Kilian Jornet’s long-awaited return to U.S. racing did not go to plan.
Just a week out from his highly anticipated return to the Western States 100, the four-time UTMB champion and global ultrarunning icon placed a surprising 23rd at the Broken Arrow Ascent, a short but steep vertical race in California’s Sierra Nevada. Jornet cited a travel-related illness as the reason for his uncharacteristic result.
Why it matters
Jornet, often regarded as the greatest mountain runner of all time, is set to return to Western States for the first time in 14 years, widely considered the most prestigious 100-mile race in North America. His lackluster performance in Tahoe raises questions about his readiness for the June 28 showdown.
What’s happening
The Broken Arrow Ascent, originally slated to climb 914 meters (about 3,000 feet) over 4.8 kilometers (3 miles) to the summit of Washeshu Peak, was rerouted due to gale-force winds. The race finished instead at KT22, shortening the course to around 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) with roughly 660 meters (2,165 feet) of elevation gain .
Jornet, 36, who had not raced in the United States in over 15 years, was widely expected to challenge for the win. Instead, he faded early and never featured in the lead group.
“A cold after traveling meant the body didn’t cooperate to go full gas,” Jornet wrote on Instagram. “But that happens in this sport! Time to adapt, and focus on the week ahead”.
Christian Allen of the United States seized the opportunity, pulling away late to win in 23:49, ahead of veteran Joseph Gray (24:12) and Cameron Smith (24:24). The top six finishers were all American.
On the women’s side, Anna Gibson dominated from the gun, crossing the line in 27:32, ahead of Kenya’s Joyce Muthoni Njeru (29:06) and Canada’s Jade Belzberg (29:23). Remarkably, 12-year-old Ecuadorian Pema Franchi Antelme placed fifth .
The bigger picture
Jornet’s subdued outing comes just days before his return at Western States, a point-to-point 100.2-mile (161.3K) race from Olympic Valley to Auburn, Calif. Unlike the alpine ultras he typically excels at, Western States is known for heat, fast pacing, and long runnable sections—a style that poses a different kind of challenge.
Jornet has overcome adversity before, winning races after battling altitude sickness, broken gear, and extreme weather. But with just six days to recover, recalibrate, and adjust to Western States’ unique demands, this may be his toughest test yet.
