Robberg Fine Foods Applauds Sam Kruger’s Grit and Glory at the Otter Challenge

We are bursting with pride to celebrate our very own Samantha Kruger, who yesterday claimed first place in the Otter Challenge—a truly unforgiving 42 km coastal trail run. Her official finishing time: 6 hours, 6 minutes.

The Otter Challenge is not for the faint of heart. The 42 km route courses through rugged coastline, indigenous forest, multiple river crossings, and over 2,600 metres of elevation gain with 11 major climbs (including three exceeding 100 m) that force even elite runners to hike portions.

Sam also ran the 4 km prologue the previous day, which is used to seed the start groups. She earned her place among the first wave of women (top 16) and then held that position from start to finish. In her own words:

“We ran from Storms River … the first 10 km is your most technical section … from Munchy Point, it becomes more runnable, though there were still two massive climbs of 100 to 200 metres. My legs were dead. One leg almost cramped … But this was my first Otter … I still got the time that I wanted, 6:06. I was very stoked … Didn’t expect to come first.”

Samantha Kruger takes first woman home in 6 hours 6 minutes at the 2025 Otter Challenge. Photo credit: Otter African Trail Run

The second-place woman came in at 6:21, approximately 15 minutes behind her. She also made special mention of her husband, Jaco, calling him her “biggest supporter and rock,” thanking him for supporting her training, entry, and family logistics.

Behind every great athlete is a support team—and we’re honored that Samantha is part of our Robberg family. Her determination, discipline, and humility exemplify the values we strive for at Robberg Fine Foods. She is not just a high-performing employee but a role model to her colleagues, her community, and our customers.

We congratulate her wholeheartedly and look forward to cheering her on at her next challenge.