It was a slow start to lottery day for New Englanders hopeful of having their names selected on Saturday, Dec. 6, for spots in the 2026 Western States Endurance Run or Hardrock 100, but by the time the drawings were done several runners from the region secured spots in two of ultrarunning’s most exclusive events.

The day began with the Western States lottery, held in the gymnasium of Placer High School in Auburn, Calif., just a few yards from the track that plays host to the event’s finish line each June. Prior to the lottery, three New Englanders were among 86 runners who already had spots at the starting line for the 50th running of the event on June 27 in Olympic Valley, Calif. 

Ryan Montgomery, 32, of Hanover, N.H., secured a spot in the 2026 field by placing in the top 10 in 2025. Montgomery finished seventh in 25:54:29. David Sinclair, 34, of Montpelier, Vt., secured a Golden Ticket by placing second at the CCC 100K. Coree Woltering, 36, of Jackman, Maine, was granted a spot in the 2026 field by a corporate sponsor.

On lottery day, 254 spots in the starting field were up for grabs with a record 11,328 runners vying for them. Of the New Englanders among that group, the wait was long. Thomas Hanlon of Waltham, Mass., was the first runner from the region to have their name selected at No. 52. After that, Michael Yanchuk of Chepachet, R.I., was selected 180th. Shortly after, Wayne Ball of Feeding Hills, Mass., was drawn 197th. Bertram Johnson of Burlington, Vt., was the 225th runner selected to the starting field. Rounding out the starters from the region was Peter Guza of North Andover, Mass., who had his name drawn 244th.

An additional 75 runners were selected for the wait list to fill openings if those in the 369-runner starting field withdraw prior to race day. Neil Feldman of Boylston, Mass., will likely join the starting field at some point since he was the third runner selected to the wait list. Karen Benway of Williston, Vt., will have to wait longer to get her opportunity as she was the 44th runner selected for the wait list.

As the Western States wait list was being selected, the Hardrock 100 began its lottery to fill the 146-runner field for its 32nd edition on July 10-12 in Silverton, Colo. One New Englander was guaranteed a spot: 2025 female champion Katie Schide, 33, of Gardiner, Maine, will return to defend her title. First-timer Yuichiro Hidaka, 46, of South Kingstown, R.I., was also selected for the starting field, as was three-time finisher (2013, 2021, 2022) Dima Feinhaus, 62, of Waban, Mass. Former Massachusetts resident Charles Hornbaker, 43, of Colorado Springs, Colo., and former Maine resident Jeff Rome, 36, of Silverton, Colo., are also back in the field as prior finishers. Aliza Lapierre, 45, of Richmond, Vt., was the final New Englander selected to start the race. She made her Hardrock debut in 2025 with an eighth-place finish in the female field.

Mike Weigand, 51, of Middlebury, Vt., was the 26th runner selected to the wait list for men who’ve finished the race previously, while former Massachusetts resident Bogie Dumitrescu, 51, now of Boulder, Colo., was drawn 50th. On the wait list for men who’ve never finished the race, Chad Macdonald, 39, of New Boston, N.H., was selected 25th; Nick Harreld, 39, of Ellsworth, Maine, was drawn 26th; Bruce Dailey, 54, of Monson, Maine, was selected 39th; Kristijan Begic of Waterbury, Conn., was 46th; and former Massachusetts resident Dane LeBlanc, 67, now of San Antonio Tlaycapan, Mexico, was 48th.

No women from New England were selected to either wait list.