Rather than dampen spirits, the wet conditions made for a challenging and exciting day at the Kawerau King of the Mountain.
Former Whakatane runner Daniel Jones took the coveted title on Saturday, in a time of 47 minutes and 45 seconds.
In the main race 164 runners lined up onthe start line, falling short of the record set in 2015 of 177. However, it was a late entry that stole the headlines.
Jones and multisporter Sam Clark were late entries, throwing the race wide open.
Australians Ben Duffus and Mark Bourne, considered strong contenders after edging Jones in July at the sister race in Pomona, found they had more on their hands to deal with.
Jones led from the start, but Bourne made a surge in the lower foothills to eventually pass, with Duffus doing the same. Bourne led to the summit, with Duffus and Jones not far behind.
The descent was an incredible battle, and was where the race was won. Duffus made his move on the technical downhill before the skid, slipping past Bourne. Jones followed suit and began a chase after Duffus, who in 2016 had the fastest downhill on the day.
Jones caught up with Duffus after the final drop off and passed him at the compound. It was his running talent that kept him in front and crowned him King of the Mountain for 2017.
Duffus finished second in 48:01 with Bourne on his heels in 48:26.
Four-time King Sjors Corporaal was sublime with a 50:50 finish time, earning fourth overall and the fastest veteran, while Sam Clark achieved a well-earned personal best in fifth place of 51:21.
Not far behind was first junior Kaya Corporaal (51:50), putting him well amongst the elite field and making him an up-and-coming mountain runner to keep an eye on.
A piece of history was established; for the first time a father and son have both won the Kawerau King of the Mountain title, as Daniel's father Neil Jones was a two-time winner in the 1990s.
Neil was also in the race, finishing a respectable second in the super vet men's category. Twenty athletes finished with sub-60 minute times.
The Queen race was won by debutant and late entrant from the Waikato Nancy Jiang (1:01:17), with Rotorua-based athletes Emmelie Gulliver (1:03:42) and Nic Leary (1:04:30) in second and third respectively.
Nancy Jiang is the 2017 Kawerau Queen of the Mountain. Photo/Supplied
Jiang and Gulliver produced impressive sub-40 minute summit times and only half a minute separated them at the top, but Jiang had the legs on the road run back home.
First junior woman was local Kawerau athlete Jana Longney with a personal best of 1:12:06, followed by another Eastern Bay runner Demi Oliver (1:12:33).
The opening races of the day; the Radio 1XX School Relays, saw Kawerau South School take first in the two age-group categories.
The curtainraiser event, The Prince & Princess of the Mountain, had 132 young mountain runners take to the lower foothills of Putauaki.
In the Princess local runner and now title holder Morgan Overington finished first in 22:19. Anna Isaac was second (23:06) and Ella Julian third (24:11).
The Prince section was won by Bailey Frederickson in 20:55, followed by Corey Warneford (21:23) and Cambell Julian (21:59).
Although no records were broken, a total of 44 young runners achieved sub-30 minute times.
Acknowledgement should also go to 81-year-old Whakatane personality Tom Bayliss who competed in his last ever race.
Organisers thanked all the volunteers and safety personnel for ensuring everybody returned home safely, as well as Nga Maunga Kaitiaki Trust for their on going support and access to Putauaki for the event.
