Rob Krar Wins Western States 100

If facial hair is any indication of ultrarunning ability, then Rob Krar‘s bearded win at the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run should come as no surprise (well, that and the fact that he was Bryon Powell’s predicted winner over at iRunFar). Krar, who placed second at Western States last year, won the 2014 rendition this evening in a time of 14:53:24—the second-fastest run in the race’s 40-year history. The course record belongs to Timothy Olson (also bearded), who ran a 14:46:44 in 2012.

Montana’s Seth Swanson finished second in 15:19:40, and California’s Dylan Bowman was third in 15:36:42. In his first 100-miler, Oregon’s Max King placed fourth in 15:44:49.

In addition to his performance at last year’s WS100, Krar is perhaps best known for holding the fastest known time for both the single and double crossing of the Grand Canyon. The North Face-sponsored athlete, who lives in nearby Flagstaff and only started ultra racing in 2012, is also a three-time TransRockies champion.  

“He may not race as prolifically as others,” Powell writes, “but Rob Krar has been the most dominant ultra runner on American soil the past year and a half.”