AR World Championships 2017
Hunter Leininger Finishes the AR World Champs, Aged 16
Rob Howard / 15.08.2017
When Team AR Geogria crossed the finish line at the AR World Champs in Wyoming this afternoon there was a small crowd gathered there greet them ... and a golden trophy waiting for one of the team.
This was for Hunter Leininger, the youngest competitor in the race (and ever at an AR World Champs). Hunter is aged just 16, but has been adventure racing with his father Jeff since he was 9 years old, and gradually moving up from sprint to overnight then multi-day races, including a past Cowboy Tough. Here he faced his biggest challenge – a full AR World Championship course, and he’d made it to the finish.
On the finish line he looked remarkably fresh and not too phased by the attention. He was happy to stand and talk while his team mates headed to the racer finisher area to sit down!
“I’m glad to get to the finish,” he said, “and always felt I could race a long race, even a 6, 7 or 8 day race, but there are not many expedition races in the USA. I’ve wanted to race the AR World Champs for a long time now, and hope to do so again next year and maybe go on to a top 20 place. We’ve never had the finances to race abroad so it was great to have the AR World Champs come to the USA. I’m still looking forward and am ready to another one. I’d do another one next week if I could!”
I asked about their race and he said, “We started a bit slow as one of the team was struggling and then to catch up opted to miss a trek stage, which had only one checkpoint. The team had their ups and downs of course and I argued with my dad sometimes, but it was quickly forgotten and we worked really well together to get to the finish.”
“I’ve done all my races with my dad and want to thank him for all the time and money he’s put in to allow me to race – he’s made it all possible.”
His father was sitting having a beer in the racer reception tent and he told me, “We all had our low points, all except Hunter, his morale never seems to drop and he helps the whole team get through. Right now I’m done – I’m glad to be at the finish and that’s enough for me!”
It was a while before all the interviews were done and Hunter could join him ... but he couldn’t have a beer of course. He’s too young!
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