March 29, 2024

Two ultra-races held in Benguet and Nueva Vizcaya – the Hardcore 100 (H1) and Pulag 100 (P1) – have been accredited as qualifying races for the 2021 Western States 100-Mile Endurance Race (WS100 or WSER).

WSER QUALIFYING RACES — The Hardcore 100 and Pulag 100, which are part of the King of the Mountain events have been accredited as qualifying races for the 2024 Western States 100-Mile Endurance Race held in the United States. Here, bemedalled ultra-runner James Tellias participated in the previous Pulag 100 race. — Team Pinikpikan photo

The WS100 held in the Sierra Nevada mountain ranges and Western States Trails in the United States is considered the oldest and most prestigious ultra-marathon mountain trail race in the world.

Jonel Mendoza, founder and organizer of the King of the Mountain (KOTM) events, which covers the H1 and P1 announced the news to the running community last week, as he invited ultra-runners to be part of the KOTM events.

According to WSER, the 2023 editions of H1 and P1 will be qualifying races for the 2024 WS100.

The WSER said runners who complete the P1 within 32 hours or H1 within the time limit set by KOTM will qualify in a lottery where the runners for the WS100 will be selected.

The qualifying period for the 2024 WS100 will be from Nov. 7 to Nov. 5, 2023. The lottery will be on Dec. 2, 2023 and the race is set on June 29 and 30, 2024.

The WSER expressed hope Mendoza will conduct the KOTM events, saying it misses having Filipino runners at the wester states.

Mendoza said registration for all KOTM events will start on Dec. 1 including H1 where all the 2020 slots will be filled up.

The KOTM events were postponed for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mendoza said he is also working on the accreditation of H1 and P1 as qualifying races for the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc held in the Alps where runners navigate through France, Italy, and Switzerland.

“Aside from our international partnerships, which we have had since 2013, I am presently forging alliances with regional races nationwide so that all interested runners do not need to travel far for their own KOTM qualifying races,” Mendoza said. – Harley F. Palangchao