International field for ultramarathon

Last year’s winner Jonas Buud. Supplied photo.

There will be 42 countries from Israel to Réunion represented at the Tarawera Ultramarathon on February 11, making it the first major running event in New Zealand to attract an international field of more than 50 per cent, or more than 600 runners.

The Tarawera Ultra starts at the Rotorua redwoods forest and traces a spectacular 102km point-to-point course from Rotorua to Kawerau and is part of the Ultra-Trail World Tour – a series of the 20 most prestigious ultra-running races in the world.

Defending Tarawera Ultra champion and 2015 100km world champion, Jonas Buud from Sweden says to win a race in the Ultra-Trail World Tour is 'really big” and he's aiming to defend his Tarawera Ultra title for another year.

'The quality of athletes in this year's starting field is really good, and in particular, there are a number of talented American runners,” says Jonas.

'For me, I see being the defending champion as an advantage over the other athletes – I know the course and I know how the event is run, so it only made sense to race again this year.

'I'm planning on racing in the same way as last year, spending several days in New Zealand beforehand to acclimatise from the current -20C climate in Sweden, and ensuring I focus on myself and not the other competitors.

'I suspect that it's going to be a battle all the way to the finish line, and I'm looking forward to it.”

Among the 1250 athlete's toeing the start line on February 11 will be close to 30 of the world's elite ultra-runners, says event organizer Paul charteris.

'Each year I find myself saying ‘this is the best field yet', but it really is true – the Tarawera Ultra just keeps growing and we believe it comes down to the stunning trails we have to offer and the international work we have put in,” says Paul.

'Among many, standout names include Gediminas Grinius (Lithuania) – currently ranked number one in the world by the Ultra-Trail World Tour, Jim Walmsley (USA) – the 2016 UltraRunner of the Year, Camille Herron (USA) – 2015 50km, 100km world champion and Fernanda Maciel (Brazil) – currently ranked second in the world by the Ultra-Trail World Tour and USA Olympian Magdalena Boulet adds extra speed to the women's field.

'This is the third year that the Tarawera Ultra has been on the Ultra-Trail World Tour, and it's really starting to show with a 52 per cent international field.

'And it's not just elite athletes that take part in the world tour – it's also the crazy everyday runners who make a holiday out of their ultramarathon ambitions. They're the ones that make our event so special,” says Charteris.”

Elite athletes:

WOMEN

  • Camille Herron - US
  • Sally McRae - US
  • Magdalena Boulet - US
  • Fernanda Maciel - BR
  • Kellie Emmerson - AU
  • Claire Baudis - RE
  • Sophie Grant - UK
  • Fiona Hayvice – NZ, Wellington (2016 Tarawera Ultra defending champion)
  • Sue Crowley – NZ, Rotorua
  • Cecelia Flori – NZ, Hamilton
  • Dawn Tuffery – NZ, Hamilton

MEN

  • David Byrne - AU
  • Scotty Hawker - AU
  • Gediminas Grinius - LT
  • Jonas Buud - SE
  • Jim Walmlsey - US
  • Kyle Weise - AU
  • Andrius Ramonas - LT/ NZ
  • Michael Wardian - US
  • Yassine Diboun - US
  • Matt Flaherty - US
  • Sam Mccutcheon – NZ, Wellington
  • Craig Kirkwood – NZ, Tauranga
  • Romain Mirosa – NZ, Dunedin
  • Daryl Harding – NZ, Oakura
  • Andy Good – NZ, Palmerston North
  • Kristian Day-Muir – NZ, Napier

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