Kea Series

A PICTURE OF CONCENTRATION: Kerry on her way to Mauao Queen of The Mountain success in 2024. Photo Credit Fay Smith / Athletics Tauranga

This Saturday former New Zealand Cross Country champion Kerry White turns her interest to the trails in a much-anticipated return to racing in The Goat at Mt Ruapehu as part of the Kea Mountain Series. A race which is notorious for being one of the most physically demanding and technical races in the country. Kerry says her background in Cross Country will help give her the speed and strength she needs for the trails and says that Cross Country: “requires a lot of mental toughness, which I’m sure I’ll need a lot for the Goat.”

In the space of just over a year so much has changed for the 31-year-old Tauranga local including becoming a parent to a baby boy with partner Eli, and returning to work at local Kiwifruit exporter Zespri. Kerry admits trying to juggle getting out running in the middle of it all has been a challenge, but given her dedication and track record few would count against her success. Kerry says: “Being time poor has forced me to be more efficient with my time and plan ahead better.” When asked what tips she had for new mums getting back into exercise and running, she said something that can be overlooked is the importance of hydrating and fuelling properly while breastfeeding given the additional calories you need and not overdoing training especially when you’re low on sleep. When it comes to running she said she’s learnt to enjoy doing what she can when she can, and that focusing on the fun aspects has ultimately made her a better runner. When looking for role models and advice, she has looked to inspiration from marathoners Camille French and Lisa Cross; two athletes who have achieved so much after having kids, and taking advice from top runner turned coach Angie Petty.

Saturday will not only be Kerry’s first attempt at The Goat, but it will mark the first race of the new Kea Series, a collection of 8 mountain races working together from around the country. The focus of the series is on bringing the best athletes in the sport together on the same start-lines, building athlete support, increasing the level of promotion for the discipline and giving athletes the chance to hone their skills locally before going into international competition. Organiser Michael Sutton said: “It’s exciting to have Kerry join a host of other women’s off-road stars who have committed to the Kea Series including Katie Morgan, Jessie Speedy, Maia Flint and Miriam Clark. I think they’ve been particularly drawn to focus of the series on athlete support, developing the next generation and building a community.” Mountain and Trail Running is already a major force internationally everywhere from the Andes of South America to the Alps of Europe with the most recent World championship event bringing together over 1,700 athletes from 80 countries and talk of Olympics inclusion on the horizon.

Although a relative trail running novice this is not Kerry’s first foray into the mountains as she won her home race The Mauao Queen of The Mountain in 2024, which will be part of this year’s Kea Series on Sunday April 19th, and came 3rd when Mauao hosted the New Zealand Mountain Championships in 2023. Although given she hails from the base of one of the North Island’s most daunting tracks Mt Te Aroha which rises 930m in just 3.8km, her aptitude for the mountains is perhaps unsurprising. Starting off as a Junior 800m runner, she became one of the nation’s top Cross Country runners with highlights including winning The New Zealand Senior Women’s Race in Dunedin in 2021 and representing New Zealand at the World Championships in Bathurst, Australia in 2023.

While we’ll watch Kerry’s results in the weekend with keen interest, it’s just great to see her back out there enjoying the sport and blazing her own path across the many different aspects of life.

For further information on the series visit kearun.nz or check @keaseries out on Instagram and Facebook