Pringle is the youngest ever finisher

Sixteen-year-old Benonian Taygen Pringle made history when he became the youngest ever finisher of the intimidating 42km Otter African Trail Run, along the Garden Route, recently.

What made the accomplishment even more special is the fact that he finished the race in eighth position out of a total of 225 runners.

The Ashton International College pupil not only became the youngest ever finisher, but he also ran with a cause — to create awareness of the dangers of childhood obesity.

It is likely that no other under age runner will be considered to participate in the event again, due to its extreme nature.

Having completed the 38km Mweni Marathon, in the Drakensberg, Pringle set his sights on accomplishing a sub-eight hour finish at “The Otter”.

He surprised everybody, including himself, by finishing the trail run in a time of six hours and 38 minutes.

Speaking to the City Times from his Rynfield home, the young runner said: “It was definitely one of the toughest things I have done so far.

“The hills, the distance, the technical nature of the trail’s routes and the number of rocks and boulders near the end made it really difficult.

“I tried to focus on the beautiful scenery around me instead of on all the obstacles ahead of me, just to take my mind off things.”

Commenting on his excellent time, Pringle added: “With about 4.8km to go I realised that I could very well achieve a sub-seven hour finish, so I started to push myself.

“I saw two guys ahead of me and I thought I could catch up to them, which I managed to do a few hundred metres before the end.”

Describing his feelings at the finish line Pringle said: “I was ecstatic when I crossed the line.

“At the finish everybody was looking at me like I had done something insanely good and I did not know what position I was in, because the last time I heard my position was when I was about halfway and was told that I was in about 15th place.

“Eventually my mom told me I had come in in eighth place and I was just over the moon.”

At the evening’s prize-giving he received his medal along with his father, Anthony, who also completed the trail run, despite a niggling knee injury, making it a really special moment for the Pringle Family.