What drives this elite Chch athlete to take on the Coast to Coast?

Fiona Dowling. Photo: Torpedo 7

A Christchurch-based elite athlete is aiming to come out on top at the 38th Kathmandu Coast to Coast next month after spending much of the year recovering from injury.

Fiona Dowling produced a strong second half last year to finish in third, just 2min behind Elina Ussher. She will return for the 2020 edition of the race - and is looking to climb further up the podium.

"I’ve had a lingering knee injury over the winter and spring, which has required a bit of rest. But for me, it’s always just about improving the parts that I can," Dowling said.

"The race field is quite deep again this year, so I’m just going to try and have a good day out for me, so whatever the result I just want a performance I can be happy with for me.”

There will be a raft of motivating factors driving some of the other women in the elite Coast to Coast field.

Simone Maier. Photo: Kathmandu Coast to Coast

Wanaka’s Simone Maier returns to defend the title she won in 2019, when she crossed the finish line in 12hr 56min 36 sec - 11min ahead of Ussher, of Nelson, who will line up for her 15th consecutive Longest Day event.

“I can’t wait, I’m excited,” said Maier.

"I guess this time will be a little different, though, given everyone knows what I’m capable of now.

"But I definitely want to win, and I’ve been making some improvements in some areas like the kayak, so hopefully I can bring it all together.”

If Ussher, who first raced in the Coast to Coast in 2006, claims the 2020 title, she would equal Kathy Lynch’s record of five women’s titles. Her husband Richard also claimed five men’s titles between 2005 and 2012.

"These days it’s a personal challenge for me, it’s not about anybody else or how many titles, I just want to race to the best that I can,” said Ussher.

"I really enjoy coming back, there’s no other races like it and it motivates you to train and prepare yourself over the summer, so that’s what I really like about the race."

Emily Wilson will return to the Kathmandu Coast to Coast for the first time in six years.

She has stacked up a list of accolades of late, including creating history alongside Maier last year by becoming the first evenly mixed gender team to win the GodZone Adventure Race. She is seen as a potential top five finisher in the elite women’s field.

"I’m competing for my own mental challenge and for unfinished business," said Wilson.

"To break past my own perceived barriers around how I see myself and what my potential could be.

"I’m excited to get more out of myself and as Hamish Carter so simply put it, ‘just do it, be great’,” Wilson said.

Race director Glen Currie said not to count out the likes of Corrine O’Donnell and is also looking forward to seeing what Sweden’s Marie Krysander can produce.

"Corrine is always a contender, and it’ll be really cool to see how the likes of Alisa Rollinson and Emily Wilson go this time around.

"Living abroad, we don’t know too much about Marie, but from all the research I’ve been able to do, I’m really excited to see how she manages the New Zealand terrain."

"But, like it so often is, the women’s elite level looks extremely competitive so I can’t wait to see how it all plays out."

Three other international athletes will also make their debut in the elite women’s longest day field with Australia's Cass Kimlin and Amie Munson, as well as Zoe Van Mil from the UAE, taking on the 243km course for the first time.

The Kathmandu Coast to Coast on February 7-8 starts on the West Coast at Kumara Beach and traverses the width of the South Island, crossing the main divide and finishing on the East Coast at New Brighton Beach.

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