magnificent winning streak to five consecutive years, and Tom
Johnson joined Jim King as a three-time winner of the Western
States. |
1994 • Celebrating 20 years! 379 Starters, 249 Finishers -
65.5%
Happy Anniversary! Marking 20 years of the running of
the Western States Trail, the WSER celebrated the achievements of pioneer Gordy
Ainsleigh, who finished the race for the ninth time. Ann Trason stunned us yet
again by finishing second overall to two-time champ Tim Twietmeyer.
At age 67, Ray Piva became the oldest person to win a
silver buckle. In an inspiring demonstration of determination, desire and guts,
Joann Hull entered the Placer High School stadium with less than two minutes on
the clock, and crossed the finish line with just 16 seconds to spare
(29:59:44).
Brass plaques honoring the achievements of all who meet
the challenge of the Western States Trail were placed at the start and finish
lines. |
1995 • The Year of the Endless
Winter 371 Starters, 198
Finishers - 53.4%
With a final snowstorm just one week before the Run, the
Sierra was blanketed with the largest snowfall ever recorded - 836 inches!
Following the 1983 "Snow Route," runners plowed through 24 miles of the white
stuff and then soldiered on through the lower elevations where temperatures
soared to 107 degrees. Helicopters supplied the Lyon Ridge and Red Star Ridge
aid stations, and a 20-person Snow Patrol "swept" the first 24 miles of trail.
Runners were ferried across the raging American River in rubber boats,
hand-pulled by dedicated volunteers.
Tim Twietmeyer and Ann Trason repeated their impressive
wins and one-two overall finishes, with Gabriel Bautista of the Tarahumara
finishing a strong third. Gard Leighton, 60, became the oldest person to win
the coveted 1000-Mile 10-Day Buckle with ten sub-24-hour finishes. Due to the
exceptional trail and weather conditions, the absolute finishing time was
extended to 32 hours. This made 28 runners (14% of those finishing)
particularly happy! |
1996 • No Hands Bridge OK'ed 373
Starters, 227 Finishers - 60.9%
The famous No Hands Bridge, an integral part of the WS
course, was closed to all travellers this spring by the Bureau of Reclamation
due to concerns about its structural stability. Through the monumental efforts
of many, most notably Norman Klein and Tom Winter of the WS 100, and Larry
Suddjian of the Western States Trail Foundation, the Run was allowed to use the
bridge on Race Day.
With beautiful weather, just enough snow to be
picturesque and a high rate of completion, 1996 was another banner year for
Western States. It was Ann Trason's eighth consecutive win, despite coming off
a record-breaking victory at Comrades in South Africa just 12 days before. She
was third overall to Tim Twietmeyer's spectacular and unprecedented fourth
victory. Tim also brought home a 15th silver buckle, to lead the pack in
all-time finishes. |
1997 • Course Record! 369 Starters, 257 Finishers - 69.9%
Fabulous weather and a virtually snow-free course
combined to produce the second highest finishing rate in race history! In his
first finish at Western States, Mike Morton of Maryland smashed Tom Johnson's
15:54:05 course record by over 13 minutes (15:40:41), and he became the first
non-Californian to win the race overall.
Amazing Ann Trason took home her ninth consecutive
Western States Cougar award for winning the women's division, after repeating
her incredible Comrades/Western States "double" of 1996 (twelve days and half a
world apart.) Twelve women finished in under 24 hours, more than ever before.
The Stationmasters Award was established to honor aid
station captains with 15 years of service. Now that's dedication!
|
1998 • Celebrating 25 years! 381
Starters, 258 Finishers - 67.5%
El Niño worked its magic on Western States. The
infamous weather pattern of 1997-1998 created challenging conditions of
slippery ice and mushy snow as the race was conducted for the third time in
history along its alternate "snow course." First access for crews was the
55-mile point - Michigan Bluff! A hefty 14% of the total finishers took
advantage of the two-hour "snow extension" finishing time.
The indefatigable Tim Twietmeyer skated through to his
fifth victory and 17th silver buckle. Premier ultrarunner Ann Trason notched
her tenth consecutive Western States win and retired the original
Thurmond-Barner Cup. Ray Piva, age 71, became the oldest finisher on record,
and 70-years-young Link Lindquist and Beacham Toler each completed the race as
well.
Transition towards the selection of a new Race Director
began post-race, capping a challenging year for all involved with the
organization of the event. Pete Brost and Ed Moore of the U.S. Forest Service
graciously honored the WSER with a very special gift, affirming the mutual
respect and commonality of purpose our two organizations share.
|
1999 • The Year of the Rookie 335 Starters, 216 Finishers -
64.5%
Western States first-timers blew away the competition:
Scott Jurek notched a solid victory at his first WSER, leading wire to wire;
impressive Suzanne Brana advanced steadily through the field and triumphed in
only her second 100- miler, exemplifying the strength and determination of a
true champion. Sixty-years-young Werner Schweizer jetted in from Switzerland to
improve his age group's record (22:08:36, Harold Carling, 1994) by one hour and
24 minutes, finishing an amazing 13th overall (20:44:07).
