Val does it again

Post date: Apr 10, 2012 9:31:54 PM

Age is no barrier to Otago long distance runner Val Muskett as for the 11th time she has been selected to represent her adopted New Zealand.

The diminutive 58-year-old will proudly wear her beloved silver fern at the World 24 Hour championships in Katowice, Poland. She will be accompanied by two younger teammates Vivian Cheng (Wellington) and Amy Campbell (Auckland) in the women’s team and the Commonwealth bronze medal winning men’s team of Bryan McCorkindale (Christchurch), Wayne Botha (Auckland) and Alex McKenzie (NZ Army) are joined by Graeme Butcher (Masterton) and Brendon Keenan (Christchurch).

Both teams will be managed by Val’s husband John.

With ultra running not yet an Olympic sport the World Championships are the ultimate prize in the sport.

It is the first time New Zealand has sent two teams to the World 24 Hour Championships and the teams are hopeful that thIS will kick-start a resurgence in ultra running in New Zealand.

 Members of the team will use the New Zealand 100km championships to be held in Hagley Park, Christchurch in May to fine-tune their fitness for September’s world event. Val will be defending her New Zealand title but her main goal is to help the women’s team make their mark among the world’s elite in Poland.