UPDATED: Buud wins Tarawera Ultra, Muir pulls out

Tarawera Ultramarathon

Jonas Buud from Sweden has won the 100km Tarawera Ultramarathon just missing out on breaking the race record.

Buud won the 100km race, from Rotorua to Kawerau, in just over eight hours today.

David Byrne from Australia finshed second about 20 minutes back, during his first race longer than 60km, and South African Ryan Sandes finished third.

The race record was set last year by Dylan Bowman (US) in 7h 44m.

"The plan was to have a nice run for the first 60km and I think i managed to have a good race for the first 60km, then I tried to keep a good pace after that," Buud said.

He said the wet conditions during the first half of the race suited him nicely, as it began to get a bit hot in the early afternoon.

"It was really good with the first half because of the rain, but it was a bit harder in the second half."

Unfortunately, defending women's champion Ruby Muir (Napier) pulled out of the women's 100km race today, after leading the race by about 20 minutes with just over 35km to go.

Fellow Kiwi Fiona Hayvice is now leading the race with about 20km to go, while Melissa Robertson (Australia) is in second about 25 minutes back.

"I went out pretty well ... but we had to pull the pin because of a crook stomach," Muir said. "I tried to get some food down [during the race] but it kept coming up."

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EARLIER:

The Tarawera Ultramarathon is all go between Rotorua and Kawerau, with race favourites Jonas Buud (Sweden) and Ruby Muir (Napier) leading the way in the 100km race.

The race started at 6am this morning at the Redwoods in Rotorua and the leading men have just passed the 50km halfway stage, with just over four hours on the race clock.

Buud led with David Byrne (Australia) close behind at Humphries Bay (49.2km mark), at the top of Lake Tarawera. Ryan Sandes (South Africa) was in third about seven minutes back.

Kiwi favourite and two-time winner Muir was out in front of the women's race at the 40km mark. Fiona Hayvice (Kiwi) was about 20 minutes back in second with Melissa Robertson (Australia) in third.

The Tarawera Ultramarathon is in its eighth year and has attracted over 1000 competitors today to race the 60km, 85km and 100km distances on offer.