Ashley Paulson Sets 100-Mile World Record
Ashley Paulson set a new women's 100-mile world record at the 2026 Jackpot 100 Mile in Henderson, Nevada, finishing in 12:19:34. The performance broke ultrarunning history and sets a new benchmark in endurance sports. Her achievement represents a significant leap forward in women's ultrarunning capabilities.
- The new record of 12:19:34 bested the previous mark of 12:37:04, set by Ireland's Caitriona Jennings in 2025, by more than 17 minutes. - Paulson maintained an average pace of 7 minutes and 21 seconds per mile over the 100-mile distance to secure the record. - The Jackpot 100 Mile, which also served as the USATF 100 Mile National Championships, takes place on a 1.19-mile loop course around a pond in Henderson's Cornerstone Park; Paulson completed 84 laps. - She finished second overall in the event, trailing men's winner Rajpaul Pannu, who finished with a time of 11:38:56. - This was not Paulson's first victory at the event, having also won the Jackpot 100-mile race in 2024. - Paulson, 44, is also the women's course record holder for the notoriously difficult Badwater 135 ultramarathon and qualified for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. - During her previous career as a professional triathlete, Paulson served a six-month doping sanction in 2015 and 2016 after testing positive for ostarine, which she attributed to a contaminated supplement.
