Jonas Buud of Sweden cools off during the Tarawera Ultramarathon last year. Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images
Jonas Buud of Sweden cools off during the Tarawera Ultramarathon last year. Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images
From Israel to Réunion, 42 countries will be represented at the Tarawera Ultramarathon, which has officially become the first major running event in New Zealand to attract an international field of more than 50 per cent.
A press release from Shine PR said on February 11, 1,250 athletes will toe the start line in the Rotorua Redwoods forest for the ninth annual event, which has the most impressive elite athlete line-up to date including defending Tarawera Ultra champion and 2015 100km world champion, Jonas Buud from Sweden.
The Tarawera Ultra 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.
Buud said 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.
2016 Tarawera Ultramarathon champion, Jonas Buud from Sweden.
"The quality of athletes in this year's starting field is really good, and in particular, there are a number of talented American runners.
"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.
Buud said he was planning on racing in the same way as last year, spending several days in New Zealand beforehand to acclimatise from the current -20oc climate in Sweden.
"I suspect that it's going to be a battle all the way to the finish line, and I'm looking forward to it," he said.
Event organiser Paul Charteris said he was hugely excited to host close to 30 of the world's most elite ultra-runners in Rotorua.
"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.
The epic 2016 start line was a sea of colour and light in Rotorua's Redwoods Forest. Credit: Matt Trappe/ Matt Trappe Photo and Film
"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," he said.
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
