Whakatane’s Daniel Jones has made history with a record-breaking seventh Fresh Choice Kepler Challenge mountain running title in Te Anau yesterday (Dec 6).

The professional ultra runner was a comfortable men’s winner in the 60km loop of the Kepler Track, finishing in 4hr 42min, and in the process striding past the mark he had shared with fellow six-time winners Ruby Muir and Russell Hurring.

Auckland’s Frances Redmond, who finished runner-up last year, won the women’s race in 5hr 59min.

Jones was met on the Lake Te Anau control gate finish line by partner Michelle and 11-week-old son Hudson to celebrate the special moment.

“I saw them at Rainbow Reach (10km to go) and I really wanted to give Huddy a hug but I just burned on through. It’s Huddy’s first time to see a race finish and I was really happy to make it a win,” Jones said.

“To get that seventh title means a lot because you come back here year after year and it’s kind of grown into this big family, community thing for me, and now my family and I really hope to continue the tradition.”

Christchurch runner Cameron Swales takes out the 27km Luxmore Grunt in 1 hour, fifty-three minutes and thirty seconds. Photo: Nathan Burton

Jones was challenged during the first half of the race by Frenchman Quinton Succo (4:58), who is currently on a year-long working holiday in New Zealand.

The pair exchanged introductions on the climb up to Luxmore Hut and then battled it out across the upper heights of the track before Jones pulled away over the second half of the race.

Defending champion Daniel Balchin (5:06) finished in third place.

Competing in her fourth Kepler Challenge, Redmond said the event holds a special place in her heart.

“This is my fourth year, so it’s been a few years coming. It’s a renowned race, the course is beautiful and it’s fantastically run, the volunteers are awesome, so it feels pretty epic.”

Hannah Wall (6:03) ran strongly throughout the race and led at most of the checkpoints before finishing less than five minutes behind Redmond, with Julia Chamberlain (6:17) in third place.

“I’ve been supported over the past year by my friends and family, particularly my partner Hannah,” Redmond said.

“She cooks me dinner, doesn’t complain when I go out running for eight hours on our day off. That’s what makes it so amazing, having that family and friends support.”

Competing in the companion event, the 27km Luxmore Grunt, New Zealand mountain running representative Penny Mouat defended her title despite being on the comeback from injury.

“I’m so stoked. That was the goal. I got a stress fracture a few months ago, got that cleared and then this was my first race back really.”

Fellow Christchurch runner Cameron Swales trailed the frontrunners, including three-time winner Jonathan Jackson, by about 1min at the Luxmore Hut turnaround, but took the lead during the technical descent and used his track speed to power home in what was his trail running debut.

“I’m coming out of being a road and track running over the past couple of years and I’m excited to give trails a bit of a go.”

A capacity field of 450 runners started the Kepler Challenge event, with the field selling out in just over 2min in July. Another sold out field of 250 runners contested the Luxmore Grunt.

Results

60km Kepler Challenge:

Men: Daniel Jones 4:42:38, 1; Quinton Succo 4:58:46, 2; Daniel Balchin 5:06:31, 3.

Women: Frances Redmond 5:59:05, 1; Hannah Wall 6:03:58, 2; Julia Chamberlain 6:17:02, 3.

27km Luxmore Grunt:

Men: Cameron Swales 1:53:30, 1; Michael Sutton 1:54:54, 2; Jonathan Jackson 1:56:28, 3.

Women: Penny Mouat 2:29:37, 1; Catherine Atkinson 2:35:38, 2; Hollie Morton 2:36:37, 3.