Kiwis Ruth Croft and Daniel Jones are set to headline the 15th anniversary edition of Tarawera Ultra-Trail, both past winners of the 102km race and hoping to add another title to their name.

Jones, who was raised in Whakatane not far from Rotorua where the event is held, returns to the 102km race at Tarawera as defending champion.

His impressive win last year set the tone for a breakout season of ultra-trail racing which saw Jones finish fifth at the iconic Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run and 12th at the prestigious UTMB race, part of the inaugural UTMB World Series Finals.

“Last year was awesome. I took every race one at a time, enjoying the moments and the processes that led to each event,” says Jones.

“To sum it up, 2023 was a success after February. Everything that followed Tarawera was a bonus. I look back on that win as one of the proudest moments in my career. It wasn't just about the win but putting together a really well executed race after what felt like a long time coming.”

After such a successful season on the global trail running circuit, Jones is excited to return to racing at home and is hoping a strong performance in the 102km at Tarawera this weekend will set him up nicely for the year ahead.

“2023 was a great year and I'm looking to build on that in 2024. Tarawera is a great way to kick off the season, especially as it sounds like we have a very competitive field again this year,” he says.

“It would mean so much to retain my title. I won't be happy with anything but a win after my experience last year, but even if I don't win the race can still be successful. Success would be nailing my race plan as there's so much that can happen in an ultra. I will go about working on the controllables, then the outcome will be what it will be.”

Lining up against Jones in the 102km race on Saturday is Justin Grunewald, with the American set to make his Tarawera debut and likely to be a strong contender for the title this year.

“I am feeling really well heading into the race with a good block of uninterrupted training,” said Grunewald. “I’ve wanted to do this race for years.

“My partner Amanda Basham came down last year and we were going to bring our whole family for a few weeks but my work schedule got mixed up so I couldn’t make it down. Overall, it’s one of the classic, iconic trail races around the world so I am really looking forward to it.”

Grunewald had his best year of racing to date in 2023 and like Jones is hoping to build on that success with a solid season opener at Tarawera.

“For me, success would be a competitive day. I am not sure what the field looks like, but a podium spot would be great. I turned down my entry into UTMB in Chamonix this year, so I’d love to get another automatic qualification and focus on those events again in 2025,” he says.

The racing in the elite men’s 102km looks set to be fierce and fast, with the list of challengers facing Jones and Grunewald including Robert Rorich (ZAF), Longfei Yan (CHN), Michael Dimuantes (AUS), Alessio Zambon (ITA), Matthew Healy (ZAF), and Admire Muzopambwa (ZWE).

Two-time Tarawera 102km winner Sage Canaday (USA) will also be on the start line, returning to the event for the first time since 2020. Between this year’s race and his last outing at Tarawera, Canaday suffered a life-threatening pulmonary embolism.

Throughout the 15 editions of Tarawera, the 102km race has crowned some of trail running’s biggest stars from around the world, including Americans Courtney Dauwalter (2019 Champion), Dylan Bowman (2015 and 2018 Champion), Jim Walmsley (2017 Champion), and Camille Herron (2017 Champion), and British runner Tom Evans (2020 Champion).

Nestled among the legends that have won at Tarawera is New Zealand’s Ruth Croft, who etched her name firmly in the history books in 2021 when she won the 102km race outright.

Ruth Croft on her way to victory at the 2021 Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB 102km. Photo: Graeme Murray.

Since that race Croft has gone on to flourish on the world stage, winning Western States in 2022, a year after finishing second, and most recently winning the 100km at Ultra-Trail Cape Town in November.

“I had a break after UTCT at the end of last year and have slowly been laying the foundation for the year ahead,” says Croft.

“I'm not firing on all cylinders as it is still early, but the fitness is there and I'm looking forward to running through some redwoods with the rest of the New Zealand trail community.”

Croft returns to Tarawera for the first since 2021 and is excited about the prospect of racing at home and as part of an event that has helped chart her career progression over time.

“Coming back home for the summer is my favourite time of year. I've been able to get out on some good tramps on the West Coast and slow down a bit. It is the time where I have a bit more flexibility in my training program for these missions which always fill my cup,” she says.

“Tarawera was my first 100km and my first bigger international race that I did while I was living in Taiwan back in 2015. We are always evolving as humans and Tarawera provides a good slideshow of my personal evolution as a runner.  It serves as a reminder of where it all started and also how green I was. I had no clue about fuelling, pacing, or race management, and I was daunted at the thought of running that far. Fast forward nine years and nowadays I feel like an over ripe banana.”

Though Croft usually defines the success of a race as one where she doesn’t “throw up or visit cramp city”, she does have her sights firmly set on qualifying for UTMB in 2025 – something she can achieve if she finishes the 102km race at Tarawera as one the top three female elites.

“I'm hoping to qualify for UTMB 2025, so I have chosen Tarawera as my qualifying race. But beyond that, I know and also really enjoy the race, it's minimal travel, good timing, and also gives me the opportunity to connect back in with the New Zealand trail community,” says Croft.

The West Coast athlete is the red-hot favourite to claim the Tarawera 102km title once again, but Australians Sarah Ludowici and Beth McKenzie, as well as New Zealand based British runner Katie Wright, will be hoping they can cause an upset.

Ludowici has previously finished sixth and seventh in the Tarawera 102km, but after some strong podium performances over the past couple of years the Australian will be hoping to make a similar mark at Tarawera in 2024.

“I always take these races as an opportunity to learn and to grow as an athlete,” says Ludowici.

“A successful day out would be me actioning the learnings from the Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko Miler, mainly coming back to the present moment, including sitting in the uncomfortable moments but not making them mean anything. I always love to think ambitiously and hope that I'll be able to dig deep at the end, and if that lands me a podium I'd be stoked.”

The 102km race at Tarawera begins at 7.30am NZT on Saturday, February 17.

For more information on Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB visit tarawera.utmb.world