A hat-trick of T102 titles are on the line for New Zealand’s leading trail runners Ruth Croft and Dan Jones at this weekend’s Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB – but they will face fierce competition from some of the world’s best athletes with UTMB World Series Finals and Western States qualifications up for grabs.
The Tarawera Ultra-Trail is the second UTMB World Series event of 2025 and the top three female and male finishers in the 102km race will qualify directly for the CCC event at the 2026 UTMB World Series Finals in Chamonix, France.
The T102 is also returns a HOKA Golden Ticket qualifier for the 2025 Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run in California – giving the top two female and male finishers a direct path to the start line so plenty of added incentive this weekend.
Can anyone beat Croft?
Ruth Croft was already a household name in the world of ultrarunning before she claimed her first T102 title in 2021, having won the CCC in 2015 and claimed back-to-back OCC titles in 2018 and 2019.
Later in 2021, Croft finished second at Western States and the next year went one to better to make history as the first New Zealander to win one of the oldest and most competitive ultras in the world.
Last year, Croft won her second T102 title in February and six months later finished runner-up to Katie Schide at UTMB on debut.
Ahead of another big year of racing, Croft is once again kicking off her season at home before she heads over to Europe to prepare for her main goal of the year – UTMB.
“Winning for a third time would be great, but a successful day does not solely hang on that outcome,” said Croft.
“I would like to have a more consistent race than last year where I didn’t feel great, especially in the second third of the race, so I want to see if I can work on ironing out those lows that I had. In order to do that, I need to focus on what I need to do at that moment, whether it be nutrition or hydration, or adjusting effort etc, rather than getting too far ahead of myself.
“It’s great that the T102 is a Golden Ticket race, it’s normally Kiwis that have to travel to get in competitive international races, and so I am a big fan of only having a two-hour flight up to Rotorua on race week and not changing time zones. I also think when you grow up in New Zealand we sometimes take it for granted – I definitely did – about how special it is to run through the Redwoods and all the ferns. Tarawera brings a pretty unique race experience which I am looking forward to sharing with the stacked women’s field,” she added.
All-Kiwi battle?
Fellow Kiwi and Rotorua-born Caitlin Fielder will make her long-awaited T102 debut this weekend, setting up a much-anticipated showdown with Croft.
“I’m super excited to finally get to toe the line and hopefully get to the finish,” said Fielder. “Also super stoked it’s back to the more original course coming back from Kawerau.”
Fielder, a three-time T50 champion, has focused on shorter distances races for much of her career but is excited to step up to the 100km category and test herself against some of the best runners in the world as they chase the Western States Golden Ticket qualification.
“Honestly, I think a good race will be where I just feel like I keep my head screwed on, follow my nutrition and pacing plan, and have some fun out there. I am fully prepared to enter the pain cave sometimes throughout but think that’s probably normal at these distances. I just want to know that I’ve given myself the best opportunity to have a great race. It’s easy to get carried away thinking about the Golden Ticket and competition, but the reality is I’m fairly new to these distances so I just want to take it a step at a time and control what I can throughout.”
Other Kiwis lining up alongside Croft and are 2023 T102 champion Niang Jiang and 2024 Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko by UTMB 100km runner-up Juliette Soule. They will be joined on the start line by a strong American contingent featuring 2023 CCC podium finisher Helen Mino Faukner, Anna Louden, Lotti Brinks, and last year’s T102 runner-up Beth McKenzie, plus Australian challengers Anna McKenna and Lucy Bartholomew.
Jones sets sights on threepeat
Since switching focus from road to trail, Dan Jones’ career has gone from strength to strength. For the past two years, the Whakatane-raised athlete has kicked off the calendar year at Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB – winning back-to-back T102 titles.
In 2023, he finished fifth at Western States and 12th at the UTMB, and last year improved further to finish fourth at Western States and fourth in the CCC at the UTMB World Series Finals.
He comes into the race on the back of a six-week training block with American star and good friend Hayden Hawks and is aiming to be the first athlete to secure three successive T102 titles.
He said: “Going for a third win at Tarawera is something really special. It’s not just about the title—it’s about the connection I have with this race. Being born and bred in Whakatane, Rotorua feels like home turf, so it’s a great feeling racing with so many familiar faces lining the course, cheering, and sharing the energy.”
