Win took him over the moon

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Daniel raced to a convincing victory, beating his training partner and pre-race favourite Hayden Hawks from the United States by more than 14 minutes.

Daniel clocked 7 hours 27 minutes and 55 seconds, the quickest anybody has raced over the 102km ultramarathon, despite it being just the first time he has run the race.

Hayden finished in 7 hours 42 minutes and 13 seconds.

Daniel’s win saw him claim one of his long-terms goals of qualifying for the prestigious Western States 100-Mile Endurance Race (WSER) in California in June.

“I’m just over the moon,” Daniel said after the race.

“It’s been a bit of a work in progress – I’d say a long time coming not a super long time coming.

“I’ve had some good success anyway last year but in terms of 100 kilometres, this just blows my mind to finally be getting this accomplishment.

“It’s unbelievable getting that golden ticket,” he said.

Daniel was running in a chase pack for the first 40 kilometres until he reached the Redwoods, and from there began to wind up the pace alongside Hayden. By the 62-kilometre mark Daniel decided to grab the race by the horns and put together a huge surge that took him away from the American to an unassailable lead.

As is tradition at the Tarawera Ultramarathon, Daniel was received the TUM102 winner at the finish line by a haka and to the cheers of the hundreds of spectators who had flocked down to cheer him home – and the emotion it evoked in him was clear to see.

The runners were also sent on their way with a haka at the beginning of the race.

“Who else has that kind of thing at the start of a race and the end of a race? It’s just so humbling, it’s awesome. It’s that cultural aspect of being in Rotorua as well – it’s the cultural hub really,” Daniel said.

His victory continued an incredible record, which saw Daniel win the Auckland Marathon, the Queenstown Marathon and two Kepler Challenges in 2022.

David Haunschmidt set a new course record of 3 hours 33 minutes and 3 seconds in the 50km event, seven minutes ahead of Poland’s Piotr Babis.

Charlie Hamilton from Australia finished third while New Zealand’s Jonathan Jackson was fourth.

David executed a near perfect race, allowing the leaders to go out hard early before reeling them in over the second half of the 50km course through the trails of Rotorua.

“It’s fantastic. I completely did not expect that so I’m absolutely over the moon,” David said after the race.

“I knew there were some world class runners there. I mean Jono Jackson had the record (before Michael Voss), so I let them do the work and took the first half pretty conservative and then from Blue Lake onwards I just went for it and kind of ran scared.”

Before moving to Wellington, the 33-year-old lived in Rotorua for a year and says he loved being back on familiar trails and enjoyed the huge crowd support out on the course.

“It’s amazing. I used to live here so it’s like I’m home. It’s awesome.

“I met so many friends running in the woods, it’s feels special, some of the best trails I’ve ever run on,” he said.

Mike Robinson, from Gisborne, won the men’s 21 km race in 1 hour 25 minutes and 45 seconds.