24-8-92
PRESS RELEASE:
AUSTRALASIAN 100KM CHAMPIONSHIPS SUPPORTED BY SMOKEFREE
The inaugural running of this annual National/International event will take place on Dec. 28, 1992 at the lovely North Otago venue of CAMPBELL PARK.
The Sport of 100KM running is assuming a – rapidly expanding – ‘official’ status amongst the World’s Sporting Organizations. (There are 41 member nations in the International Assoc. of Ultrarunners – IAU.)
As the ’standard’ ultra-marathon distance, with planned inclusion at the Olympic Games in the next 8 years, the 100km race has enjoyed ‘patronage’ by the International Amateur Athletic Federation – IAAF – since 1989. And, is currently under consideration for eventual inclusion in the Commonwealth Games.
For the first time in New Zealand, the gap between the 100km race and Athletics NZ – the official governing body of athletics in NZ – has been bridged. Athletics NZ is recognizing the importance of the l00kms, and its future developement, by ‘patronizing’ this event.
This, brings what was once considered a fringe sport into the folds of ‘officialdom’, opening doors for New Zealand athletes/teams to represent their country at a recognized World Championship, the ‘100KM World-Cup’ event.
Elite athletes, observing official recognition and seeking further challenge in their efforts to represent their country, are moving up to the 100km distance from shorter races.
Individuals who wish to discover the bounds of their own ability and fortitude – elite or not – are testing the 100km event in numbers increasing more quickly than those of any other running event. (European and African events now boast fields of over 10,000 entries!)
New Zealand, always competitive on international levels of athletics – and particularly powerful in the ultra-distance events – has been selected to play host to, what is for Australasia, a ‘first’ with this IAU sanctioned event. The initial step in bringing the ‘100KM WORLD-CUP’ to New Zealand in 1994!
Under the auspices of the IAAF, world-record status is now afforded the 100km road event. Our course is extremely fast, which is of upmost importance to those competing, and provides ample excitement for those observing.
A ‘Who’s Who’ of NZ ultra-runners will lineup for the first ‘test’ of its kind against Australia.
- Sandy Barwick, world famous for her record shattering
performance over 1,000 miles in New York last year.
- Russell Prince, 2nd in the world at the 1991 World-Cup
100KM in the USA, ranked #1 in NZ/Australasia. s
- Russell Hurring, just returned from races in Europe -. after demolishing Prince’s 67km Kepler Challenge record by over 9 minutes in ‘91.
- Margaret Hazelwood, holder of the NZ Womens 100km record, set last year in Australia.
- Kerry Pascoe, the North Island’s top ultra-runner, winner of the 90 mile beach run, and his last 3 NZ run marathons.
- Dick Tout, former World/Australasian/NZ record holder of numerous ultra-distance events.
The ‘host’ venue – CAMPBELL PARK ` – ` offers the world, “a world away…” revealing a magnificient North Otago setting which highlights the natural beauty – trademark – and so important to New Zealand’s lifestyle and image. This village setting, proclaimed one of NZ’s best kept secrets, is centered around NZ’s first Mansion House, built in 1876, and provides a completely self-contained site for attending parties.
(This annual ‘Championship’ event is prelude to further use of Campbell Park as a sports ‘event’ and training center.)
Travel provided by AIR NEW ZEALAND assures a top New Zealand team will be assembled, representative of North and South Islands.
With assistance from the largest sports shoe company in the world – NIKE – materials and a network to runners from around the globe is available.
- LEPPIN – an energy product, and the company which has sponsored the ‘Commrades’ Double Marathon in South Africa for 15 years, is also supporting us, in a call for Friendship among peoples.
We also wish to acknowledge the support of: SMOKEFREE
FOSTERS LAGER
CHIQUITA
TELECOM (TMR)
With the support of these high-profile sponsors, the AUSTRALASIAN 100KM CHAMPIONSHIPS is assured of a brilliant future.
Tags: New Zealand, Ultra history
Related Posts
Tags: New Zealand, Ultra history
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on Wednesday, July 15th, 2009 at 4:00 pm and is filed under 100km, 1992, Australia, New Zealand.
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