Thousands of Spartans earned their medals after crossing the finish line Saturday and Sunday, at Washougal Motocross Park.
Mud covered their bodies from head to toe, but you could still see the smiles on their faces.
Waves of athletes entered the course every 15 minutes. No matter how many times Master of Ceremonies Anthony Carson repeated his opening monologue, the passion in his voice never skipped a beat.
“A Spartan Sprint captures a lot of first timers. I love seeing the looks on their faces before they enter the battlefield,” Carson said. “I want to let them know they are not in this alone. There’s a Spartan on your left and a Spartan on your right. That should lessen the fear factor. There are strengths in numbers.”
Brendan Casey wrestled for a state medal inside the Tacoma Dome and captured the state championship on the pole vault for Washougal High School. But nothing before this could have prepared the 20-year-old for 3.5 miles of 13 punishing obstacles designed to test the human spirit.