Today, Spartan Race, released more information about the 2018 season. 2018 will feature age group awards for six age group categories as well as global age group rankings. Additionally, West Virginia will play host to the Spartan Race North American Championships on August 26, 2018.
BOSTON, MA – Following the news of its Global Championship format, Spartan today announced the addition of Age Group categories to its 2018 obstacle racing (OCR) season. Competitors across six age groups can now measure their performance on a level playing field with the opportunity to step onto the podium as they accumulate ranking points, leading into the Spartan World Championship. Spartan also announced its inaugural North American Championship, which will bring the region’s best endurance athletes to West Virginia, USA August 26, 2018. The event is presented by Wild, Wonderful West Virginia.
“The addition of the Age Group heat to Spartan events across the globe will elevate the sport of OCR, allowing athletes to compete for a spot on the coveted podium in their respective categories,” said Spartan Vice President of Product David Watson. “This creates a whole new layer of competition, turning up the dial on rivalry and grit to make the sport more exciting and rewarding for competitors and spectators alike.”
The six age groups include 14-17, 18-24, 25-29, 30-39, 40-49 and 50+, with the top three male and female finishers in each category earning a spot on the podium at every U.S. race and all 2018 Spartan Global Championship Series events. Winners will also earn special medals, prizes, and awards. To qualify for age group heats in Regional Championship events, men and women must finish top 10 in any regular season or National Championship Series event in their respective group. World Championship qualifying requires racers to finish top 10 in a National Championship Series event or a Regional Championship.
The North American Championship is the culmination of the U.S., Canadian and Mexican National Championship Series, which will see the best endurance athletes from the three countries competing for cash and prizes on the road to the World Championship. The race will mark Spartan’s return to the Mountain State, where Robert Killian (USA) and Rea Kolbl (Slovenia) took home the titles at the 2017 Spartan U.S. Championship race.
“Some of the sport’s grittiest athletes including Killian, Faye Stenning (Canada) and Angel Quintero (Mexico) call North America home, which will ensure an intense battle for the region’s inaugural championship,” said Spartan Founder and CEO Joe De Sena. “Overall, we’re anticipating an exciting season with five Regional Championship events across the world that will create more competition and rivalry than OCR has ever seen before.”
Earlier in the month, Spartan announced the format for its 2018 Global Championship Series, with competition unfolding across more than 30 countries.15 National Championship Series* across the world with five races each lead into stand-alone championship events in five regions (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America and the Middle East), paving the road to the 2018 Spartan World Championship, the premier event of the OCR) season *In some National Championship Series, events may take place in multiple countries
Spartan events focus on sport and athleticism, pushing the bodies and minds of competitors to the limit across miles of unforgiving terrain while they conquer signature obstacles such as the Spear Throw, Bucket Brigade, and Barbed Wire Crawl.
The Global Championship Series also offers open-heat competitors the opportunity to race on the same grounds as some of the best athletes in the world, along with limited edition medals and shirts. The 2018 Spartan North American Championship is presented by Wild, Wonderful West Virginia.