Call her a breakout in February, after Black Canyon. Do not call her that after Auburn.
Jenn Lichter has spent 2026 collecting the kind of times that used to belong to one person. The Western States finish — 15:28:05, a record taken on the track with nothing left — is the sort of race that follows you to Europe. Chamonix is not Auburn. The climbs are ruder and the night is longer. That is the only remaining argument against her.
Dauwalter still has the mountains. Entrekin still has the unexplainable 250. Lichter has the fastest 100 miles of the year. Kick Rocks will not pick the women's race. We will just refuse to pretend it is a two-person card.
