Hayden Hawks is looking to start a massive year with a win – and round off a New Zealand training block in perfect style – when he lines up for the T50 (50km) at the 2025 Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB.
The race begins at 7am local time on Saturday 15 February in Rotorua, in the heart of the North Island, and American star Hawks looks to be the standout performer on the men’s side as he returns to Tarawera for a second time.
He was runner-up in the T102 in 2023 and last year won the prestigious CCC race at the UTMB World Series Finals and finished third at the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run.
NZ training block
Hawks has been in New Zealand for nearly six weeks ahead of this race, training alongside his good friend Dan Jones (NZL).
“This is our second time spending a significant training block down here in New Zealand and it won’t be the last. We love it down here, it’s great to escape the winter back home and come here to train, dive and fish, spend lots of time outdoors with the family, and enjoy the New Zealand summer,” said Hawks.
“It has really become a second home for us, and we plan on spending many more New Zealand summers here. My good mate Dan Jones is great to train with and why not throw in a world class race like Tarawera if I am already here. The trails are great, the people and atmosphere are even better, and it’s a great way to start my season and I plan on making it the start to my season for years to come.”
Western States, UTMB double
Having already qualified for this year’s Western States and UTMB World Series Finals, Hawks has opted to race the 50km to test out his speed and fitness early in the season.
“I decided to run the T50 this year as I have a very big year to come with both Western States and UTMB on the schedule. I don’t want to run too long, too early in the year and want to make sure I am prepared for both of those races. I will be racing T50 but also using it as a great part of my training and a stepping stone for other races to come. I do think it would be cool to win both the T50 and T102 over the years as New Zealand and Tarawera are dear and important to me,” said Hawks.
“I always want to win and believe I can win the race, but most importantly I want to have a great time, not get injured, and run a fast and well executed race.”
Lining up alongside Hawks is a strong international contingent, featuring two-time OCC podium finisher Robbie Simpson (GBR), Spanish duo Daniel Osanz and Marc Olle Bernades, and two-time T102 champion Dylan Bowman (USA).
Rotorua local Michael Voss is another former champion hoping to push Hawks all the way in pursuit of the T50 crown.
‘Bucket list race’
The women’s T50 race is headlined by South Africa’s Bianca Tarboton, an athlete with multiple wins at the competitive Ultra-Trail Cape Town and various podiums at races around the world.
She will face a strong Australian contingent featuring the likes of Patricia McKibbin, Georgina Campbell, and Madison Reynolds, plus American Corrine Malcom and Kiwi Mel Aitken.
Canberra based McKibbin has performed well on home soil, winning races at Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB and Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko by UTMB but will make her Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB debut this weekend.
“This race has been on my bucket list for a few years. I have heard the New Zealand trail running community is special and I haven’t run here before. The last time I came to Rotorua was in 2016 which was before I started trail running,” said McKibbin.
Despite a few recent health issues, McKibbin is looking forward to testing herself in a race with different terrain than what she is used to and seeing where her speed is at this stage of the year.
“Preparation is rarely perfect so I will give it my best on the day,” she said. “I am usually drawn to races with more elevation, but I wanted to work on my speed this year. Tarawera was a perfect race to get out of my comfort zone. A successful race would be well paced and hopefully get pulled along by some of these very fast women.”
The Tarawera Ultra-Trail is the second UTMB World Series event of 2025 and the top three female and male finishers in the TMiler, T102, and T50 will qualify directly for the 2026 UTMB World Series Finals in Chamonix, France.
