In cool, windy and generally wet condition conditions, Vajin Armstrong, 7.05.46 (Sumner Running, Christchurch) and Shannon-Leigh Litt, 8.29.05 (Hatea Run, Whangarei) both ran superb races to win the 16th Sri Chinmoy 'Self-Transcendence' 100 km Road Races at Hagley Park North, Christchurch on Sunday 05 November 2023 ... and became the 2023 Athletic New Zealand 100 km national champions.

The 100 km/ 50 km championships were held on a 2.5 km certified course, within the evergreen park.

Vajin hung on through the challenging middle section of the race and eventually took 3 minutes off former champion Martin Lukes’ 2012 course record (7.08.37) ... Martin was present at the finish of the race to congratulate Vajin.

Multiple champ, Keith Burrows, 7.50.06 (Owairaka Athletic, Auckland) ran another brilliant race for second … followed by Jack Brownie, 9.31.33 (Christchurch) in third place and Lyndon Dahlberg, 10.46.12 (Papakura Athletics, Far North) in fourth.

Vajin, Keith and Lyndon won the Athletics New Zealand 100 km gold, silver and bronze championship medals.

Shannon-Leigh had a great ‘come from behind’ victory in the women’s 100 km race to finish just ahead of Aussie 100 km champion Corrina Black, 8.37.59 (Gold Coast).

Shannon Johnstone, 9.53.55 (Don Greig Racing Stables, Christchurch) was third; Amanda Pavey, 10.43.51 (Brisbane AUS) was fourth and Kerrie Handley, 11.49.07 (ANZ One Day, Timaru) was fifth.

Shannon-Leigh, Shannon and Kerrie won the New Zealand women’s 100 km championship medals.

Dayle McLauchlan, 3.15.38 (Sumner Running, Christchurch) and Hannah Oldroyd, 3.23.31 (also Sumner Running, Christchurch) both set outstanding new 50 km course records in the Sri Chinmoy 'Self-Transcendence' 50 km races ... and became the inaugural Athletics New Zealand 50 km national champions.

Hayden Zervos, 3.21.15 (Wanganui Harriers) was the men's 50 km runner-up, followed by Allan Staite, 4.03.24 (Hatea Run, Whangarei).

Mel Aitken, 3.48.28 (Wellington Scottish) was the 50 km women's runner-up, followed by Jamie Stevenson, 4.48.10 (Bays Athletics, Auckland).

In the Sri Chinmoy 100 km 4-person Team's Race the 'Alex Kelliher Tribute Band' team (5.53.46) smashed the 2019 ‘Coming From Behind’ team’s course record by 27 minutes … to finish comfortably ahead of runner-up ‘Team G.B.’ (7.39.48).

Runners, friends and family members attended the 7.30 pm awards ceremony, at the nearby Lotus Heart Indian Vegetarian Restaurant.

Athletics New Zealand's John Bowden presented the 100 km & 50 km championship medals to the leading runners ... followed by a scrumptious, happy, post-race celebrative meal.