.CHAMPION: Wellington's Fiona Hayvice wins the women's 100km race. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
Race favourite Jonas Buud from Sweden lived up to his reputation by winning the 100km Tarawera Ultramarathon, although the women's race was anything but straightforward.
Defending champion and favourite in the women's race, Ruby Muir of Napier, had to pull out around the 76km mark on Saturday after building a big lead. She suffered from a crook stomach and was having trouble keeping down food during the race between Rotorua and Kawerau.
That made way for Fiona Hayvice (Wellington), who won the women's race in 10 hours 34 minutes - marking her first title at the 100km event. Hayvice also won the Tarawera Trail Marathon and 50km event last November.
Meanwhile, Buud won the men's race in eight hours flat, crossing the finish line looking as fresh as a daisy.
The 41-year-old went into the event as heavy favourite after taking out the IAU 100km World Championships (road race) last year in 6 hours 22 minutes.
He was given a run for his money for the first 50km or 60km on Saturday by Australian athlete David Byrne but picked up the speed to finish 20 minutes ahead.
"I tried to not push too hard in the first 60km, then we came out on some dirt road and I started running a little bit faster. So I think it went to plan," Buud said.
"The last 10km was [the toughest part]. It was really warm and the sun was almost showing. I liked the rain better than the heat."
He just missed out on breaking the race record, finishing about 15 minutes slower than American Dylan Bowman's time from last year.
Byrne, from Sydney, claimed second during his first ever race over 60km.
"I live in the middle of the city, about as far away from the trails as you can get. I run basically from my doorstep every day and around the back streets and things."
He said Buud was in a class of his own.
"Around the 52km mark I said 'geez mate, you look like you're jogging'. He looked at me and said 'there is a long way to go'. Then he ran off."
Although there was a brief respite in the rain early afternoon on Saturday afternoon, many competitors had to brave increasingly poor conditions as the day wore on.
Women's champion Hayvice finished under heavy rain and said for a lot of the race, she ran by herself.
"I ran a lot of it on my own which I haven't done in previous years.
"Once you know you're in the final stages, you just tick the kilometres off.
"My goal was just to better my time, but the course and conditions had an impact on that time - and the win has meant I changed the goal."
Australian Melissa Robertson finished in second about 20 minutes back from Hayvice, while Fiona Eagles (Auckland) claimed third a further 30 minutes back.
Event director Paul Charteris said there was a high number of DNFs this year due to the poor weather, and a lot of 100km runners decided to finish at the 60km or 85km marks.
Tarawera Ultramarathon results:
100km:
Men: 1 Jonas Buud (Sweden) 08:00:53, 2 David Byrne (Australia) 08:22:39, 3 Ryan Sandes (South Africa) 08:30:40.
Women: 1 Fiona Hayvice (Wellington) 10:34:26, 2 Melissa Robertson (Australia) 10:56:20, 3 Fiona Eagles (Auckland) 11.24.57.
