With only two days until Western States, below is our final five athlete profiles featuring an east coast racer with 100 miler experience, a midwest speedster, a California based States veteran and more to round out the final part of our rabbit racer preview.
Rachel Bell Kelley (rabbitELITEtrail) - Chapel Hill, NC - #237
Our singular east coast representative, Rachel Bell Kelley, is quite familiar with the 100 mile distance finishing three of them in the past few seasons including Run Rabbit Run and Pinhoti. After recovering from an injury earlier this spring, hertraining has been dialed, including a trip to California last month for the Western States Training Camp with a couple of other rabbit racers. Kelley will lean on her experience at the challenging distance and use her on the fly problem solving skills to help her put a mark on this storied endurance test across the Sierras on this weekend.
Dave Odell (RADrabbit/SB Mountain Racing) - Santa Barbara, CA - #281
No stranger to pushing his limits in extreme endurance challenges, Dave Odell has completedfour 100 mile races, including Leadville in 2017, Rio del Lago, Cascade Crest and 120 miles at the Born To Run Ultramarathons 4 Day in Los Olivos, CA last month. One of three rabbits to get into Western States via the lottery, Odell’s training has been on point for the better part of a year under the tutelage of coach Mike Swan and he comes into race week hungry for a coveted silver belt buckle.
Nick Presniakov (SB Mountain Racing) - Santa Barbara, CA - #310
First time lottery entrantNick Presniakov was ecstatic to hear his name called in December and in the past six months he’s buckled down with countless hours of hard work. HiringrabbitPRO Sandi Nypaver as his coach has helped provide some structure to this Santa Barbara mountain goat’s training and his fitness is more than evident, with his fifth place at the Leona Divide 50 in April. HisWSER Training Camp experience last month will prove invaluable for him on race day and with 2018 being his third consecutive year of running a 100 mile race, Presniakov is poised to secure a Western States silver buckle this weekend as well.
Kenneth Ringled (rabbitELITEtrail) - Simi Valley, CA - #326
The only previous Western States 100 finisher of the bunch,Kenneth Ringled knows what it takes to finish the grueling course from Olympic Valley to Placer High School having secured a silver buckle at the 2014 edition of the race. Since then, he’sracked up the accolades in the ultra scene including a top five finish at the prestigious Angeles Crest 100 in 2015. With a few shorter races under his belt this spring, Ringled has been putting in the hours necessary in the hot Southern California weather to top his '14 result on race day this year.
Coree Woltering (rabbitELITEtrail) - Ottawa, IL - #369
If you know one thing about Coree Woltering, our midwest rabbit trail crusher, you know that he loves to race. Any distance and anywhere, pinning a number on his one of his favorite things to do year around. With eight races finished so far this year, ranging in distance from 10k to 50 miles, Woltering already has fivewins to his name and numerous course records in 2018. After attending the States Training Camp at the end of May, Wolterning has been in Lake Tahoe for the past three weeks training, relaxing and acclimating to the mountainous environment. He landed on the podium in his only 100 mile race attempt last February andfigures to be a contender for a top finish at his first Western States 100.
In addition to the athletes we profiled in Part 1 of our Western States 100 preview, be on the lookout for other HOKA ONE ONE athletes Jim Walmsley (#20), Tim Freriks (#29) & Karl Meltzer (#50) as well Charlie Ware (#26) from Aravaipa Running (a rabbit sponsored club) also wearing rabbit crafted threads on race day.