A -hattrick of T102 titles are on the line for New Zealand’s leading trail runners Ruth Croft and Daniel 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, part of a global circuit of the best trail running events in the world.

The top three female and male finishers in the T102 will qualify directly for the CCC race at the 2026 UTMB World Series Finals in Chamonix, France.

The T102 race also returns a HOKA Golden Ticket qualifier for the 2025 Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run in California, US – giving the top two female and male finishers a direct path to the start line.

Can anyone beat Croft?

Ruth Croft was already a household name in the world of ultra running 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 at the 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. I was actually listening to the ‘Between two Beers’ podcast recently with Mark Stafford and one of his quotes was ‘Don’t try to see the finish when you’re at the start’. I feel this fits rather well with racing Tarawera or any ultra in fact,” 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.”

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 for the 100km and hopefully get to the finish,” said Fielder.

“Also super stoked it’s back to the more original course coming back from Kawerau.”

In 2024 Daniel Jones secured back-to-back victories at Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB. Photo: Cameron McKenzie

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.

“It’s super cool to get to showcase how awesome New Zealand is to the international crew. Having Tarawera as a Golden Ticket race makes it all the more special, the course goes through some really beautiful areas and I can’t wait to get to share the trails with everyone,” she said.

“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.

Faukner will be racing in New Zealand for the first time and is excited to experience the beauty of the country.

“I want to race, and I feel like Golden Ticket races usually bring more competition and can make the race dynamics more interesting. I would love to get a Golden Ticket, but that is not my reason for racing here,” said Faukner.

“It worked out with my schedule this year to come and race and I couldn’t be more excited. I’m also very excited to come to summer since it’s winter where I live. After the race I am staying for 10 days to go surf, which has always been a big draw of New Zealand for me as well,” she said.

“I have heard that it is a fast, beautiful course with lots of lakes and that the community is a super cool thing to get to experience. I’m most excited to have a fun long day spent doing what I love most.”

Threepeat on the Cards for Jones

Since switching focus from road to trail, 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.

This year, Jones is aiming to become the first athlete to secure three successive T102 titles.

“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.

“To achieve a hat-trick here would be an incredible honour, especially to do it here with the support of my partner Michelle, my family, friends and team,” said Jones.

Caitlin Fielder (NZL) won her third Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB 50km title last year. Photo: Graeme Murray

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 said.

“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.”

Jones will face world class competition for this year’s T102 title in the shape of CCC and OCC podium finisher Thibaut Baronian (FRA), 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.

“I have many reasons for returning to Tarawera—the beautiful trails, the competition, and escaping the Colorado winter—but what I enjoy most is the fun, supportive community I’ve found in the New Zealand running scene.

“Racing Tarawera and helping my teammate, Zach Friedley, with his Born to Adapt event this past weekend has deepened my connection to it,” said Macdonald.

“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 a 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, United States, 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.

Meanwhile, French runner Baronian will make his Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB debut. He has been in the country for a few weeks exploring the New Zealand trails while preparing for this race.

“It has been a very surprising journey—we loved discovering New Zealand through running. It is a wonderful country,” said Baronian.

Usually more accustomed to mountainous races, Baronian is excited to test himself over the T102 course in pursuit of a Golden Ticket.

“I will aim to give my best as usual and be smart. I know this isn’t the kind of terrain where I’m strongest, but I’ll still have to hold on for more than eight hours to fight for a Golden Ticket, so everything could happen,” he said.

“I know that is a very fast race on an unknown race route for me. It’s a new challenge for me, running through eight hours without walking.”

Other challengers in this year’s T102 include Ryan Montgomery (US), who finished third in this race two years ago, Blake Hose (AUS), Hu Zhao (CHN), Cody Lind (US), Marcel Höche (DEU), Gabriel Kline (US), and Hiroki Kai (JPN).

Beginning on Saturday, February 15, in Rotorua, located in the heart of the North Island of New Zealand, the TMiler (100-miles/163km) will begin at 4am, followed by the T102 (102km) and T50 (50km) at 7am, and the T21 (21km) at 10:00am.

For more on Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB visit tarawera.utmb.world