118-yard New Zealand backyard record
Covered 791.308 km at Dead Cow Gully and assisted Phil Gore’s 119-yard world-record performance.
Source-checked athlete record · Updated Aug 17, 2026
Sam Harvey
New Zealand record holder and 118-yard world-record assist
Sam Harvey is a New Zealand ultrarunner whose 118-yard performance assisted Phil Gore’s current backyard world record and set the New Zealand best.
🇳🇿 New ZealandChristchurch, New ZealandM30
The record so far
Sam Harvey is a New Zealand endurance athlete and coach whose best-known results connect the backyard and mountain-trail worlds. At Dead Cow Gully in 2025 he completed 118 yards for 791.308 km, setting the New Zealand national record while assisting Phil Gore’s 119-yard world-record win.
The result extended a partnership that had already reshaped the format in 2023, when Harvey reached 101 yards and Gore completed a record 102nd. Harvey also placed ninth at Big’s that year with 91 yards.
Away from the hourly format, Harvey won the 2025 Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB 100-mile race in 15:16:54. The victory adds a front-of-field trail result to his backyard record.
Defining performances
Performance history
| Date | Event | Performance | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead Cow Gully Backyard UltraBackyard ultra | 118 yards · 791.308 km | Assist · New Zealand record | View ↗ | |
| Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB100-mile trail | 15:16:54 | Winner | View ↗ | |
| Dead Cow Gully Backyard UltraBackyard ultra | 69 yards · 462.714 km | Winner | View ↗ | |
| Fault Line Ultra50 km trail | 4:05:21 | Winner | View ↗ | |
| Tarawera 100 Mile Endurance Run100-mile trail | 15:29:53 | 2nd overall | View ↗ | |
| Big Dog’s Backyard UltraBackyard ultra | 91 yards · 610.246 km | 9th overall | View ↗ | |
| Australian Backyard MastersBackyard ultra | 101 yards · 677.306 km | Assist · then-world-record distance | View ↗ |
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