Tasmanian athlete Alex Hunt has become the first Australian to win New Zealand’s Coast to Coast Longest Day in over three decades.
The Tasmanian crossed the line 4 minutes ahead of defending champion Hamish Elliot with a time of 11 hours, 29 minutes and 20 seconds.
The Longest Day is a gruelling one-day challenge that takes competitors 243km across the South Island, from the west to the east coast.
33-year-old Hunt, who just missed out on the title last year by a mere three minutes, was determined to return in 2025 and claim victory.
“I’d told myself and my family that it was going to be the last one, but Maggie my partner was supportive and keen for me to go again,” he said prior to the event.
Overwhelmed with emotion at the finish line, Hunt called the experience “unbelievable”.
“As they say, to be the best you’ve got to beat the best,” he said.
“I still can’t believe it, I’m just in shock. It’s going to take a moment to sink in.”
Hunt trailed Elliot for much of the race and made his move half way into the 70km kayak stage on the Waimakariri River, emerging with a two minute lead going onto the final cycle leg.
The civil engineer from Hobart threw everything at it this year, relocating across the ditch last month to dedicate six weeks specifically to training on the course.
The last Australian to win the Coast to Coast was Melbourne’s John Jacoby in 1993 with a time of just over 11 hours.
Jacoby said Hunt’s win was incredibly well deserved.
“So good to see another Aussie win this famous race. It’s been a 32 year drought but he did it,” he said.