Last year, Jones’ margin victory was more than 40 minutes but with the Golden Ticket returning to the T102, the race will likely be a much tighter affair.
“My focus is always to race hard and see what I’m capable of. Tarawera will kickstart a big year for me, so I want to start strong and get stronger,” he added.
“It’s awesome to see Tarawera attracting such a competitive field, especially with the Golden Ticket status back. Having top international elites here really highlights how world-class this race is—not just in terms of competition but the entire experience. The best part is that we get to share our stunning trails and culture with runners from all around the world.”
Macdonald steps down in distance
Jones will face world-class competition for this year’s T102 title in the shape of CCC and OCC podium finisher Thibaut Baronian (FRA) and two-time Leadville 100 champion Adrian Macdonald (USA).
Macdonald will return to Rotorua for the second year in a row after capturing the TMiler title last February.
Looking back to last year, Macdonald said: “I’ll never forget flying around Blue Lake last year with my pacer, George, egging me on. I had a bit of a scare when Sam [Harvey] and Mike [Carroll] cut into my lead crossing over Okataina. I never knew I could run that hard and fast so late in a Miler and doing so made winning even more special. I’ll try to channel that energy during the race this weekend.
“I will also always remember being welcomed to the finish with a haka! In general, the inclusion of Māori people and culture stands out and helps make Tarawera so special.”
Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB is known as relatively fast course with less elevation that many ultra races around the world. Having recently run a new half marathon PB of 1:08:48 last month in Houston, US, Macdonald is feeling confident in his training and hopes it will translate into his performance this weekend.
“My main goal is to earn a Golden Ticket to Western States. I would also love to win the race. As always, if I can run hard the whole way and compete to the best of my ability, I will be proud no matter where I finish – but I believe doing so will lead to one of those first two goals,” he said.
Other challengers in this year’s T102 include Ryan Montgomery (USA), who finished third in this race two years ago, Blake Hose (AUS), Hu Zhao (CHN), Cody Lind (USA), Marcel Höche (DEU), Gabriel Kline (USA), and Hiroki Kai (JPN).
It all gets under way at 7.00am local time on Saturday.
A hat-trick of T102 titles are on the line for New Zealand’s leading trail runners Ruth Croft and Dan Jones at this weekend’s Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB – but they will face fierce competition from some of the world’s best athletes with UTMB World Series Finals and Western States qualifications up for grabs.
The Tarawera Ultra-Trail is the second UTMB World Series event of 2025 and the top three female and male finishers in the 102km race will qualify directly for the CCC event at the 2026 UTMB World Series Finals in Chamonix, France.
The T102 is also returns a HOKA Golden Ticket qualifier for the 2025 Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run in California – giving the top two female and male finishers a direct path to the start line so plenty of added incentive this weekend.
Can anyone beat Croft?
Ruth Croft was already a household name in the world of ultrarunning before she claimed her first T102 title in 2021, having won the CCC in 2015 and claimed back-to-back OCC titles in 2018 and 2019.
Later in 2021, Croft finished second at Western States and the next year went one to better to make history as the first New Zealander to win one of the oldest and most competitive ultras in the world.
Last year, Croft won her second T102 title in February and six months later finished runner-up to Katie Schide at UTMB on debut.
Ahead of another big year of racing, Croft is once again kicking off her season at home before she heads over to Europe to prepare for her main goal of the year – UTMB.
“Winning for a third time would be great, but a successful day does not solely hang on that outcome,” said Croft.
“I would like to have a more consistent race than last year where I didn’t feel great, especially in the second third of the race, so I want to see if I can work on ironing out those lows that I had. In order to do that, I need to focus on what I need to do at that moment, whether it be nutrition or hydration, or adjusting effort etc, rather than getting too far ahead of myself.
“It’s great that the T102 is a Golden Ticket race, it’s normally Kiwis that have to travel to get in competitive international races, and so I am a big fan of only having a two-hour flight up to Rotorua on race week and not changing time zones. I also think when you grow up in New Zealand we sometimes take it for granted – I definitely did – about how special it is to run through the Redwoods and all the ferns. Tarawera brings a pretty unique race experience which I am looking forward to sharing with the stacked women’s field,” she added.
All-Kiwi battle?
