The Bolt race at last years Rotorua Running Festival. Photo/File
The Bolt race at last years Rotorua Running Festival. Photo/File
Young Reporoa flier Michael Voss will be among the top contenders vying for the 10km men's title at the Rotorua Running Festival.
Voss, 18, is currently training hard to qualify for the New Zealand athletic team heading to the IAAF World Junior Championships next year, as a 10km runner.
Voss will be putting his training to the test on Sunday when he competes in the 10km event at the Rotorua Running Festival.
"I'm not sure who is competing this weekend but I'll just be going for it and trying to win it," he said.
Voss said he was currently training most days and covering some big distances, as he builds towards his New Zealand qualifier in January.
"That's the motive at the moment to try and get in the New Zealand team and represent your country," he said.
Michael Voss
"I'm doing some long weeks and long miles at the moment, like 130km to 135km a week, running six or seven days a week."
More than 1000 runners and walkers are expected to take part in the Rotorua Running Festival which is being staged on Sunday. Distances on offer include the feature half marathon, 10km, 4km and 2km kids' dash.
Voss said to qualify for the New Zealand team, during a national track event in January, he needed to run 10km in under 30 minutes 40 seconds.
"My personal best was actually during a half marathon [earlier this year] and it is 31.30," he said. "I don't expect to get under 31 minutes this weekend but I think I will be on track for that time in January."
Voss is currently ranked the top half marathon runner in New Zealand aged under-20, and he boasts a personal best half marathon time of 1h 8m 30s.
The apprentice builder is being coached by Rotorua's Kim Stevenson, who was a top college runner in the States when he was younger.
Voss thanked Lake City Athletic Club and sponsor Nike NZ for their support with his running.
Running Events marketing and sponsorship manager Milly Hemsley said the festival had been running for three years in Rotorua.
She said it had some very scenic courses and encouraged people to get out with the whole family and get fit.
"Going through the Whakarewarewa Forest and sulphur flats, it is different to what many people are used to doing, and attracts a lot of out of towners."
- Rotorua Running Festival events begin from 7.45am on Sunday starting and finishing at Village Green.
