No obstacle too big for triumphant athletes
Northglen News caught up with four members of Adventure Obstacle Training, who showed their mettle by producing phenomenal results and being selected for the SA team for the upcoming OCR World Championships in London.
THE sport of Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) is quickly becoming a fan favourite with runners and those looking to take their fitness to the next level. The race which features regular running with a course laden with obstacle stations—ranging from monkey bars to rope climbing to tyre pulls.
The popularity also led to the very first South African OCR champs held in Blythedale on the north coast recently.
Northglen News caught up with four members of Adventure Obstacle Training, who showed their mettle by producing phenomenal results and being selected for the SA team for the upcoming OCR World Championships in London.
uMgeni Park resident, Trish Eksteen, made history becoming the first ever SA champ in the Black Ops Elite race.
“It was a really amazing result and very pleasing as well for me personally. I didn’t have the greatest of races on the day but thankfully it didn’t hamper my progress or change the result,” she said.
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A total of 19 athletes from the AOT facility have been selected for the SA team for world champs, a pleasing fact for coach and athlete, Claude Eksteen.
“Trish and I who coach the guys were over the moon. To have that many athletes coming to world champs in an incredible achievement,” he explained.
Claude, who finished second in the men’s Black Ops Elite race, said he was expecting a stern test at the world champs in London later this year.
“This will be my third world champs and probably my last so I would love to win. I think the dynamic of the course for the world champs will be really different as this is the first time they are being hosted on a flat track. The previous editions have all taken place on ski slopes which has a lot of elevation and climbing. Having said that I’m ready to give it my best shot and make everyone back home proud,” he said.
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Another standout performer at the SA champs was Durban North resident and Grade 9 Our Lady of Fatima learner, Gabi Holmes. Holmes won the U19 commando elite race ensuring her qualification for the world champs.
“Going into the SA champs I really didn’t know what to expect but I was so chuffed to win as the competition was extremely tough. The same goes for the world champs as I’m not sure what to expect there either. I normally compete in 10 kilometres obstacle courses and the world champs course is 15 kilometres so there will be a lot more running. It’s going to be much harder but I’m confident with all the training I’ve been doing I’ll be mentally prepared for the competition,” she said.
James Meredith, who had excelled in rock climbing before making the transition to OCR finished fourth in the men’s Black Ops Elite race.
“To finish in the top five of South Africa’s best is such a massive achievement for me. Especially to see how far I’ve come. As a rock climber I’ve always had the grip strength but my running was lagging and thanks to Trish and Claude, I’ve managed to improve beyond my wildest dreams,” he said.
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Meredith who finished 56th at last year’s world champs is aiming to finish in the top 20 for the upcoming competition.
“To finish in the top 20 would be amazing especially considering the strength levels of the men keep improving each year. I’m there to give it my one hundred per cent at the champs,” he said.
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