Competition for entry into the Western States 100 is almost as difficult as the race itself.

A total of 3,510 runners—a Western States lottery record by more than 800 applicants—applied for the 355 spots up for grabs in the 2016 Western States lottery. The lottery took place December 5, 2015, at the Placer High School auditorium in Auburn, CA.

Three Massachusetts ultrarunners were among the lucky ones to have their numbers pulled and earn coveted spots at the starting line of America’s original 100-mile trail race.

Peter Plourde of Westfield, Robert Drewell of Petersham, and Amy Rusiecki of South Deerfield all will represent the Bay State at Western States.

Drewell, 43, will try to earn his second Western States finish. He also ran Western States in 2015 and finished in 29:19:17. Meanwhile Plourde, 50, and Rusiecki, 36, both will take their first crack at the race.

The 2016 Western States 100 will take place June 25-26, beginning in Squaw Valley, CA, and ending on the Placer High School track in Auburn, CA.