Max Jolliffe Sets New Badwater 135 Record, Carmen Maria Perez Close Behind — image accompanying Marathon Handbook's report. Image accompanying Marathon Handbook’s report; reduced and presented for news commentary with the attributed report. View the complete source report.
Max Jolliffe completed the Badwater 135 in 20:53:41, breaking the 21-hour mark for the first time. Carmen Maria Perez finished second in 21:05:32, setting a new women's record.
Jolliffe's time was 39 minutes and 20 seconds faster than the previous men's record. Perez's time was 39 minutes and 3 seconds faster than the previous women's record. Read more culture coverage.
Both runners started in the last wave, with Perez leading for most of the race. Jolliffe overtook Perez during the final climb to Whitney Portal. Related: New Records Set at Badwater 135 in Death Valley.
This original Runner World brief is based on reporting from Marathon Handbook. Visit the source for its complete reporting, context and any later corrections.
Reader questions
Questions about this report
What should runners know about Max Jolliffe Sets New Badwater 135 Record, Carmen Maria Perez Close Behind?
Both course records fell at the Badwater 135, with Jolliffe breaking 21 hours for the first time. Max Jolliffe completed the Badwater 135 in 20:53:41, breaking the 21-hour mark for the first time. Carmen Maria Perez finished second in 21:05:32, setting a new women's record.
When did Runner World publish this culture brief?
Runner World published this brief on July 30, 2026. The underlying Marathon Handbook report was dated July 29, 2026.
Where can readers find the complete original report?
This summary is based on reporting from Marathon Handbook. The attributed source link in the article leads to the publisher’s complete report.
THE WEEKLY BRIEFING
Start the week a step ahead.
A concise edit of the running stories worth knowing, sent every Monday.
