UTMB 2025 – Australian Entrants & Interviews

What Australian’s are running in UTMB in 2025?!

Every year UTMB rolls around and there’s always a mad rush to try and figure out who exactly is racing, and especially which Australian’s are racing! In our blog earlier this week we covered all the elite fields for each event, but today we’re focusing on Australia.

Who is running, and in which distance.

We’ve also been lucky enough to get some insights on the training and backstories of some of the entrants!

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Complete Lists of Aussie Entrants at UTMB 2025

• UTMB Aussie Entrants
• CCC Aussie Entrants
• OCC Aussie Entrants
• TDS Aussie Entrants
• PTL Aussie Entrants
• YCC Aussie Entrants
• MCC Aussie Entrants

Interviews

Lucy Bartholomew
Michael Dunstan
Nathan Pearce
Matthew Dunn
Kellie Angel
Matty Abel
Etienne-Blumstein-Jones
Chris Kane
Owen Lancelot
Nigel Hill

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UTMB Aussie Entrants

Michael Dunstan – UTMBIndex: 828 – Interview here

Nigel Hill – UTMBIndex: 765 – Interview here

Matthew Dunn – UTMBIndex: 756 – Interview here

Chris Lenkic – UTMBIndex: 756

Max Daube – UTMBIndex: 748

Luke Nichols – UTMBIndex: 742

Lucy Bartholomew – UTMBIndex: 706 – Interview here

Emily Brunt – UTMBIndex: 693

Robbie Nichols – UTMBIndex: 665

Chantelle Smith – UTMBIndex: 639

Justin Montgomery – UTMBIndex: 634

Robert Herzfeld – UTMBIndex: 626

James Lennon – UTMBIndex: 612

Ewan Horsburgh – UTMBIndex: 610

Connor Farnell – UTMBIndex: 606

Amelia Kerr – UTMBIndex: 604

Olivia Hulbert – UTMBIndex: 598

Isaac Hogan – UTMBIndex: 579

Hao Zhang – UTMBIndex: 571

Grace Wellington – UTMBIndex: 563

Tom Farnell – UTMBIndex: 552

William Dixon – UTMBIndex: 547

Matthew Wood – UTMBIndex: 537

Amber Wood – UTMBIndex: 534

Sunny Manon – UTMBIndex: 530

Alex King – UTMBIndex: 527

Jeff Bennett – UTMBIndex: 526

Carlos Barca – UTMBIndex: 517

Jason Craig – UTMBIndex: 512

Ryan Trestrail – UTMBIndex: 510

Julie Gibson – UTMBIndex: 509

Guangchang Liang – UTMBIndex: 502

Greg Thomson – UTMBIndex: 498

Craig Blacker – UTMBIndex: 497

Katherine Lyon – UTMBIndex: 495

Florian Guillemard – UTMBIndex: 492

Xiaoan Weng – UTMBIndex: 477

David Tickell – UTMBIndex: 477

Nina Sweaney – UTMBIndex: 476

Joshua Serov – UTMBIndex: 476

Robert Naylor – UTMBIndex: 473

Salliann Powell – UTMBIndex: 464

Liam Shalders – UTMBIndex: 457

Ali Payne – UTMBIndex: 453

Michael James – UTMBIndex: 448

Stephen Clark – UTMBIndex: 444

Jonathan Ennis-King – UTMBIndex: 437

Nicki Thomas – UTMBIndex: 436

Jordan Whittington – UTMBIndex: 433

Mark Storey – UTMBIndex: 416

Michael Smith – UTMBIndex: 416

Adam Szlicht – UTMBIndex: 415

Donna Jiang – UTMBIndex: 402

Alec Campbell – UTMBIndex: 401

Dainen Pearce – UTMBIndex: 383

John Joass – UTMBIndex: 376

Mikaela Barca – UTMBIndex: 362

Alex Roland – UTMBIndex: n/a

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CCC Aussie Entrants

Joshua Chugg – UTMBIndex: 768

Matt Gore – UTMBIndex: 757

Bastien Missud – UTMBIndex: 742

Paddy Trihey – UTMBIndex: 707

Simone Brick – UTMBIndex: 704

Rory Sutherland – UTMBIndex: 701

Andrew Lennon – UTMBIndex: 675

Nicole Paton – UTMBIndex: 656

