BACK ON TRACK FOR ULTRA EVENTS WITH 24HR INVITATIONAL AROUND THE CORNER

Kate Dzienis • June 29, 2020

By Kate Dzienis

The time is almost here.

The first official race of the new 2020 ultra season on the AURA calendar following the easing of restrictions after this year’s COVID-19 pandemic.

On the weekend of July 25, the Canberra-based Australian 24 Hour Track Invitational will kick off with a stellar participation line up of ultra runners (who are also AURA members) including Kevin Muller, Tia Jones, Stephen Redfern, John Yoon, Daragh O’Loughlin, Nikki Wynd, Kerrie Bremner and Luca Turrini just to name a few.

Race director Matthew Eckford, who is also the newly appointed vice president for AURA, has an incredible amount of 24hr race experience and knows the ins-and-outs of what it takes to make such a race successful.

He said his biggest concern was ensuring the event was held to near-perfect conditions.

“There aren’t too many races out there that are in cold conditions for the duration of the event,” he said.

“Many of them see cooler weather at night and then hot temperatures during the day.

“I’m elated that the Australian 24 Hour Track Invitational will be held in the middle of a Canberra winter with participants almost always enjoying the colder weather so they can race in ideal conditions.”

Invited runner Nikki Wynd from Lysterfield, Victoria has a significant background when it comes to 24-hour events, proudly having represented Australia at the 2019 IAU 24hr World Championships in Albi, France; the 2018 IAU 24hr Asia and Oceania Championships in Chinese Taipei; the 2017 World 24hr Championships in Belfast, Northern Ireland; and the 2016 Asia-Oceania 24hr Championships in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

She said she was looking forward to getting back into official events, and that training was on track.

“My training has been awesome; I’ve been working from home since the beginning of April, so have been able to fit work in around training instead of the other way around,” she said.

“Plus with my son having no sporting commitments himself, I’ve had more time. I usually just squeeze training in around everything else.

“I haven’t really changed anything in terms of training, but I’ve been more consistent day in, day out since April; I love training so have made an effort to get out every day, sometimes twice a day.”

Wynd’s goal this time at the Invitational will be about staying on the track for 24 hours, keeping warm by moving, and seeing how she felt on the day to decide on a goal distance.

The Australian 24 Hour Track Invitational will be held from Saturday, July 25 to Sunday, July 26 at the AIS Track & Field Facility in Belconnen, ACT.

A live feed will be available via the event’s Facebook page.

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AUTRA News Report 11-09-2025

By Kate Dzienis • September 11, 2025

Run The River Half, Qld Murphys Creek Challenge, Qld Lighthorse Ultra, WA Kunanyi Trail Series, Rialannah, Tas Upcoming Events WEEKLY NEWS REPORT FOR 12-09-2025 As always, we're continuously on the hunt for your stories and reports, so get those race reports and photographs in to ultramag@autra.asn.au with the following information: Word document, single spaced Include the name of the event, the date and the location anywhere in the report (just a bullet point at the top is great) Please attach photographs to the email – do not put images in the body of your Word doc. You’ll just get me emailing you back asking for the photos sent in the correct way! As many photos as possible. With our new website, it’s now easier than ever to include a nice gallery in each race report No PDFs please And remember, it doesn’t have to be about an AUTRA-listed event specifically! You just have to be an AUTRA member for the 2025 year. Also too, if you’ve run in a non-AUTRA listed event anywhere on home soil or internationally, we’d love to include your race results and experience in our Member Updates, so please do reach out to us via email to kate.dzienis@autra.asn.au If any corrections need to be made in any of the results listed below, please alert me via email.

Team Manager 2025 IAU Asian and Oceania 100K Championships

By Gary Mullins • September 8, 2025

Location : Bangkok, Thailand Dates : November 21 - 24 2025 Role Type : Volunteer Position Time Commitment : Pre event planning + Travel Application Deadline : 17th September 2025 Thank you for your interest in supporting the Australian team for the 2025 IAU Asian 100k Championships. This role goes far beyond logistics. It’s about leadership, inclusion, and creating a positive, empowering environment for athletes competing on the world stage. AUTRA is committed to opening doors for those outside traditional pathways. We strongly encourage applications from coaches, former athletes, club leaders, volunteers, and passionate community members. You don’t need to have served on a board or managed a team before as we’re looking for people who genuinely care, are highly organised, and can proudly represent our athletes and country. Role Overview As Team Manager, you’ll work closely with AUTRA President Gary Mullins and Vice President Geoff Russell to prepare and support the national team before and during the championship. Pre-Departure Australia Act as the main contact for selected athletes and crew Assist with final entry forms and travel planning Prepare a Championships Agenda in alliance with the Team Managers Agreement Document Coordinate flights, uniforms, and team communications Help identify and organise crew support Attend online team planning meetings On the Ground in Thailand Be present and ready as athletes arrive Ensure all athlete needs are met so they can focus fully on their race Attend all technical meetings and represent the team professionally Coordinate team attendance at the opening and closing ceremonies Ensure the team and crew are prepared, organised, and calm Address any issues that arise with efficiency and discretion Provide hands on leadership and moral support throughout the race Support Provided Accommodation in Bangkok for 3 - 4 nights will be provided by AUTRA An official team uniform will be supplied A volunteer allowance of $1500 will be provided to acknowledge your time and service during the championship period. What You’ll Need Excellent communication and interpersonal skills Strong organisational ability under pressure A calm, inclusive, and athlete first mindset Commitment to AUTRA’s Code of Conduct Member of AUTRA Applying To apply for the role of Team Manager please CLICK HERE and fill out the Application Form. Applications Close at 5pm 17th September 2025. Selection Process Following the application deadline, the AUTRA Committee will review all submissions and select the most suitable candidate. All applicants will be contacted by Gary Mullins within 7 days of applications closing. Gary Mullins AUTRA President