Check out all of the action from the historic Badwater 135.
Two Course Records Smashed in Historic Badwater 135 Finish
Max Jolliffe became the first athlete to complete the brutal ultramarathon in under 21 hours, while Carmen Maria Perez won the women’s race and finished second overall during a remarkable night of racing through California’s Death Valley.
Max Jolliffe, from the USA, ran the 135-mile ultramarathon in 20 hours, 53 minutes and 41 seconds, becoming the first runner in the event’s history to break the 21-hour barrier.
Meanwhile Spain’s Carmen Maria Perez crossed the line less than 12 minutes later, winning the women’s race in 21:05:32 and finishing second overall.
Both athletes broke the previous course records on their Badwater debuts.
A Late-Race Battle for the Overall Victory
Despite the eventual record-breaking times, neither Jolliffe nor Perez was leading with approximately 13 miles remaining.
Hungary’s Tamás Bódis reached the Lone Pine checkpoint at around mile 122 in 18:07. Jolliffe was six minutes behind, with Perez another minute back.
The positions changed dramatically on the final climb to Whitney Portal.
Jolliffe covered the closing 12.2-mile section in 2:40:41, while Perez completed it in 2:51:32. Bódis required 3:27:47, dropping behind both athletes before the finish.
Jolliffe’s final surge took him to victory in 20:53:41, almost 40 minutes faster than the previous men’s record of 21:33:01, set by Japan’s Yoshihiko Ishikawa in 2019.
Bódis finished as the second man and third athlete overall in 21:34:47, narrowly missing Ishikawa’s former record. Spain’s Iván Penalba Lopez completed the men’s podium in 21:57:44.
Carmen Maria Perez Finishes Second Overall
Perez produced probably the greatest women’s performances in the history of the race.
Her time of 21:05:32 lowered Ashley Paulson’s previous women’s record of 21:44:35 by more than 39 minutes. It was also the second-fastest overall finish ever recorded on the course, behind only Jolliffe’s winning performance.
Paulson returned to finish second among the women in 24:59:36, with fellow American Micah Morgan completing the podium in 26:32:45.
Both new champions arrived at Badwater with significant ultrarunning experience.
Jolliffe’s previous victories include the 2024 Moab 240, the 2025 Angeles Crest 100 and the 2024 Sean O’Brien 100K.
Perez finished second at the 2024 Spartathlon and won the women’s 40-44 category at the 2025 24-hour world championships, where she covered almost 250 kilometres.
Harvey Lewis Sets Age-Group Record
Badwater veteran Harvey Lewis also left Death Valley with a new record.
The American finished in 25:55:41, placing 11th overall and breaking the men’s 50-59 course record in his first year in the age group.
The previous mark of 26:15:35 had been held by Charlie Engle since 2013.
What Is the Badwater 135?
The Badwater 135 is regularly described as one of the world’s toughest foot races.
The entirely paved course begins at Badwater Basin, approximately 85 metres below sea level, before taking competitors through Death Valley and across three mountain ranges.
Runners eventually finish at Whitney Portal, more than 2,500 metres above sea level, after completing approximately 4,450 metres of total climbing.
The 2026 race was held from July 27 to 29, with the official time limit reduced from 48 hours to 45 hours.
2026 Badwater 135 Results
Men
- Max Jolliffe — 20:53:41
- Tamás Bódis — 21:34:47
- Iván Penalba Lopez — 21:57:44
Women
- Carmen Maria Perez — 21:05:32
- Ashley Paulson — 24:59:36
- Micah Morgan — 26:32:45