Adam Clarke – UTMBIndex: 646

Jacob Gome – UTMBIndex: 635

Jake Nowicki – UTMBIndex: 602

Caio Peculis – UTMBIndex: 600

Anne-Marie Cook – UTMBIndex: 597

Stewart Carter – UTMBIndex: 586

Karis Brown – UTMBIndex: 575

Michael Baker – UTMBIndex: 571

Ian Ridoutt – UTMBIndex: 569

Gerard Estivill Mercade – UTMBIndex: 547

Ross Thursby – UTMBIndex: 535

Mike Thomas – UTMBIndex: 529

Jamie Sangster – UTMBIndex: 524

Michael Sullivan – UTMBIndex: 515

Lienca Nell – UTMBIndex: 504

James Rigney – UTMBIndex: 502

Jane Hume – UTMBIndex: 490

Fergus Carney – UTMBIndex: 481

Rod Hill – UTMBIndex: 468

Lisa Ivers – UTMBIndex: 467

Alan Ngo – UTMBIndex: 459

Hui Harvey – UTMBIndex: 456

Shayne Halls – UTMBIndex: 455

Anthony Yao – UTMBIndex: 455

Tracy Abdipranoto – UTMBIndex: 451

Adriana Carolina Laurel Medina – UTMBIndex: 449

Hannah Mcinnes – UTMBIndex: 444

Marcus Angwin – UTMBIndex: 441

Jennifer Sullivan – UTMBIndex: 427

Kelly Roberts – UTMBIndex: 394

Richard Gibson – UTMBIndex: 282

Silvia Gross – UTMBIndex: n/a

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OCC Aussie Entrants

Tait Hearps – UTMBIndex: 825

Tom Driscoll – UTMBIndex: 779

Kellie Angel – UTMBIndex: 699 – Interview here

Madison Reynolds – UTMBIndex: 687

Douglas Price – UTMBIndex: 663

Emma O Sullivan – UTMBIndex: 651

Andrew Clarkson – UTMBIndex: 622

Kerri Clayden – UTMBIndex: 577

Mark Mathieson – UTMBIndex: 557

Natasha Pertwee – UTMBIndex: 534

Amanda Richmond – UTMBIndex: 522

Gareth Hicks – UTMBIndex: 517

Jacqui Morrow – UTMBIndex: 508

Steven Coughlan – UTMBIndex: 505

Jun Huang – UTMBIndex: 478

Jessica Pollard – UTMBIndex: 459

Lifen Yang – UTMBIndex: 445

Natalie Gow – UTMBIndex: 443

Dougal Walker – UTMBIndex: 433

Mike Toby – UTMBIndex: 410

Stephen Moon – UTMBIndex: 402

Colin Hercus – UTMBIndex: 369

David Little – UTMBIndex: 328

Michael Brewer – UTMBIndex: 293

Armando Lecaros – UTMBIndex: 275

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TDS Aussie Entrants

Morgan Pilley – UTMBIndex: 763

Majell Backhausen – UTMBIndex: 742

Michael Lough – UTMBIndex: 731

Julian Schulz – UTMBIndex: 714

Matty Abel – UTMBIndex: 706 – Interview here

Mark Reid – UTMBIndex: 672

Craig Sherritt – UTMBIndex: 631

Warren Proctor – UTMBIndex: 630

Chris Kane – UTMBIndex: 625 – Interview here

Jarrod Mitchell – UTMBIndex: 613

John Walsh – UTMBIndex: 598

Tony Phillips – UTMBIndex: 598

Jalna Clair – UTMBIndex: 567

James Brennan – UTMBIndex: 567

Alex Treglown – UTMBIndex: 561

Fiona Castle – UTMBIndex: 556

Casey Barrett – UTMBIndex: 519

Hoa Banh – UTMBIndex: 495

Salvatore Febbo – UTMBIndex: 485

David Bennie – UTMBIndex: 481

Jonathan Acosta – UTMBIndex: 471

Leanne Mclauchlan – UTMBIndex: 469

Ron Bester – UTMBIndex: 462

Michael Entwistle – UTMBIndex: 456

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PTL Aussie Entrants

Kirra Balmanno – UTMBIndex: 540

Amelia Young – UTMBIndex: n/a (3rd place previously)

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YCC Aussie Entrants

Fergus Jackson – UTMBIndex: 610

Jules Fredonnet – UTMBIndex: n/a

Elea Ormiston – UTMBIndex: n/a

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MCC Aussie Entrants

