Local resident, 13-year-old Avery Steyn will be competing in the Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) Championship this October in the United Kingdom (UK).
Last year, the teen won the Spartan Kids World Championship Race in Laughlin, Nev., and this year she is hoping to achieve similar results in the OCR Championship.
“Avery’s really banking on making a podium there. But it will be a real challenge for her because it will be a different kind of running there, a lot of hills, and less obstacles there,” said her mother, Nadia Steyn.
Spartan racing is different than regular running races in that various obstacles are placed along the course that the athletes must overcome, including things like monkey bars, wall climbs, rope climbs, barbed wire crawls and tire flips.
Avery will be flying to the UK on Oct.4 along with her brother and parents to do a little visiting in London, and then to Essex for the race.
The three day racing event will take place from Oct.11-13, with a three kilometre race on Friday, a 15 kilometre race on Saturday and a relay race with two other girls on the Sunday. For the relay race she will be teamed up with one girl from the United States and one girl from the United Kingdom.
“We’re pretty excited. She’s pretty strong and determined,” said Nadia.
To prepare, Avery has been working out everyday, running with the Newmarket Huskies track club, and participating in cross country meets.
Avery does about 10 Spartan races a year, including one a few weeks ago where she received her Spartan trifecta medal after completing three different courses: a spring, a super and a beast, within the calendar year. Each race presenting a different number of obstacles and kilometres to complete.
Avery has been participating in Spartan racing since she was nine-years-old.
Nadia says Avery’s interest in Spartan racing sparked after signing her up for a small local race and then “it kind of snowballed from there.”
In July, Avery bumped into Mayor Rob Keffer’s daughter, Nicole, who is also a Spartan racer, in Ottawa at another race. Both had won first place in their age category.
Nadia says her daughter is nervous for the upcoming race but also excited. Athletes from all over the world will be coming to compete in the championship.
"I'm really looking forward to representing Canada in the races and meeting the other athletes from other countries," said Avery.
Nadia noted how Spartan racing is becoming more popular in Canada and hopefully will have more racing events and training facilities created here in the future.
Currently, Avery is ranked 4th in the world in her age category for Spartan racing.
“She worked really hard to get that spot,” said Nadia.
“We’re very proud.”
Earlier this week Avery was chosen to throw the first pitch at the Toronto Blue Jays after being featured on City TV as their Athlete of the Week in January.