Jones won six consecutive Kepler titles from 2018 to 2023 to equal the men’s record set by Russell Hurring in the 1990s, but professional racing commitments overseas meant he was missing from the Lake Te Anau control gates start line in 2024.
A seventh win would move the new father past the benchmark he shares with Hurring and six-time women’s title winner Ruby Muir.
This year, Jones won the Tarawera 102km ultra trail event in a course record and finished fifth in the famous Western States 100 in California.
Defending champion Daniel Balchin, from Alexandra, will take some strong form into the race after winning the Rotorua marathon earlier this year and claiming his second Auckland marathon title recently.
The men’s field features several runners who might be curious to see how their legs rank against Jones and Balchin, including regular podium finisher David Haunschmidt, Gene Beveridge, Matt Gummar and Australian world championship mountain running representative John Winsbury.
Frances Redmond, who finished runner-up to Katie Morgan last year, will be one of the favourites in the women’s race, along with Annabelle Bramwell and Nikki Everton, who finished third at this year’s Old Ghost Ultra.
Kepler Challenge organising committee chairman Steve Norris said the event continued to enjoy the support of the running community.
"The Kepler is one of those bucket-list events for many people and we are looking forward to welcoming them to Te Anau this weekend."
Entries for the Fresh Choice-sponsored race around the Kepler Track in Fiordland National Park, which are limited to 450, sold out in 2min11sec in July, and a 350-strong wait list was capped less than half an hour later.
The mythical Fiordland moose will be a theme for this year’s race, featuring on the event T-shirt and finisher medals.
While moose are thought by many to have been extinct in this part of the world for the best part of 75 years, unconfirmed sightings of the elusive beast last summer sparked a new wave of interest in one of the area’s most enduring tales.
In the 27km Luxmore Grunt, both Penny Mouat and Jonathan Jackson have returned to defend their titles.
Jackson will be attempting a third straight, and fourth overall, Grunt win but will be challenged by the likes of Michael Sutton and Luke Wilson.
The Kepler Challenge gets under way from the Lake Te Anau Control Gates at 6am tomorrow and the Luxmore Grunt will start an hour later.
The men’s record is held by Martin Dent in a time of 4hr 33min 37sec, set in 2013.
The women’s record (5hr 23min 34sec) has been held by Zelah Morrall since 2003. — Allied Media
