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LEHI — Tyson Brinkerhoff began participating in Spartan races a few years ago when his family decided to participate them for fun.
The races have become popular across the world in recent years. Participants run several miles on courses filled with various obstacles. However, Tyson quickly became serious in the sport and became good at them.
“I really enjoy them,” he said. “I’ve always been a naturally good runner and I’ve always liked just being active. Running has always been more fun thing to me than staying inside. The obstacles are just a bonus and it’s a bonus to something that you like.”
Now he’s the top young Spartan racer in the world.
Tyson, who is 13 and an eighth-grader at Ascent Academies in Lehi, placed first at inaugural Spartan Kids World Championship in Laughlin, Nevada, on Saturday. He dominated the championship race, almost leading wire-to-wire on a nearly three-mile course that included 42 total obstacles.
The teen completed the course in 28 minutes and 53 seconds — 36 seconds ahead of the next competitor. The race was filled with children, ages 10 through 14, from all over the U.S. and even other countries.
Tyson said it felt “kind of weird” to think himself as the top Spartan race competitor in the world within his age range. In fact, he didn’t expect to do as well as he did and he wasn’t expecting to see so many competitors from across the world.
“There were some pretty fast people but I pulled ahead and I thought that was pretty cool,” he said.
Tyler Brinkerhoff, Tyson’s father, said watching his son’s success in the sport has been fun. He said Tyson has strived to be a good cross-country runner and basketball player, and that competitive spirit transitioned well with Spartan races.
“Our family started to dabble in it a few years ago and Tyson has always just always been like this super exercise guy. He likes to work out and he likes to run, lift things and play sports,” Tyler Brinkerhoff said. “It was really gratifying for me to see the fruits of his hard work because he is a hard worker.”
Tyson said he hopes to participate in another kids Spartan race before he hits the age cutoff in February. Even then, he plans to participate in adult races with his family after that.
“It’s just kind of a fun way to stay in shape for us,” Tyler Brinkerhoff added.
