Routeburn Classic ready to rumble
Athletes from around the world are gearing up to take on the 2023 Routeburn Classic Trail Running Race this weekend, starting near Te Anau.
Participants will tackle the 32km course on the Routeburn Track, one of New Zealand's Great Walks, featuring waterfalls, swing bridges, steep climbs, and equally steep descents.
The course is a trail runners dream and there is a sense that early pioneers of this route had trail runners on their minds already, say organisers for new owners Ultimate Events.
Among the competitors, are several Kiwis who stand out as favourites to take home the win in this year's race on the world-renowned Routeburn Track.
Wānaka athlete Hamish Elliott is expected to put in a strong performance in the men’s category after recently placing fourth in the Queenstown Marathon and fifth in this year's Kathmandu Coast to Coast. Another one to watch is Ryan Kiesanowski from Canterbury, who placed second in this year’s Coast to Coast and is eager to prove himself on the Routeburn Track.
But Toby Batchelor and David Haunschmidt won’t want to let the multisporters steal their trail running glory and will arguably be the favourites to take positions one and two.
Maureen Stachowicz, who placed third in the women’s category last year returns and will no doubt also be hunting to cross the finish line out front. Keep an eye out for Routeburn first timers Hannah Lund, Maia Flint and Kate Morrison who will be seriously looking to upset race veterans.
Race Director Glen Currie is looking forward to hosting the Routeburn Classic in its first year under the Ultimate Events banner, after taking the reins from Evan McWhirter's Good Times Events
"We're thrilled to welcome a strong field of athletes to this year's Routeburn Classic," he says. "With such fierce competition, it's sure to be an exciting and challenging event, Evan has done a stunning job in establishing this event to what it is, we look forward to making the event work this year and building on it in the future!"
Entries for the event are open until 8pm today, Wednesday, 26 April, and the weather forecast for Saturday’s race is looking promising.
The event is limited to 350 competitors and will take place on April 29.
