For the first time in 24 years, Mauao will host the New Zealand Mountain Running Championships and challenge athletes from across the country next weekend.
The championships on Saturday, March 18, is open to senior, under-20s and master athletes. 'We've got athletes of all calibres from the top, down to the community runner all coming out of town to visit Tauranga and the Mount to participate in this race,” says Athletics NZ out of stadia co-ordinator John Bowden.
This national event will act as an uphill/downhill trial race for the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Austria this June.
With worlds only held every two years, John says: 'There's not another chance for world champs for the elite until 2025 – so they want to make the most of it”.
Tauranga's Michael Sutton has been training under John's coaching and won the 3000m steeplechase at the 2023 Jennian Homes NZ Track & Field Championships. 'It's only the second time since 2014 the NZ Mountain Running Championships has been held in the North Island, so we look forward to seeing a few new faces.”
The event is expected to muster more than 300 athletes to take on Mauao. Only 16 will make it into the world championships team!
Athletes in the senior category will run 11.6km with 710m uphill and down, while U20 and Masters will run 6.6km with 410m uphill and down. 'You've got to be really tough and train properly for this,” says John. He's stoked the championships are being held here for local athletes. 'It always helps runners to know the course – especially up the Mount because you've got some sharp turns and you've got to be careful on the way down.”
The event is noon-4pm on March 18.
Register at: athletics.org.nz/mt-maunganui-to-host-new-zealand-mountain-running-champs/