Methven residents are rejoicing after some of their own achieved top team and individual performances at this year’s Kathmandu Coast to Coast last weekend.
Hannah Lund, 30, a veterinarian, who has lived in Methven for the past two years, produced a spectacular result, coming second in the elite women’s longest day event.
Lund has been competing in the Coast to Coast for six years. She said she was proud of her achievements this year, completing the race in a staggering 12 hours and 51 minutes. “I’m really happy with the day. There’s always room for improvement, but I think I’m going to be content for a while yet,” Lund said.
Another Methven resident, agricultural technical specialist Sonja Vreugdenhil, 28, won the two-day female individual event, with a completion time of 13 hours 49 minutes. “I exceeded my wildest expectations and goals,” Vreugdenhil said.
Methven-based competitors Emma Murray and Lindy Millar were crowned champions in the two-day two-person female team event. Mount Hutt College teachers Tom Brazier, Todd Houston and Jarrod Coutts placed second with a time of 12 hours 9 minutes in the two-day three-person open men’s event, while student Sarah Reeve was in a team placing second in the open mixed three-person team event.
The college’s outdoor education teacher Jarrod Coutts said everyone performed above their personal expectations.
“A podium finish is something we have all been working towards, and we are delighted to have achieved this,’’ Coutts said.
“We are also really proud of the student’s achievements, and we are looking forward to more progression in future Methven athletes,” he said.
The students are following in the footsteps of alumni Braden Currie, a former Coast to Coast champ and top international multisport athlete. His brother and former Mount Hutt College teacher Glen Currie is at the helm of the premier multisport event as its race director.
Altogether this has been yet another impressive year for the Methven contingent, and the town is punching above its weight against contenders from across the whole of New Zealand.
Fantastic results also came from multisport athletes in the wider Mid Canterbury area. Top results included: Michael Pearce and Allan Broomhall, part of a team in the threeperson one-day team event, placed second; Matt Ward placed third in the one-day male 40 to 49 age group; Ricky Brown was second in the twoday male 40 to 49 age group.
