Paulson Sets 100-Mile World Record
Ashley Paulson of the United States set a new women's 100-mile world record at the 2026 Jackpot 100 Mile, finishing in 12:19:34. The record came just over three months after the previous mark was established. Paulson's performance redefines the limits of endurance running and is inspiring runners globally to push their boundaries.
- The previous women's 100-mile world record was 12:37:04, set by Caitriona Jennings of Ireland in November 2025 at the Tunnel Hill 100 Miler. Paulson's time of 12:19:34 shattered that mark by more than 17 minutes. - The Jackpot 100 Mile was held at Cornerstone Park in Henderson, Nevada, and also served as the USATF 100 Mile National Championships. The course consists of a 1.19-mile loop that runners completed 84 times. - Paulson maintained an average pace of 7:21 per mile over the 100-mile distance. She started the race at an aggressive pace, running some of the initial miles around a 7-minute-per-mile pace. - This is not Paulson's first major achievement in endurance sports; she is a two-time champion of the grueling Badwater 135, a 135-mile race through Death Valley, and holds the women's course record. In 2023, she won the Badwater 135 outright, beating all male competitors. - The 44-year-old athlete has an extensive background in endurance events, having competed in over 130 marathons, more than 30 full-distance Ironman triathlons, and has won every 100-mile race she has finished. - In 2020, Paulson competed in the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, where she finished in 44th place with a time of 2:40:07. - Paulson's record is subject to ratification by the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU), the governing body that recognizes world records in ultrarunning. - In 2015, while competing as a professional triathlete, Paulson received a six-month doping sanction for a positive test for ostarine, which she stated was from a contaminated supplement.
