Whakatāne’s Daniel Jones made history with a record-breaking seventh Fresh Choice Kepler Challenge mountain running title in Te Anau last weekend.

It’s an event Jones enjoys and relished the opportunity to return this year after overseas commitments kept him away in 2024.

The professional ultra runner was a comfortable men’s winner in the 60-kilometre loop of the Kepler Track, finishing in 4 hours 42 minutes, and, in the process, striding past the mark he had shared with fellow six-time winners, Ruby Muir and Russell Hurring.

Auckland’s Frances Redmond, who finished runner-up last year, won the women’s race in 5hr 59min.

Jones was met on the Lake Te Anau control gate finish line by partner Michelle and 11-week-old son Hudson to celebrate the special moment.

“I saw them at Rainbow Reach (10km to go) and I really wanted to give Huddy a hug, but I just burned on through. It’s Huddy’s first time to see a race finish and I was really happy to make it a win,” Jones said.

“To get that seventh title means a lot because you come back here year after year and it’s kind of grown into this big family, community thing for me, and now my family and I really hope to continue the tradition. We’d love to be back, and I’d love for Hudson to keep experiencing this.”

Jones was challenged during the first half of the race by Frenchman Quinton Succo (4.58), who is on a year-long working holiday in New Zealand.

“I didn’t know who he was and got chatting. He knew one of my teammates and he laid down a bit of

an assault.

“We battled a bit and I managed to pull away in the valley.”

The pair exchanged introductions on the climb up to Luxmore Hut and then battled it out across the upper heights of the track before Jones pulled away over the second half of the race.

Defending champion Daniel Balchin (5.06) finished in third place, 24 minutes behind Jones.