Perfect weather and stellar trail conditions, with just
enough snow and fallen trees to be picturesque in the wake of a La Niña
spring, contributed to a wonderful day, marked as always by the incredible work
and unfailing good humor of the army of invaluable volunteers stationed all
along the Trail.
The race was Norm Klein's swan song after 14 years, and
it heralded a new dawn for Western States, as a warm welcome was extended to
incoming Race Director, Greg Soderlund. |
2000 • Scott #2, Ann #11 385 Starters, 222 Finishers - 57.9%
Staving off early challenges and withstanding
unrelenting pressure from some of the best ultrarunners in the business, Scott
Jurek rolled along to his second consecutive win. This great competitor had
spent the previous Tuesday clearing downed trees from the trail. Ann Trason
raced through the Highway 49 checkpoint at 11:11 p.m., clinched her 11th win at
Western States as she crossed the finish line in 11th place overall. Kenji
Okiyama and Ryoichi Sekiya of Japan both finished among the top twenty men, and
Hiroko Okiyama was ninth woman, amazing feats for foreign runners new to the
Western States Trail.
The U.S. Forest Service acquired the historic Pacific
Slab Mine at Last Chance, completing public ownership of the historic Last
Chance-Michigan Bluff Trail listed in the National Register.
|
2001 • Scott #3, Ann #12 396 Starters, 267 Finishers - 67.5%
Scott Jurek, 2001
Winner |
Marking the Run's second "consecutive threepeat," Scott
Jurek raced into Western States history, celebrating with Ann Trason after her
twelfth consecutive win. Tim Twietmeyer began a new page in the record books,
gliding to his 20th consecutive sub-24-hour finish (including five victories),
in second place. For the first time since 1981, two women (Ann Trason and Emma
Davies) finished in the top ten, and Jim Scott joined his brother Dave Scott in
the 1000-Mile buckle club, the first pair of family members to accomplish this
feat.
KVIE, Sacramento's PBS affiliate, produced "A Race for
the Soul" to much acclaim, filming a field which enjoyed perfect weather and
recorded its highest ever percentage of sub-30- hour finishers. Shannon Weil
introduced the "Free WSER Entry Raffle" to raise money for trail preservation.
Post-race, late summer... The Star Fire raged through
the High Sierra for over three weeks, destroying 16,761 acres, including parts
of Red Star Ridge and Duncan Canyon. It was contained by the efforts of 2300
firefighters from 34 states, at a cost of $27 million. |
2002 • Scott #4; Ann #13 372 Starters, 255 Finishers - 68.5%
Scott Jurek continued his streak to a fourpeat and
another PR. Ann Trason held on for an amazing but very tough 13th win. Emma
Davies crossed the finish line 16 minutes behind Trason. Davies' time was good
enough for the second fastest woman's time and the fastest non-winning time
ever. At age 55, Nancy March became the oldest female to break 24 hours, and
she also set a new course record for the 50 to 59 age group.
Following the fire of 2001 between Red Star Ridge and
Duncan Canyon aid stations, the upper course was modified to avoid the damaged
areas and help facilitate restoration of the forest. From Red Star Aid Station
the runners would run directly to Robinson Flat Aid Station, eliminating the
Duncan Canyon Aid Station entirely. To make up for lost mileage, Little Bald
Mountain Aid Station and the Pucker Point Trail were added.
|
2003 - Scott #5; Ann #14 405 Starters, 272 Finishers - 67.3%
Ann Trason's and Scott Jurek's winning streaks
continued. Scott's unprecedented fifth consecutive overall win time of 16:01:18
was the third fastest in the event's history. New men's and women's 60-69 age
group records were set. Roger Dellor ran 20:28:05 to better the previous men's
record of 20:33:19 set by Werner Schweizer in 2001. Christa Rebstock blasted
Helen Klein's 1989 record time of 29:25:03 with her 26:41:00.
Despite relatively warm temperatures (a high of 99°
in Auburn), 96 runners broke the 24-hour mark, and the 67% finishing rate
topped the overall average of 63%. Among the sub-24-hour finishers, 14 were
women, the highest number to achieve this since 1997 (12). An independently
produced film of the 2002 event, "Running Madness," was shown during pre-race
festivities. Former Race Director Norm Klein returned in the role of finish
line announcer.
