In asborbing races Larissa Tichon, 9.14.08 (Sydney Striders, AUS), and Wayne Botha, 9.15.11 (Takapuna Harriers, Auckland) won the 13th Annual Sri Chinmoy 100 km Races (Athletics New Zealand 100 km National Championships) held in North Hagley Park, Christchurch on Sunday.
The 2018 road champs started in cool, crisp conditions (8C), which gave way to a warm, blue-skied (21C) mid-Autunm's day
Larissa, overcoming a late race mini-slump, came home powerfully to finish ahead of 2018 men's champ Wayne and first Kiwi woman, Shannon-Leigh Litt, 9.38.21 (New Brighton Olympic and Athletic, Christchurch), who became the 2018 Athletic New Zealand 100 km women's champion.
Dual former winner, Dawn Tuffery, (Hamilton City Hawkes, Hamilton) completing 42.5 kms before stopping with a strained achilles.
Men's runner-up David O'Sullivan, 9.37.57 (Aspiring Athletics, Wanaka) ran a steady, purposeful race. Latter, as conditions improved, David picked up the pace ... overtaking women's runner-up, Shannon-Leigh Litt, in the run to the finish line.
Jamie Hawker, 10.32.50 (Port Hill Athletic, Christchurch) was third placed man ... followed by his Port Hill Athletic team mate Paul Botha, 11.07.22.
In the Sri Chinmoy 100 km Team's Race 4-man team 'Been Leaving Your Marks Behind', 6.46.49 (Papanui TOC H Athletic Club) established a new race record ... clipping just 64 seconds off the solid, previous mark set in 2012 by the "Marathon Clinic 1" team.
The second placed team was 3-time defending champions 'Weekend Warriors', 7.24.38 (Christchurch), followed by Team Vegan', 8.57.44 (Christchurch) and the 'Hot Potatoes Team', 9.45.04 (Christchurch).
The Sri Chinmoy 50 km Race was won by Geoff Gilfedder, 4.02.30 (Chistchurch), who held off a last lap challenge from runner-up Ryan Wood, 4.03.26 (Christchurch). In third place was Samuel Brown, 4.22.18 (Christchurch).
The 7.00 pm awards ceremony was followed by a post-race meal under tranquil Hagley-Park evening skies.