Prins of laser-run
FAIRLAND – Marco Prins is also looking forward to meeting up with friends he made at the last world championships.
![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2019/06/MarcoPrins2PhotoSmac_38158.jpg)
Local athlete, Marco Prins hopes to hold onto his world title at the upcoming Laser-Run World Championships in September.
The 15-year-old Fairland resident will travel to Budapest, Hungary, to compete in the International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM) Laser-Run World Championships.
In his South African Modern Pentathlon (Sampa) team are four other youngsters from Joburg: Chloe Diedericks-Boudouris, Joshua Eccles, Matthew Hunt and Andreas Roos.
Marco is hoping to defend his 2017 World Championships title. “I can’t wait to meet up with international friends made at previous world champ events and I am going to give my all to be on the podium again,” he said.
To be selected for the SA team, Marco had to place within 10 per cent of the average world champs times over the last three years.
![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2019/06/MarcoPrins2PhotoSmac_38158-520x390.jpg)
Furthermore, he had to place within the top four finishers at the local Gauteng Championships and the SA Championships.
Laser-run is one of the building blocks of modern pentathlon under the governing body of the UIPM. The sport not only requires exceptional fitness and running speed but a steady hand and eye to shoot at a target.
Athletes, depending on age, are required to complete multiple laps of running with the added requirement of hitting a small target five times before being able to carry on running the following lap.
The sport is a great example of promoting a healthy and fit lifestyle for the whole family.
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