Alex McKenzie, Lisa Tamati triumph in Sri Chinmoy 24-Hour Track Races

Rookies Winston Sweatman & Vivian Cheng pass 100 miles

Niribili File sets N.Z. Women's (60-65) 24-hour best

Wayne Botha & Greg English win Sri Chinmoy 12-hour & 6-Hour Races

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At 9.00 a.m. 22nd November 2008, on a mild, partly cloudy, Saturday morning 31 runners and race walkers lined up for the concurrent starts of the 11th Sri Chinmoy 6-12-24-Hour track races (New Zealand 24-Hour Championship) at the Millennium Institute's Sovereign Stadium, Auckland. 16 individual athletes participated in the 24-hour, 6 in the 12-hour and 9 in the 6-hour.


Early into the 24-hour Lisa Tomati 40, from New Plymouth, who recorded an outstanding 10th place in the 217 km Badwater-Mt Whitney U.S.A. desert-mountain ultra in July, linked up with Staff Sergeant Alex McKenzie 48, of Tauranga and together they ran in tandem - encouraging and supporting each other, clearly aware that the main challenge ahead was from the tyranny of time and distance itself and not from the other competitors. This camaraderie continued for most of the race and surely helped both of them in achieving massive personal bests.

From the beginning of the race a gusty northerly wind threatened - keeping our team of helpers ever vigilant - repeatedly securing and resecuring the banners, tents, race equipment and paper work. On Saturday afternoon the competitors changed direction and the sun came out - providing both very warm conditions and a head wind down the exposed main straight. During this period the athletes took in heaps of Replace and water - and wet sponges on the head were definitely the go!


In the Sri Chinmoy 6-Hour Race Greg English 31, (an Iron-man finisher from Napier) ran strongly to achieve 1st place with 62.242 km. In second place was former South African ultra runner Paul Homann with 53.654 km - followed by Auckland's John McTaggart with 52.010 km. Early leader, and 2008 Taupo 100 km winner, Simon Riley had to stop after completing 34.4 km. Aucklanders' Michel Garrett and Carol Bielby ran impressively to record equal first place in the women's 6-hour race with 53.458 km.


In the Sri Chinmoy 12-Hour Race Wayne Botha 36, (Auckland) ran confidently, improving on his 2006 performance, and achieved 1st place with 103.595 km. Roger Morrissey (Whangaparaoa) was second with 63.629 km: followed by Richard Wall (Wellington) with 62 947 km and masters champion Gary Regtien (50.800 km). Newcomer Juliette Gallienne was 1st in the women's 12-hour with 57.267 km.


Meanwhile in the Sri Chinmoy 24-Hour Race Alex was running as"solid as a rock" as he powered through the hot afternoon sun and wind into a cooler and increasingly calm night- passing 100 km in 10.57 and 108.4 km at the 12-hour half-way- followed by Lisa who, although becoming more reliant on her shoulders and arms to carry her tired legs, was still looking indomitable as she passed 100 km in a personal best 11.26 and 104 km at 12 hours.

24-hour rookies Winston Sweatman 42, (Auckland) and Vivian Cheng 30, (Wellington) were next- Winston showing a lot of maturity in reaching a milestone 100 km in 11.29 - and Vivian looking very smooth and composed as she passed 100 km, also a personal best, in 11.50. During the night three 4-person 12-hour relay teams- two teams of race walkers from the Hibiscus Coast and the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team women's team - joined the 24-hour runners - the relay runners' freshness and enthusiasm providing extra energy for the tiring 24-hour athletes.

Alex passed 100 miles in a fine 18.53 - but although he had not stopped, and with just 90 minutes remaining, 200 km was increasingly beginning to look out of reach. Needing to find something special, and urged on by his supporters and helpers, Alex picked up the pace from 3.30 per lap to 2.10 per lap and drove himself around the track, showing extraordinary, renewed strength and commitment, to go beyond himself and attain the 200 km goal with only 8 minutes left.


Lisa, also on a mission, passed 100 miles in 20.02 and pushed all the way to the finish to record an outstanding 35 km personal best of 192.365 km. Winston passed 100 miles in 21.19.30 and finished with an excellent 175.945 km. Vivian ran 100 miles in 22.35 and achieved a notable 162.400 km. Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team member Sophie Anderson (30) ran well during the night to achieve a personal best 141.632


Niribili File 62, (Auckland) improved her New Zealand Women (60-65) 24-hour record by 7 km to 116.551 km.


At the awards ceremony President of the New Zealand Ultra Runners Association Sandy Barwick M.B.E. and fellow ultra great Richard Tout presented the Sandy Barwick and Richard Tout 24-Hour Perpetual Trophies to 2008 24-hour champions Alex and Lisa.