According to Hart, both the male and female winner of the Black Ops elite category walk away with R10 000 and a sponsored Jeep that is theirs until the next race takes place. At the end of the season, the overall winner receives a R100 000 cash prize. When asked what students can expect when doing their first Warrior Race, Hart replied, “You can expect to get dirty.”
With obstacle names such as Mud Monster, Breaking Point, Tower of Rage and Grip Ripper, one can also expect a challenge. What makes this race popular is that it allows people to have fun as part of a team or to compete with the aim to win. Marno van der Westhuizen, a fourth-year civil engineering student who participated in this last race, said that his motivation for taking part in the Warrior Race was to be social with his friends.
Greg Avierinos, a Black Ops elite competitor and second-year sports science student at Tuks, placed second in the event. Avierinos said that he started doing the Warrior Race in 2013 for fun and started to compete seriously last year. He even went on to compete in the Obstacle Course Racing World Championships in America last year and came second in his category. Avierenos told Perdeby that “the distance, venues and obstacles are constantly changing and bring the exciting element of training for the unknown.”
Not only is the event a great experience for participants, but also for spectators. Spectators can watch the whole race in the vehicles provided that drive spectators up and down the length of the course.
Greg Avierinos during a running course. Image provided.