Owen Lancelot – UTMBIndex: 486 – Interview here

Mick Marshall – UTMBIndex: 291

Glenn Blackwood – UTMBIndex: n/a

Jaymie Clinton – UTMBIndex: n/a

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ETC Aussie Entrants

Nathan Pearce – UTMBIndex: 822 – Interview here

Henry Hugman – UTMBIndex: 765

Etienne Blumstein-Jones – UTMBIndex: 741 – Interview here

Jessica Short – UTMBIndex: 618

Jeremy Lloyd – UTMBIndex: 488

Victoria Boyd – UTMBIndex: 476

Amy Hiller – UTMBIndex: 424

Karen Ridoutt – UTMBIndex: 370

Sophie Lim – UTMBIndex: n/a

Maeli Ormiston – UTMBIndex: n/a

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Interviews

Lucy Bartholomew Interview – UTMBIndex: 706

Which event are you doing? UTMB
What is your bib number? TBD
What is your Instagram handle? Instagram
What is the link to your Strava? Strava
What race(s) did you do to qualify? Ultra-Trail Australia 100km
What first drew you to UTMB? My dad ran it in 2014 and I loved the atmosphere
Is this your first time doing an event at UTMB? YCC 2016, TDS 2017, OCC 2018, UTMB 2023/2024
Tell us about your training and preparation. A block in the Aussie winter and a block in the Euro summer. Spending the last part with the Salomon international team- things feel good
What is your shoe of choice for race day? Salomon S/lab Genesis
What is your nutrition of choice for race day? Mixture of stuff from The Feed.

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Michael Dunstan Interview – UTMBIndex: 828

Which event are you doing? UTMB
What is your bib number? 97
What is your Instagram handle? Instagram
What is the link to your Strava? Strava
What race(s) did you do to qualify? UltraTrail Snowdonia 100mile
What first drew you to UTMB? Getting to soak up the action via the livestream each from home in Australia. I loved following people that inspired me, and watching the ups and downs of the race, it’s just an insane loop!
Is this your first time doing an event at UTMB? Yes! I’m most excited/dreaming about the feeling of coming through town after (hopefully) completing the whole loop. I think it’s the moment where the whole journey of training and the race really sinks in and it’s powerful to experience. And getting to see loved ones after doing something so hard, is always bittersweet.
Tell us about your training and preparation. The main block has seen many weeks in the 15-29hr range, a mixture of running and cycling when back home and since being in Europe solely running. My peak week was 29hrs, 225km with 13200m, at altitude in Tignes in France. It was hot and challenging! All weeks have had two solid strength sessions. This has felt so important. At home I did some hypoxic training to try get me a little more prepared for training at altitude in Tignes. Living in the Blue Mountains and having access to really solid terrain the last few years has arguably been more important than just this ‘last block’. Stoked with the training block, it’s been a valuable experience and journey, but I am also aware it doesn’t guarantee anything for race day!
What is your shoe of choice for race day? La Sportiva Prodigio Pro
What is your nutrition of choice for race day? Tailwind High Carb, Tailwind Endurance Fuel, Naak Bars, 226ers bars

