Kiwi Runners Ruth Croft and Daniel Jones Secure Fourth Tarawera Titles

New Zealand runners Ruth Croft and Daniel Jones showcased their dominance at the Tarawera Ultra-Trail on March 2, 2024, each claiming their fourth titles in the 102km (T102) race held in Rotorua. Croft secured her fourth overall victory in the women’s event, while Jones achieved his fourth consecutive win in the men’s race.

This year’s Tarawera Ultra-Trail presented unique challenges, with heavy rainfall leaving the trails muddy and technical. The conditions transformed the race into a true test of endurance and skill. Croft, who described the situation as among the toughest she has faced at this event, fought hard against close friend and competitor Caitlin Fielder. Croft finished the 102km course in a time of 8:41:11, just over four minutes ahead of Fielder, who improved her finishing time by two minutes compared to last year. Japanese runner Honoka Akiyama secured third place with a time of 9:00:24.

“I feel like every time I come back it just feels like it gets harder and harder,” Croft remarked. “Especially when you’ve got Caitlin behind you and you know that she’s going to close strong. But yeah, it felt like a very different race today just because of the conditions, but I actually really enjoyed it.” She emphasized the importance of community support, acknowledging the challenges faced by volunteers on the course.

Fielder stayed competitive through nearly 50km of the race, keeping pace with Croft until the terrain became more demanding. As the race progressed, Croft gradually extended her lead, though the competition remained fierce.

In the men’s T102 race, Jones displayed his expertise by controlling the pace from the outset, ultimately finishing in 7:31:27. He crossed the finish line over 26 minutes ahead of American runner Jacob Banta, who significantly improved from his seventh-place finish last year. Kiwi Max Yanzick claimed third place with a time of 8:01:56.

“I was going through that race and just trying to stay in the moment,” Jones said after the race. “It’s something that I try and concentrate on; it’s a 100km race, a long way – we started out hot and I thought there’s a long way to go here. It got super tough in the back end, the course was very muddy, but you just keep digging in and making sure that you keep moving forward the best way possible.”

Jones’s performance broke the early competition, as he quickly distanced himself from a group that initially attempted to keep pace. He now looks ahead to the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run in California, USA, in June, where he has finished in the top five for the past three years.

The Tarawera Ultra-Trail serves as a qualifying event for the 2027 UTMB World Series Finals in Chamonix, France. The top three male and female finishers in the T102 event earn direct entry into the CCC (100km) race at the prestigious UTMB Mont-Blanc.

Earlier on the same day, New Zealand’s Sam Macaulay and America’s Robyn Lesh took home the titles in the 50km races, while British runners David Vernon and Katie Lowery captured victories in the 21km events. Macaulay won the men’s T50 with a time of 3:36:23, finishing just two minutes ahead of Charlie Hamilton from Australia, who came in second. Another Kiwi, Sam Rout, finished third in 3:41:01.

The Tarawera Ultra-Trail continues to be a significant event in the international ultramarathon calendar, showcasing the resilience and skill of its participants while drawing attention to the stunning landscapes of New Zealand.