12:19:34! Average pace 4:36/km, Ashley Paulson dramatically breaks the women's 100-mile world record At the just-concluded 2026 Jackpot 100 Mile (U.S. 100 Mile Championship), American ultrarunning star Ashley Paulson finished in a stunning 12:19:34, successfully breaking the women's 100-mile world record. Not only did this time rewrite ultrarunning history, it bettered the previous record by more than 17 minutes. On the Henderson, Nevada course, Paulson demonstrated the art of extreme endurance with an extremely aggressive yet precise execution. Record crusher: from 12:37 to 12:19 The turnover of the women's 100-mile world record has been astonishing. Just over three months ago, Ireland's Caitriona Jennings ran 12:37:04 at the 2025 Tunnel Hill 100 Mile. Ashley Paulson, however, came prepared. Before the race she had openly declared her intention to go for the world record on social media. In the end she crossed the line in 12:19:34, not only delivering on that promise but pushing humanity's limits at the distance forward once more. Race recap: aggressive start and holding on The Jackpot 100 Mile course layout is a severe test of runners' mental strength. The race took place at Cornerstone Park, where runners repeated laps on a circular course just 1.19 miles (about 1.91 km) per loop. The race started at 8:00 a.m. local time; conditions at the gun were cool and winds light, offering an ideal window for fast times. To break the previous record, Paulson needed to keep an average pace of roughly 4:42 per kilometer for the entire distance. It was, in short, a precise battle against the clock: All-rounder: from Badwater Basin to 100-mile speed Ashley Paulson is no stranger to the ultrarunning scene; she is known for her versatility, especially in extreme endurance events. The Queen of Badwater: Her most widely known accomplishments came at Badwater 135. In 2022 she first broke the course record and finished third overall; in 2023 she again shattered her own record (by nearly 2.5 hours) and won the overall title. Multiple wins: She's no stranger to the Jackpot course — she won it in 2024 (DNF in 2025). She was also the champion at the 2025 Zion 100 Mile and the 2025 Bigfoot 200 Mile. As the USATF (USA Track & Field) 100 Mile National Championship, the course was officially certified. Ashley Paulson's new world record still requires final ratification by the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU). 12:19:34 — this is the new benchmark for the women's 100-mile event. On the monotonous loop course, Ashley Paulson once again proved that in the world of ultrarunning there are no permanent finish lines, only limits that are continually being reset.