Flying Kiwis Soar at the 2026 Backyard Ultra Satellite World Championships

New Zealand's Flying Kiwis delivered an outstanding team performance at the 2026 Backyard Ultra Satellite World Championships, setting a new national team record and producing some remarkable individual performances along the way. CurraNZ was proud to support the team as a sponsor, with numerous athletes also incorporating CurraNZ into their race preparation.

Held in Napier, the championships saw New Zealand's best backyard ultra runners take on some of the world's toughest endurance athletes in a unique international competition that tests physical endurance, mental resilience and the ability to keep going when fatigue sets in.

The backyard ultra format is deceptively simple. Competitors must complete a 6.7km loop (known as a 'yard') every hour, on the hour. Those who finish within the hour can rest, refuel and prepare for the next lap. Those who fail to complete a lap within the hour are eliminated. The event continues until only one runner remains.

Flying Kiwis Set a New Team Record

The Flying Kiwis completed an impressive 834 yards, placing New Zealand eighth overall. This surpassed the team's previous tally of 811 yards at the 2024 championships, when New Zealand finished sixth.

The international competition was fierce, with the USA taking the team title with 1,120 yards, followed by Australia with 1,069 and Belgium with 1,058. Australia may have gone further if they had had Phil Gore running but Phil was out of action this time.

Belgium also produced an extraordinary individual performance, with Ivo Steyaert and Merijn Geerts both completing 124 yards, setting a new world record for the most laps completed by an individual.

Standout Performances from the Kiwis

For New Zealand, Theo Atkinson and Sam Harvey were the final two runners standing, completing 76 and 77 yards respectively.

Theo's performance was particularly impressive, having entered the event with a previous personal best of just 30 yards. His 77-yard effort represented an extraordinary breakthrough in endurance, more than doubling his previous best.

Theo had been using CurraNZ for the first time in the months leading up to the championships and continued taking it throughout the event.

"I was taking CurraNZ before and during the event and I think it definitely gave me an edge. Alongside consistent fuelling my energy levels felt great throughout the run, and even towards the end I felt hungry and was getting food down easily. I think CurraNZ will definitely be in the quiver for my next events."

While an ultra-endurance performance of this magnitude reflects months of preparation, disciplined fuelling and considerable mental resilience, it was encouraging to hear Theo's positive experience with CurraNZ during such a demanding event.

Macee Latimer Raises the Bar Again

Another standout performance came from Macee Latimer, who smashed her own New Zealand women's backyard ultra record.

Having previously set the mark at 55 yards earlier in the year, Macee pushed that record out to an incredible 67 yards in Napier.

Like Theo, Macee had been incorporating CurraNZ into her routine in recent months, and it was fantastic to see her deliver such an outstanding performance on the international stage.

Proud to Support New Zealand's Endurance Athletes

Backyard ultra running demands an exceptional combination of physical conditioning, smart nutrition, recovery strategies and sheer determination. The ability to keep moving, hour after hour, often through multiple days and nights, makes this one of the most challenging formats in endurance sport.

At CurraNZ, we're passionate about supporting athletes who push their boundaries and explore what's possible in endurance performance.

We're proud to have sponsored the Flying Kiwis and congratulate the entire New Zealand team on their record-breaking 834-yard effort. Special congratulations to Theo, Sam and Macee on their remarkable individual achievements.

Well done, Flying Kiwis — you've raised the bar for New Zealand backyard ultra running!