The CrossFit Games Semifinals Week 2 Starts…Tonight!

Author

Joe Genetin-Pilawa
May 23rd, 2024

POWERED BY:

Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up.

In today’s edition:

  • Next up in our 2024 CrossFit Games Semifinals preview series is the North America West Semifinal by West Coast Classic. When the dust settles on the hallowed “tennis stadium” in Carson, nine men, eight women, and seven teams will have Games tickets in hand for this summer.

  • How many years does it take to make it to the CrossFit Games? The answer might surprise you.

  • Our 2024 CrossFit Games Oceania Semifinal leaderboard page is live! Check back often, as this leaderboard will update in real-time throughout the competition.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Someone get out there and tell this woman she’s a rookie!” - Sean Woodland calling the 2018 CrossFit Games event “The Battleground.” He was referring to rookie Laura Horvath, who won the first event of her career at the Games.

CROSSFIT SEMIFINALS

Credit: @alexgazan_ / Instagram

2024 CrossFit Games North America West Semifinal Preview: How To Watch, Rosters, and Schedule

The 2024 CrossFit Games North America West Semifinal by West Coast Classic will take over Carson, CA, from May 24-26 as competition returns to the hallowed ground of the “tennis stadium” at Dignity Health Sports Park (formerly known as the StubHub Center).

The top 40 men and 40 women in the region will compete for a spot at the CrossFit Games in Fort Worth, TX, from August 8-11. Of that field, only the top nine men and eight women will qualify and advance.

The number of available qualifying spots for women dropped this season — 10 qualified from North America West in 2023 — so the race will be extra tight.

Top 10 Men and Women, Ranked by Quarterfinals Finish

  1. Justin Medeiros | Alex Gazan

  2. Brandon Luckett | Abigail Domit

  3. Samuel Kwant | Emily Rolfe

  4. Cole Greashaber | Arielle Loewen

  5. Zachery Buntin | Rebecca Fuselier

  6. Tudor Magda | Hattie Kanyo

  7. Brent Fikowski | Gabrielle Spenst

  8. James Sprague | Devyn Kim

  9. Colten Mertens | Olivia Kerstetter

  10. Cole Sager | Nicole Mghenyi

Men’s Division

Favorites

Justin Medeiros: The 2021 and 2022 CrossFit Games champ had a rough go of it in 2023, finishing the first event, “Ride,” in 29th on the heels of two crashes. He followed that up with a 37th-place finish in the second event, “The Pig Chipper.” 

It wasn’t all bad news for Medeiros, as he also battled for some solid finishes during the 2023 Games weekend. This included a second-place spot in the “Inverted Medley” and two third-place results in “Ski-Bag” and the “Echo Thruster Final.” He ultimately climbed up to 13th. 

The programming at North America West matches up well with Medeiros’ classic CrossFit strengths, and he should be able to move the heavier barbells at Semifinals. (For reference, Medeiros put up a 272-pound snatch and a 335-pound clean and jerk at the 2023 Games.)

FROM MAJOR FITNESS

Unleash Your Inner Beast with MAJOR FITNESS

Built tougher than your toughest workout, this barbell scoffs at weakness. Seriously, it's like if your sweat and determination had a baby... that turned out to be a barbell.

Perfect for fast movements and quick transitions, it's the perfect barbell for squats, cleans, and deadlifts. And with a 750lb weight capacity, it's ready to handle anything you can throw at it.

Grab yours today and lift like a legend. Because every hero needs a trusty sidekick. Don’t let your gains wait – make your move now!

Shop now at MAJOR FITNESS.

SPEED READS

🧑‍💻👩‍💻 CrossFit HQ is Hiring: CrossFit LLC is currently advertising six positions in IT, including several senior engineers in DevOps and software, as well as additional positions in marketing.

🥇🎟️ Week 1 of the 2024 CrossFit Games Semifinals is done and dusted in Europe and Asia. In case you missed the action, get caught up with event-by-event results and overall leaderboards for Asia and Europe.

🏳️‍🌈💛 Reebok Unveils “Unity by Reebok” for 2024 Pride: The collection, according to Reebok, “features expressive and colorful graphics inspired by the traditional tie-dyed garments seen within Pride parades across the globe, plus apparel featuring the collection’s mantra: ‘For Anybody and Everybody.’”

🏆 TYR Wodapalooza Drops TYR Cup Details: The team at Loud and Live is dropping more info about the inaugural event this Fall. Stay in the know below:

  • With more details out in the world, the TYR Cup crew posted this hype video laying out everything you need to know. Check it out now!

