Spartan Race Announces Pro Athletes, Schedule

Spartan Race, the world’s leading obstacle race company, has reaffirmed its commitment to the growth of the sport of obstacle racing with the launch of the “Spartan Pro” initiative- a group of Spartan’s top 10 men and 10 women athletes who will represent Spartan Race throughout the season and in the 5 U.S. Championship Series races and 2016 Reebok Spartan Race World Championship in Lake Tahoe, CA, which will be televised on NBC Sports and NBC respectively.

The launch of the Spartan Pro Team is an outcome of Spartan Race’s concerted efforts to elevate the sport of obstacle racing. Along with the establishment of the Spartan U.S. Championship Series, the first of its kind stand-alone series awarding more than $100,000 in cash and prizes, the Spartan Pro Team aligns with the company’s aggressive plans to make obstacle racing a desirable profession for top-tier athletes, a compelling sport for participants and spectators, and an attractive platform for corporate partners.

“Driving the sport of obstacle racing is a major goal for our organization, and the advancements we’ve made to the Spartan Pro athlete initiative and the creation of the Spartan U.S. Championship Series are two huge steps towards that goal,” said Spartan Race Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey Connor. “The launch of the Spartan Pro Team and the participation of the sport’s top athletes throughout the season will push the level of competition to new heights, create entertaining rivalries, and provide athletes with an exciting opportunity in an emerging sport.”

The roster is headlined by reigning 2015 Reebok Spartan Race World Champion Robert Killian, 2013 Spartan Race World Champion Amelia Boone, and 2012 Spartan Race World Champion Cody Moat. Spartan Pro athletes include former Spartan Race champions and obstacle racing’s most exciting and promising talent from diverse athletic backgrounds.

"You feel like you're part of something more than...individual glory,” said 2015 Reebok Spartan Race World Champion and Spartan Pro Robert Killian. “Being part of the team is an honor. You know that you're on a different level. [The Spartan Pro Team] sets a standard, helps to move our sport forward."

2016 Spartan Pro Team roster:

Men:
Robert B. Killian Jr.
Cody Moat
Brakken Kraker
Ryan Kent
Matt Novakovich
Glenn Racz
Chad Trammel
Isaiah Vidal
Kevin Donaghue
Ian Deyerle

Women:
Amelia Boone
Kate Ripple Cramer
April Hartwig
Orla Walsh
Becca Clifford
Alyssa Hawley
Jackie Rust
Faye Stenning
Cassidy Watton
Alex Roudayna

The Spartan Pro athletes will make their collective television debut in July when the Spartan U.S. Championship Series premieres on NBC Sports Network. The series locations and TV airdates are below:

Race Information (including date, time and network):

• BIG SKY SPRINT (KALISPELL, MT) : JULY 20,  11PM, NBCSN
• GOLDEN STATE CLASSIC (MONTEREY, CA):     AUGUST 23, 10PM, NBCSN
• BLUE MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE (PALMERTON, PA): AUGUST 30, 10PM, NBCSN
• SOUTHEAST SHOWDOWN (ASHEVILLE, NC): SEPTEMBER 27, 10PM, NBCSN
• THE SUMMIT (BRECKENRIDGE, CO), OCTOBER 11, 10PM, NBCSN
• REEBOK SPARTAN RACE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: DECEMBER 25, 3:30PM, NBC

About Spartan Race, Inc.: Spartan Race is the world’s leading obstacle race company and the first of its kind to feature timing and global rankings. With more than 170 events in 25+ countries planned for 2016, Spartan Race has more than 1 million global participants, and offers open heats for all fitness levels as well as competitive and elite heats. With nearly 5 million passionate social media followers, health and wellness products, as well as the popular NBC television series, Spartan Race has made obstacle racing one of the fastest growing sports—and lifestyles— in the world. Spartan Race features races at three distances, 3+Mile/20+ Obstacle “Sprint,” 8+ Mile/25+ Obstacle “Super” and 12+ Mile/30+ Obstacle “Beast,” culminating each year in the Reebok Spartan Race World Championship. Visit http://www.spartan.com for more information, a schedule of events, and to register for a race.