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Nathan Pearce Interview – UTMBIndex: 822

Which event are you doing? ETC
What is your bib number? 13039
What is your Instagram handle? Instagram
What is the link to your Strava? Strava
What race(s) did you do to qualify? Ultra-Trail Australia 22km
What first drew you to UTMB? The competitive nature and the size of the whole week.
Is this your first time doing an event at UTMB? Yes this will be, most excited to be amongst the Mountains of the alps and the atmosphere.
Tell us about your training and preparation. I have been focusing on getting as much vert as I can each week, which can be hard living in the city of Melbourne. So treadmill sessions at 15% grade are a must. I have also been focusing on getting my ground speed up with training intervals like 8 x 1km. Overall I try get 100-110km a week, with 2,500m of elevation. Preparation has been good with up to 3 months of consistency and fitness increasing week by week.
What is your shoe of choice for race day? On CloudUltra Pro, this shoe is a game changer!
What is your nutrition of choice for race day? Skratch, with a blend of their Hydration mix and their High Carb mix.
Anything else we should know?! I will be representing Australia at the end of this trip at the World Mountain & Trail Running Championships in Canfranc, Spain in both Mountain disciplines; the Uphill and Classic.

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Matthew Dunn Interview – UTMBIndex: 756

Which event are you doing? UTMB
What is your bib number? 303
What is your Instagram handle? Instagram
What is the link to your Strava? Strava
What race(s) did you do to qualify? Tarawera 100mile
Is this your first time doing an event at UTMB? I did it in 2023. It was a horrible experience as far as I felt, this race has the ability to crush souls. The atmosphere there though was like nothing else I’ve experienced.
What first drew you to UTMB? The thought of running through 3 countries in one push
Tell us about your training and preparation. Living in Chamonix doing bulk vert with poles, getting on the course as much as possible.
What is your shoe of choice for race day? North Face vectiv pro 3s
What is your nutrition of choice for race day? Precision hydration and fuel+
Anything else we should know?! I have a pug named Frank, he’s my life.

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Kellie Angel Interview – UTMBIndex: 699

Which event are you doing? OCC
What is your bib number? TBC
What is your Instagram handle? Instagram
What race(s) did you do to qualify? Western States
Is this your first time doing an event at UTMB?
2014- OCC 13th F, first international race.
2017- UTMB 5th F, the race of my life!
2018- TDS 11th F
2019- UTMB 19th, terrible race
2023- CCC 17th, gut issues
It’s a lot of fun and a great challenge!
What first drew you to UTMB? It was the pinnacle of trail running! My husband brought me along in 2014- he ran UTMB and I ran OCC, my first ever international race.
Tell us about your training and preparation. Big block at home post UTA miler. Training with team Hoka in France for 2 weeks. Now in Canfranc for World Champs recon.
What is your shoe of choice for race day? Hoka Mafate 5 👌
What is your nutrition of choice for race day? Precision Fuel & Hydration.
Anything else we should know?! Go Aussies!

Matty Abel Interview – UTMBIndex: 706

Which event are you doing? TDS
What is your bib number? 8211
What is your Instagram handle? Instagram
What is the link to your Strava? Strava
What race(s) did you do to qualify? Kosci100
What first drew you to UTMB? Lifelong dream
Tell us about your training and preparation. A roller coaster, rolled right ankle (TWICE) and then strained left calf.
What is your shoe of choice for race day? Salomon S/Lab Ultra
What is your nutrition of choice for race day? Precision Hydration & Fuel

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Etienne Blumstein-Jones Interview – UTMBIndex: 741

