Sold-out field set to compete in the 19th Routeburn Classic
The Routeburn Classic returns to the South Island on Saturday for its 19th edition.
The sold-out event, welcoming 400 competitors, will see participants run along the renowned Routeburn Track in Fiordland National Park.
This year marks two consecutive years of the event for the first time since 2017. The events in 2018, 2919, and 2020 were cancelled because of adverse weather conditions, and the 2022 edition was called off because of Covid-19 restrictions.
Athletes will embark on the challenging 32km trail, climbing to 1255 metres at its highest point and making their way through ancient beech forests, over alpine passes and past cascading waterfalls.
The shortest of New Zealand’s Great Walks, the trail links the Mt Aspiring and Fiordland national parks within Te Wāhipounamu, a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Routeburn Classic race director Glen Currie said his team was looking forward to welcoming athletes from around the world back for another memorable year.
Also crucial to the event were the volunteers, supporters and sponsors, he said. “We can’t wait to reunite our trail running community for the 19th year of the Routeburn Classic. This event has had its fair share of bad luck over recent years – so fingers crossed for decent weather. It’s great to see so many past participants coming back ... as well as lots of new faces.”
Who will take the podium this year is anyone’s guess. In the men’s race, Toby Batchelor is back again, aiming to go one better after his close second-place finish last year when he was overtaken by the eventual winner, David Haunschmidt, with only two minutes separating them.
Meanwhile, the women’s competition promises plenty of excitement: none of last year’s podium finishers will return, leaving the field wide open for new contenders to make their mark.
Keep an eye on Cromwell-based Naomi Brand, who is fresh off a victory at the Mt Oxford Odyssey’s 33km event and is using this race as part of her buildup to the Lavaredo Ultra Trail and UTMB in Europe later this year.