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Handsworth track coach completes 250 after losing bet with his team

It took him nearly all day, but Handsworth track and field coach Ryne Melcher paid off his debt to his team Friday. The experienced ultra-marathoner completed 250 laps of the school track, 100 kilometres in total, in approximately 13.
Andy Prest
Ryne Melcher
Handsworth track and field coach Ryne Melcher (left) is joined by students as he completes one of his 250 laps of the school's track Friday. photo Mike Wakefield, North Shore News

It took him nearly all day, but Handsworth track and field coach Ryne Melcher paid off his debt to his team Friday.

The experienced ultra-marathoner completed 250 laps of the school track, 100 kilometres in total, in approximately 13.5 hours with a large crowd cheering him on at the finish. Earlier this year Melcher made a bet with his team, vowing to run 100 kilometres at Handsworth if the Royals managed to win the North Shore track and field banner for a second consecutive year and beat their point total from last year's North Shore championships. If the team had failed to accomplish the feat, they each would have owed Melver a delicious latte.

There will be no free coffee, however, as the team came through with the banner and point total, and Melcher made good Friday with 250 laps, starting at around 6 a.m. and wrapping up at 7:30 p.m.