Weather Gods smile on mountain run
A field of 260 hardy runners took on the challenging and spectacular terrain of the Southern Alps in the 23rd Routeburn Classic on Saturday, in favourable weather conditions.
David Haunschmidt took the top spot in the men's category, completing the steep 32km course in an impressive time of 2 hours, 43 minutes, and 45 seconds.
Toby Batchelor was not far behind, finishing second place in 2hrs, 45mins, and 39secs. Hamish Elliott rounded out the top three in 2hrs, 54mins, and 20secs.
Top three men, from left, Toby Batchelor, David Haunschmidt and Hamish Elliott
In the women's category, Maia Flint took first place in 3hrs, 27mins, and 28secs. Kate Morrison followed close behind, finishing in second in 3 hours, 31 minutes, and 3 seconds. Maureen Stachowicz was third in 3hrs, 36mins, and 1sec.
Top 3 women, from left, Kate Morrison, Mia Flint and Maureen Stachowicz
Competitors enjoyed clear skies to start the day and mild temperatures throughout the event.
The event has become a highlight on the running calendar for both local and international runners, with participants testing themselves against the rugged terrain and enjoying the natural beauty of the area, watched by some kea along the way.
Race director Glen Currie was thrilled to welcome a strong field. "There were a lot of big smiles coming across the finish line, we hope to see a lot of people return next year. The pointy end of the field saw some exciting racing in both the women’s and men’s categories," he says.
The Classic was recently acquired by Ultimate Events Productions, which also owns the Coast to Coast and is associated with Ultimate Hikes who run guided walks on the track.
"We’re really happy to continue a great event this year and look forward to building on it in the future!" Currie adds.
View from the Harris Saddle to the Darran Mountains
