Team Manager Report: 2023 IAU 24hr World Championships in Taiwan

Matthew Eckford • December 21, 2023

AURA VP MATTHEW ECKFORD RECAPS HIS MEMORIES AND HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2023 IAU 24HR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN TAIWAN

I volunteered to be the Aussie 24hr Team Manager at the IAU 24hr World Championships in Taiwan recently (1 December) for a number of reasons.

Several team members had qualified at the 24hr race I host in Australia and I wanted to support them further at the World Champs. I’m the local organising committee for the IAU Asia & Oceania 24hr Championships in Australia for 2024 and so wanted to bring my event manager along to these World Champs to assess everything and ensure we are well prepared for next year.

I’ve raced 24hr in Taiwan three times before and knew I could offer the team some valuable local knowledge. I retired from running in 2021 and miss the Aussie 24hr team experience. I had several goals as Team Manager:

1. Make the World Champs as stress free as possible for all runners and their crew so they could put all of their energy into the race.
2. Ensure we, as a team, were well organised, over prepared and able to deliver our best on the day.
3. Focus on team culture, comradery and the Aussie spirit.
4. Make the whole World Champs experience, not just the race itself, a magic memory for all of team.

All of the runners’ race reports since give a great recap of the event, results and their race experiences so I don’t feel the need to cover them again as well. I would like to share my magic moments though from each of the team members and what will stick with me.

Summarised in no particular order - a reenergised Matt Griggs pushing for the team result, Chrissy Redwood staying to crew and support the team after injury ended her race, Kev Muller grinding to set the example as Men’s Captain, Allicia Heron wiping tears from her face from injury pain to continue leading as Female Captain, Cassie Cohen in the medical tent on an IV after giving it everything and collapsing at the end of race, Jenny White hitting a new 24hr PB and literally smiling the whole race, Maree Connor breaking an Australian Age Group Record that has stood for 8 years, John Yoon showing once again just how smart he is when it comes to pacing, Grant Brisbin smashing a new PB and running with pure focus, Joe Ward running until his legs no longer could and then collapsing, Sharene Blake with a massive PB and running with pure gratitude, and finally Michael Hooker rolling the dice and being a wind break for Aleksandr Sorokin.

Thank you to the six official crew members and several unofficials who helped tirelessly in the crew tent and who contributed immeasurably to the success of the team. Thank you to AURA for allowing me to volunteer as Team Manager and thank you to each of the runners for being such great Aussie ambassadors. It was a privilege to witness so many magic moments and displays of Aussie spirit. Our team’s performance, comradery and conduct didn’t go unnoticed and it’s the envy to many others I’m sure.

I can’t wait until April 2024 where we get to do it all again, but this time on home soil.

Matthew Eckford
AURA Vice President since 2020

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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