Rob Krar Earns Second Consecutive Win at Historic Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run

News provided by

Jun 29, 2015, 02:26 ET

ALAMEDA, Calif., June 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The North Face runner Rob Krar, 38 of Flagstaff, Ariz., outpaced a field of the most elite ultrarunners in the world to earn his second consecutive first place finish at the renowned Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run Saturday. Krar, who knocked minutes off of his time last year, won in a near record-setting time of 14:48:59 — the second-fastest run in the race's 41-year history. Krar shared the podium with teammate Seth Swanson, 36 of Missoula, Mont., who also placed second for the second year in a row finishing in an impressive 15:17:28, and Jared Hazen, 20 of Colorado Springs, Colo., in third place finishing in 15:37:55.

The North Face runner Rob Krar finishes first at the Men's Western States 100 Mile Endurance RunPhoto credit: Alex Aristei / GOLDIE Productions

Defending women's champion and The North Face runner Stephanie Howe took third place in the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run. Photo Credit: Alex Aristei / GOLDIE Productions

Defending women's champion and The North Face runner Stephanie Howe, 31 of Bend, Ore., battled the race, the heat and her competitors for a third place finish in 19:32:58, almost 90 minutes behind her winning time in 2014. Howe was edged out of the top podium spots by Magdalena Boulet of Oakland, Calif., and Kaci Lickteig, 28 of Omaha, Nebr., who finished first (19:05:21) and second (19:20:31) respectively.

As the world's oldest 100-mile trail race, the Western States 100 has reached iconic status as one of the most challenging, competitive and prestigious 100-mile races in the country. Nearly 400 runners began the run at 5 a.m. Saturday in Squaw Valley, Calif., ascending more than 18,000 feet and descending nearly 23,000 feet through high country wilderness and steamy canyons, before reaching the finish line in Auburn, Calif.

"Of course the record was on my mind, but it is a delicate balance weighing the risks and the rewards of chasing a record," Krar said of finishing just two minutes shy of the race record, which belongs to The North Face athlete Timothy Olson who ran a 14:46:44 in 2012. "Chasing a record is a dangerous thing for your mind and your body and I remind myself of that today. I couldn't be happier with how the day went."

A competitive runner in high school and college, Krar started running ultra distances on a whim in 2012 "just to see what it would be like." Aside from his top finishes at Western States, Krar is has also won Leadville 100 (2014), Run Rabbit Run (2014) and has earned the fastest known time for both the single and double crossing of the Grand Canyon. Additionally, he earned the top spots at the Ultra Race of Champions (UROC) 100k and The North Face Endurance Challenge Championships 50-mile in 2013.

About The North Face®
The North Face, a division of VF Outdoor, Inc., was founded in 1966. Headquartered in Alameda, California, the company offers the most technically advanced products in the market to accomplished climbers, mountaineers, snowsport athletes, endurance athletes, and explorers. The company's products are sold in specialty mountaineering, backpacking, running, and snowsport retailers, premium-sporting goods retailers, and major outdoor specialty retail chains. For more information, go to www.thenorthface.com.

Media Contacts:
Megan Hamik
Edelman for The North Face
(415) 780-2562
[email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150629/226664

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150629/226663

SOURCE The North Face