Profeet Ambassador, Tom Evans, takes on the Tarawera 100k

Profeet Ambassador, Tom Evans, will be aiming high at the second Ultra-Trail World Tour race of the year, the Tarawera 100k. The trail event, based in Rotorua, New Zealand, is one of the more prestigious trail races in the world, with elite athletes often travelling from the USA and Europe to compete with the best of New Zealand and Australia’s runners.

2020 is no different and Profeet’s Evans will be competing with the likes of World 100 mile record holder Zach Bitter ad other speedy US runners such as Ryan Bak, Pat Reagan and former Tarawera Champion Sage Canaday. That said, Tom is probably one of the favourites for the win, although there will be little room for errors.

Finishing 2019 on the cross country, Adidas Terre athlete Tom had an absolute stormer of a race at the trial for the European Cross Champs in Sefton Park and made his first GB team appearance for cross country. Given the level of competition for these vests, it is one of the Lewes AC athlete’s best performances to date, and shows the level of speed and strength he will be bringing into the 2020 Tarawera 100k.

Look for a fast start due to the runnable trails and fire roads, but the deciding moves for the win may come on the slightly more technical single track trails in the second half as the runners approach the finish in Rotorua. Profeet’s Robbie Britton raced the event back in 2015, finishing 7th, and had this to say:

“the trails are some of the most enjoyable I’ve ever run on. It’s a simply beautiful course and it’s not too technical to really run fast, as Jim Walmsley showed when he set the course record of about seven and a half hours. That’s rapid for 100k on trail. I think Tom could probably get close to that if he has a good day.”

Tom has been training in New Zealand for the past fortnight and even forewent his birthday a few days away, apparently saving the celebrations until after race day!

NEWS UPDATE: IT’S A WIN FOR TOM EVANS!