Which event are you doing? ETC
What is your bib number? TDB
What is your Instagram handle? Instagram
What is the link to your Strava? Strava
What first drew you to UTMB? The beauty of the Mont Blanc massif and just how cool the event is.
Is this your first time doing an event at UTMB? I was supposed to race ETC last year but I had so much pain in my ankles that after doing a recon of the course 3 days before ETC, I couldn’t race. So really looking forward to racing it this after getting over all my niggles.
Tell us about your training and preparation. It’s been a very long process to get over my niggles so I haven’t been able to do exactly what I would have liked to have done by this point. I had to progressively reintroduce vert so I’ve only managed to do over 3000m a week since April because it was irritating my ankles. I’ve only just managed to start getting out to the Brindabellas this last month (the mountain range in the ACT). Usually a week would consist of three sessions, a midweek long run and a long run. More or less two weeks with bigger volume then dropping the volume for a week. Last week and this week are what I would have liked to have done more of to build for ETC so 150 to 160km of running with over 4000m of vert as well as some cycling indoors and outdoors because I enjoy it and for heat training. Last week I was in the Brindabellas twice and am planning to do the same this week. As well as do one last parkrun before heading to Europe next week.
What is your shoe of choice for race day? Nike Ultrafly
What is your nutrition of choice for race day? A combo of Pure and Enervit gels
Anything else we should know?! As well as looking forward to racing ETC, I’m also looking forward to eating at one of my favourite restaurant in the world in Aosta called Bataclan after the race. It has some the best pizza I’ve ever had and amazing wine!

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Chris Kane Interview – UTMBIndex: 625

Which event are you doing? TDS
What is your bib number? 8495
What is your Instagram handle? Instagram
What race(s) did you do to qualify? Kosci100
What first drew you to UTMB? Pretty much from the first year I started trail running I was drawn in by the beauty of the Alps, and the grandeur of UTMB. I never really dreamed I’d ever make it over, but thankfully a supportive wife and the promise of a holiday in Europe (who could say no to that! 😜) I’m back for my third trip. The atmosphere in Chamonix is electric on race week and I’m so humbled and excited to be part of it again this year.
Is this your first time doing an event at UTMB? It’s my third trip. I did Ccc in 2022, tds in 2024 (dnf) Each time I learn a little more and get my butt kicked each time!
Tell us about your training and preparation. This year off the back of a poorly executed run last year I’ve reconsidered my training. In Brisbane we have access to some decent hills but nothing that compares to TDS. To try and combat that, I’ve been doing lots more strength sessions, heat training and not being so focused on volume, more on quality efforts with big vert mixed with uphill treadmill and speed work.
What is your shoe of choice for race day? On cloudultra pro. Best shoe I’ve owned. I really really like it!
What is your nutrition of choice for race day? I make my own gels and hydration mix, so that will form the backbone of my plan. The bullion with noodles or rice is amazing later in the race and through the night, so I’ll be trying to get a bit of that in too (amongst the odd vomit… 😬)
Anything else we should know?! I’m really excited to see the depth of amazing Australian runners across all events this year!

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Owen Lancelot Interview – UTMBIndex: 486