Fellow Kiwi and Rotorua-born Caitlin Fielder will make her long-awaited T102 debut this weekend, setting up a much-anticipated showdown with Croft.
“I’m super excited to finally get to toe the line and hopefully get to the finish,” said Fielder. “Also super stoked it’s back to the more original course coming back from Kawerau.”
Fielder, a three-time T50 champion, has focused on shorter distances races for much of her career but is excited to step up to the 100km category and test herself against some of the best runners in the world as they chase the Western States Golden Ticket qualification.
“Honestly, I think a good race will be where I just feel like I keep my head screwed on, follow my nutrition and pacing plan, and have some fun out there. I am fully prepared to enter the pain cave sometimes throughout but think that’s probably normal at these distances. I just want to know that I’ve given myself the best opportunity to have a great race. It’s easy to get carried away thinking about the Golden Ticket and competition, but the reality is I’m fairly new to these distances so I just want to take it a step at a time and control what I can throughout.”
Other Kiwis lining up alongside Croft and are 2023 T102 champion Niang Jiang and 2024 Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko by UTMB 100km runner-up Juliette Soule. They will be joined on the start line by a strong American contingent featuring 2023 CCC podium finisher Helen Mino Faukner, Anna Louden, Lotti Brinks, and last year’s T102 runner-up Beth McKenzie, plus Australian challengers Anna McKenna and Lucy Bartholomew.
Jones sets sights on threepeat
Since switching focus from road to trail, Dan Jones’ career has gone from strength to strength. For the past two years, the Whakatane-raised athlete has kicked off the calendar year at Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB – winning back-to-back T102 titles.
In 2023, he finished fifth at Western States and 12th at the UTMB, and last year improved further to finish fourth at Western States and fourth in the CCC at the UTMB World Series Finals.
He comes into the race on the back of a six-week training block with American star and good friend Hayden Hawks and is aiming to be the first athlete to secure three successive T102 titles.
He said: “Going for a third win at Tarawera is something really special. It’s not just about the title—it’s about the connection I have with this race. Being born and bred in Whakatane, Rotorua feels like home turf, so it’s a great feeling racing with so many familiar faces lining the course, cheering, and sharing the energy.”
Last year, Jones’ margin victory was more than 40 minutes but with the Golden Ticket returning to the T102, the race will likely be a much tighter affair.
“My focus is always to race hard and see what I’m capable of. Tarawera will kickstart a big year for me, so I want to start strong and get stronger,” he added.
“It’s awesome to see Tarawera attracting such a competitive field, especially with the Golden Ticket status back. Having top international elites here really highlights how world-class this race is—not just in terms of competition but the entire experience. The best part is that we get to share our stunning trails and culture with runners from all around the world.”
Macdonald steps down in distance
Jones will face world-class competition for this year’s T102 title in the shape of CCC and OCC podium finisher Thibaut Baronian (FRA) and two-time Leadville 100 champion Adrian Macdonald (USA).
Macdonald will return to Rotorua for the second year in a row after capturing the TMiler title last February.
Looking back to last year, Macdonald said: “I’ll never forget flying around Blue Lake last year with my pacer, George, egging me on. I had a bit of a scare when Sam [Harvey] and Mike [Carroll] cut into my lead crossing over Okataina. I never knew I could run that hard and fast so late in a Miler and doing so made winning even more special. I’ll try to channel that energy during the race this weekend.
“I will also always remember being welcomed to the finish with a haka! In general, the inclusion of Māori people and culture stands out and helps make Tarawera so special.”
Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB is known as relatively fast course with less elevation that many ultra races around the world. Having recently run a new half marathon PB of 1:08:48 last month in Houston, US, Macdonald is feeling confident in his training and hopes it will translate into his performance this weekend.
“My main goal is to earn a Golden Ticket to Western States. I would also love to win the race. As always, if I can run hard the whole way and compete to the best of my ability, I will be proud no matter where I finish – but I believe doing so will lead to one of those first two goals,” he said.
Other challengers in this year’s T102 include Ryan Montgomery (USA), who finished third in this race two years ago, Blake Hose (AUS), Hu Zhao (CHN), Cody Lind (USA), Marcel Höche (DEU), Gabriel Kline (USA), and Hiroki Kai (JPN).
It all gets under way at 7.00am local time on Saturday.
