Runners from across the New England region are set to feature prominently at the 16th annual Washpool World Heritage Trails in Washpool National Park on March 21–22.
The event, hosted by Coffs Trail Runners, attracts competitors from across NSW and Queensland, but the rugged rainforest trails on the edge of the Northern Tablelands have long drawn strong participation from Armidale and the wider New England running community.
Local runners are expected to play a major role in the flagship 50km ultra. Armidale athletes Trent Irwin and Nathan Hewitt, both previous runners-up, will line up alongside three-time champion David Waugh as the region looks to challenge a strong contingent from the coast.
Among those leading the Coffs Harbour challenge are course record holder Dan Stein, 2023 champion Tait Hearps and defending winner Benjamin Lambert, continuing the friendly but fiercely contested tablelands-versus-coast rivalry that has become part of Washpool folklore.
The women’s 50km ultra will also feature a competitive field, with runners travelling from across the region and beyond including Teagan Porter from Queensland, Clem Eaton from Grafton and Ray Firth from the Central Coast, while Emma Packer will represent Coffs Harbour.
Across the weekend, runners will tackle 50km, 25km and 9km courses winding through World Heritage-listed rainforest, granite outcrops and rugged trails in Washpool National Park.
The 25km event will feature men’s record holder Kayden Elliott, while Meg Dougherty, Annabelle Swainston and Olivia Hulbert are among the leading contenders in the women’s field. The 9km event offers a shorter and more accessible option for newcomers and those looking for a faster run.
While the elite match-ups will draw attention, organisers say Washpool’s true strength lies in its community spirit.
“Volunteers staff remote checkpoints, families camp together under the rainforest canopy and runners of all abilities encourage each other through the toughest climbs.” said organisers.
Now in its 16th year, the Washpool World Heritage Trails continues to showcase both the spectacular landscape of Washpool National Park and the strong trail running community that brings athletes back year after year.
More information: https://coffstrailrunners.com/.
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