Which event are you doing? MCC
What is your bib number? 11449
What is your Instagram handle? Instagram
What is the link to your Strava? Strava
What race(s) did you do to qualify? Buffalo Stampede Sky Marathon Ultra Trail Australia 100km
What first drew you to UTMB? Being born in france and moving to australia when I was 7 years old, i have always been drawn to getting back there and racing in what I believe to be the most beautiful place in the world. The energy looks infectious, the trails look wild and beautiful, the food is going to be amazing, I’m going to be surrounded by the greats of trail running, I can’t wait!
Is this your first time doing an event at UTMB? Yes it is! I’m most excited about the energy. The videos I have seen already set the scene to be a spectacular week all round, but I know that it doesn’t do it any justice until you’re there. The screams ‘Allez’, the cowbells, the echos throughout the mountain ranges. What more could you ask for!
Tell us about your training and preparation. My training and preparation are very specific. As I have an ileostomy bag and no colon, I have had to dial my nutrition and hydration vigourously. I do not absorb nearly as much fluid so I have had to run with 4L of hydration most runs getting me used to having a heavier pack. My nutrition is the same as I need it to pass through me seamlessly or else I risk a blockage which did occur during my long run 2 weeks out from flying to France causing a prolapse of my intestine of 10cm! Luckily, I was back to training 3 days later and putting in my biggest week to make up for lost time. I also currently have to wear quite uncomfortable under garments which provide rigid compression around my abdomen to prevent potential hernias (I have been working on a solution for the last 2 years with my company Stryde). Being trained by one of Australia’s greats, Simone Brick, my training has been relentless, just the way I like it! A LOT of elevation training spending most my time in the Dandenong ranges trying to find as many uphills and downhills as possible and really giving it some! I dealt with a little bit of shin splints early on as I gave myself about a week post UTA 100 of rest so my intervals have been on the bike since, which is new for me. In typical fashion, I expected the bike to be easier but was humbled very quickly! I have never felt this fit and hungry to give it my all before a race in my life and feel very thankful to Shokz Australia for selecting me to represent them in the MCC.
What is your shoe of choice for race day? Asics Gel Trabuco 13
What is your nutrition of choice for race day? Maurten Gel 100, Salted Chips, Dried sausage, belgian waffles, Haribo Dragibus (rewards lol!), Liquid IV, SportsFuel 100 by Bulk Nutrients, Sodium tablets
Anything else we should know?! I am advocating for invisible diseases through my running (raising over $5000 for the Crohns and Colitis Australia Foundation for my UTA 100 race) as I dealt with severe ulcerative colitis from the age of 16. At the age of 20, I had no choice but to undergo life saving surgery removing my entire colon and leaving me with an Ileostomy bag. This makes me one of the very few Ultrarunners with this condition in the world and hope to inspire others to push themselves beyond what they think their body is capable of. I have created a company called Stryde which is in the final stages of creating a compression garment that will allow people with abdominal medical devices to exercise safely and accomodate for a comfortable and discreet fit wether they have an ileostomy, colostomy or dialysis port in their abdomen. I have also applied to set a Guinness world record to set the longest ultramarathon ran by a man with stoma in November at the Ultra Trail Kosciusko 100km by UTMB and am awaiting the approval (fingers crossed).

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Nigel Hill Interview – UTMBIndex: 765

Which event are you doing? UTMB
What is your bib number? 208
What is your Instagram handle? Instagram
What is the link to your Strava? Strava
What race(s) did you do to qualify? I completed UTA Blue Mountains100km and locked in my ticket at UTK Kosi 160km, both awesome events.
What first drew you to UTMB? To be honest I knew nothing about the sport before doing my first UTA, and this then steered me in the direction to head towards one day going to UTMB one day.
Is this your first time doing an event at UTMB? Yes first time to UTMB, so excited to take in all the hype associated with this event, racing amongst the massive crowds lining the course. Taking in the spectacular views along the way.
Tell us about your training and preparation. It’s been a solid 12 weeks specific block 1400km and 50,000 m vert. The bulk of my training done with a 4am alarm set to run before a day on the Tools Landscaping. The Winter cold conditions not ideal for a European Summer so Sauna and Spa sessions have been used for heat adaptations. I head over next week to prepare for the race.
What is your shoe of choice for race day? I will be using the Altra Mont Blanc Carbon Soar
What is your nutrition of choice for race day? I’m fairly simple with my Nutrition but have just changed to Maurten 160 gels, Hydralyte, Precision carb Mix and love watermelon during the race
Anything else we should know?! I may be using Wizard Sticks?

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If you’re running this year and haven’t heard from us for an interview, it probably means we couldn’t find you on instagram. If you’d like to be featured, please reach out.
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