Australia's Mick Donges has won the fourth annual Vibram Tarawera Ultramarathon.
Donges, from New South Wales, won the 100km race in a time of 8h 51m 08s followed by Vajin Armstrong 9h 01m 43s and Martin Lukes in a time of 9h 20m 33s. The first woman home was Nicola Gildersleeve in a new women's record of 10h 26m 28s, more than 50 minutes ahead of her nearest rival and last year's winner Amy Campbell at 11h 18m 33s and Vicky Plaistowe in a time of 11h 24m 36s. The previous record was 2010 women's winner Fleur Bromley who ran it in 11h 29m 12s.
More than 400 competitors took part in the 60km, 85km and 100km events in ideal conditions. This year 127 competitors completed the 100km race between Rotorua and Kawerau at the weekend.
In the 60km race James Kuegler was the first man home in a time of 5h 39m 19s with Mike Le Roux and Paul Bird rounding off the top three. Dianne Bulled was the first woman home in a time of 7h 16m 29s with Jo Bannister second in a time of 7h 41m 26s and Denise Maguire third in 7h 53m 58s.
The 85km solo race was won by Daniel Scarberry in a time of 7h 47m 08s with Jeremy Moody second and Sarah Carpenter third overall and first woman home in 9h 20m 09s. Tina Gillgren-Bosch was the second woman home with Dawn Tuffery in third. In the four-person relay team it was the Team New Balance Hamilton Flyers who took it out ahead of Team Forrest Gump and Team Lake City Hurricanes. Team Brokeback Mountaineers were the first two-person team home in 9h 24m 52s with Team Family Affair second.
