Marathon champion takes on new off-road challenge

Whangarei athlete, Ady Ngawati will be hoping to continue her string of recent successes at the XTERRA Trail Challenge in Rotorua on December 6th.

Ngawati, won the Auckland marathon in October, defending her 2007 title and beating Canadian, Lara Phillips, who placed second. Both Ngawati and Phillips will be on the start line in Rotorua to fight out line honors once again.

The XTERRA Trail Challenge in an inaugural event and includes a 5km, 10km and 21km walk and run option. It is run over one day and has attracted competitors from all over the North Island and of all abilities.

While most will be there to just complete their chosen challenge, many will be there to qualify in their age-group for the World Trail Challenge in Maui, Hawaii next year – something Ngawati is definitely keen to do.

“This is such a great initiative – to be able to head over to Hawaii and represent my country in a sport I love so much would be just an awesome experience.”

Race director, Aaron Carter, is excited about the prospects that this new event brings to the New Zealand race calendar.

“It is great to be able to bring an event like this to New Zealand and give our top pro and age-group runners the chance to represent their country on the world scene. This has been possible in other sports, like triathlon for many years so it is great to be able to offer this to our running fraternity now as well.”

There is also some great prize money up for grabs - the first 5 athletes entered in the professional category across the line in men’s and women’s long course event will earn themselves $1,200, $600, $400, $200 and $100 for 1st to 5th respectively.

Courses weave through some of the countries most scenic trails and forestry in Rotorua’s Redwood Forest.

Entries are still open and late entries can be completed at The Distinction Hotel, Rotorua on Friday 5th December from 3pm till 10pm and on event morning from 7am at the event base (Redwood Forest, Long Mile Rd).

XTERRA Trail Challenge - Saturday 6th December 2008
Redwood Forest, Long Mile Rd, Rotorua
Short Course - 5km run and walk start at 8.15am
Medium Course - 11km run and walk starts at 9.00am
Long Course - 21km run and walk starts at 8.00am
For more information; www.xterra.co.nz