Due to the stature and prestige of the city's signature
endurance events, the Western States Trail Ride and the Western States
Endurance Run, in April 2003 the Auburn City Council unanimously voted in favor
of a proclamation declaring Auburn
 "The
Endurance Capital of the World." At the annual State of the Community
ceremonial dinner, the Auburn Chamber of Commerce posthumously presented the
Friend of Auburn Award to Wendell T. Robie for his community involvement and
founding of the Ride and the Run.
|
2004 - Scott's Course Record! 366 Starters, 278 Finishers -
76.0%
Scott Jurek's remarkable streak continues. He has won
six years straight, and each year he has run faster than the year before,
besting the course record with a time of 15:36:27. Scott's six wins are the
most by any male. Only Tim Twietmeyer comes close with five wins. Nikki
Kimball, in her first 100-miler, runs like a veteran and dominates the women's
field with a time of 18:43:25.
Owing to relatively benign weather, no snow, and the
continued diversion around Duncan Canyon, there were many personal bests with
76% of the field finishing, highest in the history of the Run.
|
2005 - Scott's Finale 400 Starters, 317 Finishers -
79.2%
Scott Jurek pulled away from early leader Vincent
Delebarre by mile 55 to notch his seventh consecutive WSER win. He announced
shortly thereafter that he would not return to WSER in 2006 as a competitor.
Women's winner, Annette Bednosky, who flew in from North Carolina the night
before the event, ran unassisted by a crew and was assigned a volunteer pacer
at Foresthill.
A late snowmelt created high flows at the Rucky Chucky
River Crossing, forcing the runners to cross by boat. Helga Backhaus crossed
the finish line for the tenth time. Helga, a nine-time sub-24-hour finisher,
had spent the previous four years recovering from a severe leg injury. Her
doctors said she would be lucky if she could ever walk again. Her 2005 WSER
finish (29:58:09) is a sterling example of the spirit and tenacity of all WSER
finishers. Gunhild Swanson set a women's 60-69 age division record of 25:40:16,
breaking Christa Rebstock's 2003 record of 26:41:00 by more than an hour.
The City of Auburn, in support of its title "Endurance
Capital of the World," recognized the Run with a public arts project.
Worldreknown muralist Rip Cronk painted a mural of actual WSER runners on the
four 40-foot-tall Dawson fuel tanks. The project, located at the corner of
Blocker Dr. and Nevada St., was completed in August of 2005.
|
2006 - Return to Duncan Canyon 399 Starters, 210 Finishers -
52.6%
Slow times and a low finishing rate characterized the
33rd WSER. The 52.6% finisher rate was the lowest since 1986 (50.6%). Only 53
sub-24 silver buckles were awarded, the lowest since 1995 (32), and only five
runners finished under 20 hours, the lowest total in modern history. These
statistics were attributed in large part to the heat and lack of shade in the
newly restored section of trail into Duncan Canyon, combined with triple digit
temperatures in the canyons on both Saturday and Sunday and a low in Auburn of
only 73ºF on Sunday morning.
During 2005 and 2006, volunteers led by WSER Foundation
Board members Mark Falcone and Tim Twietmeyer spent over 1000 hours making the
trail passable in Duncan Canyon, which was badly burned in the Star Fire of
2001. These volunteers removed more than 500 trees from the trail in the
13-mile stretch between Red Star Ridge and Robinson Flat.
Graham Cooper won in 18:17:28 and Nikki Kimball was
third overall and first woman (19:26:51), her second WSER victory. Finish line
drama occurred when frontrunner Brian Morrison collapsed on the track and was
unable to reach the finish unassisted, leaving the winner's spot open to
Graham.
Tim Twietmeyer made WSER history with his 25th
sub-24-hour finish and received a special buckle along with a shadow box
containing all 25 of his finisher's buckles. His family was awarded the first
ever "WSER Good Sport Award" for their 25 years of crewing Tim.
A live Webcast allowed people with Internet access to
track the runners from anywhere in the world. It was a resounding success, with
the count of distinct visitors to ws100.com estimated in excess of 23,000 on
race weekend.
|
2007 - Koerner & Kimball lead the
pack 392 starters and 270
finishers - 68.9%
Hal Koerner won in 16:12:16, and Nikki Kimball was
eighth overall and first woman (18:12:37), her third WSER victory.
In October 2007 the Western States Run in collaboration
with the Trust for Public Land (TPL) succeeded in negotiating the sale of
Pointed Rocks Ranch from the Cowell Foundation to California State Parks! For
20 years we have worked for this moment, often with anxiety as proposals for
subdivisions and refuse transfer stations were made for this property.
On June 7, 2008, we will celebrate the dedication of
Pointed Rocks as the first State ownership in the Auburn Recreation Area. Our
great thanks to the California Resources Agency, Cowell, and TPL for protecting
this keystone land on the Western States Trail!
|
In Memoriam
James Burke
Roger Chamblee
Eddie Lujan
Ralph Paffenbarger
Darrell Schlee
Alvin SooHoo
Larry Visak |
|
|
2003 Finishers by Place
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