  • The prize purse for the event will be $250,000, broken down as follows:

    • TYR Cup Champs: $160k per team

      Runner-ups: $40k per team

      MVP: $10k - Awarded to the individual with the greatest singular positive impact on their team’s success.

      The remaining $40k will be shared across the remaining division champs.

🏋️‍♀️📋 Training Camp Semifinalists: Several prominent training camps have dropped full rosters of their Semifinal-qualifying athletes. Check out the lists now:

ICYMI: The 2024 CrossFit Games Oceania Semifinal by Torian Pro starts tonight. Check out our preview and picks for the four men, four women, and three teams that will have Games tickets in hand when the dust settles in Brisbane.

MEMBER EXCLUSIVE

Credit: @KarlyKreative / Instagram

How Many Years Does It Take to Make It to the CrossFit Games?

In 2010, Rich Froning Jr. entered his first year of competitive CrossFit. 

He won the Alabama Sectional and the South East Regional before finishing second at the CrossFit Games that same year. 

Other greats, like Mat Fraser and Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr, couldn’t replicate Froning’s early success. 

  • Fraser finished fifth in his first Regional in 2013 and didn’t qualify for the Games. 

  • Toomey finished 18th at the 2014 Australia Regional before she made her first CrossFit Games in 2015.

More recently, Laura Horvath finished second on the podium in her first CrossFit Games in 2018. 

  • However, it took her three tries to qualify for the Games. She competed in Regionals in 2016 and 2017 before breaking out in 2018.

Seven rookies qualified to go to Fort Worth from the Europe Semifinal last week, so we wanted to explore the question: How many years does it take for an elite athlete to break through to a CrossFit Games qualification? 

FROM BARBELLJOBS

Hiring great fitness talent can transform your business, but finding the right candidates isn't easy.

What would the right coach or manager mean for your clients and your business?

BarbellJobs.com helps owners hire better fitness talent by leveraging their database of fitness professionals, social media following, local fitness group reach, and direct outreach.

CROSSFIT SEMIFINALS

Credit: @rubywolff / Instagram

2024 CrossFit Games Oceania Semifinal Results and Leaderboard

The 2024 CrossFit Games Semifinals roll through Australia this week as the best athletes in the region compete at the Oceania Semifinal by the Torian Pro. The competition takes place May 23-26 at the Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Forty men, 40 women, and 30 teams from Oceania will compete at the Semifinal to earn a ticket to the CrossFit Games in Fort Worth, TX, from August 8 to 11. Only the top four women, four men, and three teams will qualify.

2024 CrossFit Games Oceania Semifinal by Torian Pro Roster 

Below, you’ll find the top 10 athletes (Men | Women | Team) ranked by their 2024 Quarterfinal finish.

  1. Ricky Garard | Madeline Sturt | CrossFit Awaside 64 Army

  2. Jay Crouch | Grace Walton | CrossFit Torian Mayhem

  3. Bayley Martin | Katelin Van Zyl | CrossFit EXF

  4. Ben Fowler | Daisy Mcdonald | Raw Iron CrossFit Mayhem Thunder

  5. Zac Thomas | Erika Palasty | CrossFit Box Starr Strength

  6. Luke De Jonge | Julia Hannaford | CrossFit Torian Grit

  7. Peter Ellis | Danielle Ford | Tribe Northern Beaches CrossFit Black

  8. Andrew Sambell | Briony Challis | CrossFit Kia Maia CFKM

  9. Bailey O’Brien | Ella Price | CrossFit Carv

  10. Josh Dommersnes | Gemma Hauck | CrossFit Ruark

HIGHLIGHTS

Celebrating a PR, hosting a fundraiser, this, that, or otherwise? Send us a tip.

  • 🙌Congratulations to Kim Dongju, who took first place in the 35-39 division at the Teen to Legend community competition at the Far East Throwdown.

  • Congratulations to Kelly and Kiril Sekulovski on the birth of their baby, Lazar.

  • Nice work to Juan, owner of Sparta Box CR in Costa Rica, on the 127 kilo/280 pound snatch and overhead squat.

  • 🏋️‍♀️Bethany Flores is doing work, prepping for the West Coast Classic. Nice job on hitting 79 kilos/175 pounds on the snatch ladder.

  • Congratulations to Houn Yoon, who took first place in the 45+ division at the Teen to Legend community competition at the Far East Throwdown.