Record Entry for World Mountain Running Trophy
Michael Jacques / 03.04.2005
The World Mountain Running Trophy, to be hosted in Wellington on September 25, is shaping up as the most prestigious running event in New Zealand for 16 years.At the recent close of preliminary entries for the World Mountain Running Trophy 344 athletes from 30 countries had registered for the Wellington world title event, making it the most prestigious international running event on New Zealand shores since the world cross country championship in Auckland in 1988.
New Zealanders are the dominant force on the world mountain running scene, with Wellingtonians Jonathan Wyatt and Melissa Moon both being multi-world title holders. In 2004 Wyatt won his fourth world title (1998, 2000, 2002, 2004), while Moon has won two world titles (2001, 2003).
Wellington event promoter Arthur Klap has been successful in bringing the World Mountain Running Trophy event to their hometown, to be run on Mt Victoria on September 25.
Wyatt and Moon train on Wellington’s Mt Victoria almost every day. Based from Oriental Parade, the course will runs up and over the steep and rough tracks of Mt Victoria, which while giving runners a suitable challenge will also make for the most spectator friendly course in the history of the world trophy event.
Jonathan Wyatt recently ran a time trial over the course prior to leaving for his annual European campaign. Other Kiwi standouts will get a chance to run a full dress rehearsal on the Mt Victoria course when the New Zealand championships and world trophy trials are held on May 15.
The New Zealand and World event will be run over the same course. Both the New Zealand championship and the world trophy event will also feature a mass-participation fun run that will give citizens the experience of running and walking over the same course, on the same day as the world’s best mountain runners.
According to New Zealand Community Trust CEO, Bill Day, the event provides another great opportunity to showcase Wellington to the world.
