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CrossFit OGs Shine in Age Group Semis
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Good morning, and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up.
In today’s edition:
CrossFit OGs returned to the spotlight in the 2025 Age Group Semis.
How to build balanced strength — know when to train absolute vs. relative.
Ella Wilkinson eyes the Games after a breakout season across Europe.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
I had zero expectations to qualify for the CrossFit Games this year in the Age Group…Not sure what type of fitness I will bring to the Games; nonetheless, I will see you there.”
CROSSFIT GAMES
Credit: @samdancing / Instagram
CrossFit Games OGs Prove They’ve Still Got It in Age Group Semifinals
The Age Group Semifinal wrapped earlier this month, featuring over 2,500 athletes vying for top positions and invitations to the 2025 Divisional (Masters and Teens) CrossFit Games in Columbus, OH, which will be hosted by Legends and Pit Teen Throwdown later this summer.
Among the competitors were some familiar names on the leaderboard, evoking a sense of nostalgia for the sport's early days.
Reminder: The top 30 men and 30 women in each age division, excluding the upper divisions, will qualify. The top 20 male and female athletes in the 60-64 and 65-69 categories will advance to the Games, while only the top 10 in the 70+ division will move forward.
Note: The leaderboard is not finalized yet, and placements may still change. CrossFit will finalize the leaderboard no later than April 21, as stated in the rulebook.
OGs on the Leaderboard
Scott Panchik is currently sitting in first place in the 35-39 men’s age division. He’s continued his impressive career in the age groups after retiring as an individual elite competitor back in 2021.
Panchik last competed at the Masters CrossFit Games in 2023, where he took fourth in the 35-39 division.
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SPEED READS
📚📈 Good Read—Mayhem Classic’s Success: Fran Lung Analytics lays out four key questions to determine what made the first-ever In-Person Qualifying Event a success. Check it out here and subscribe.
📺 📽️ WFP’s Signed, Episode 5: The newest episode of the WFP’s video series just dropped on Friday, highlighting their Pro Card holders. It features Dallin Pepper, Samuel Kwant, Emily Rolfe, and Manon Angonese.
🎟️ 🥇 The Fittest Experience Invitational Roster: The In-Person Qualifying Event for North America West is announcing its confirmed athlete roster—so far, James Sprague, Arielle Loewen, Sydney Michalyshen, Rebecca Fuselier, and Bill Leahy are on the list. The top two men and two women at the mid-May event will earn tickets to the Games later this summer.
🗣️ 🎙️ Castro’s Athlete Interviews: In case you missed it, Dave Castro is bringing back his interview series with CrossFit Games athletes for 2025. His second guest is Mayhem Classic's second-place finisher, Abbie Domit.
📢 🚨 Attn: CrossFit Owners and Coaches: CrossFit’s first Owners and Coaches Conference lands in Albany July 30–31 (just before the Games). The first speakers, Pamela Gagnon and Daniel Chaffey, were just announced. Get the details.
ICYMI: Roman Khrennikov lit up Event 5 at the Mayhem Classic — does that make him the Echo Bike King?
MEMBER EXCLUSIVE
Credit: @benbergeron / Instagram
Small but Mighty: What Is “Relative” vs. “Absolute” Strength?
I often encounter athletes who unnecessarily compare themselves to others in the gym.
For example, we got a question from Jannick, a listener of Chasing Excellence, who expressed frustration about his lifting numbers compared to larger members of the gym.
At 5'4" and 126 pounds, he excels at bodyweight movements such as muscle-ups and handstand push-ups but feels that his lifting performance is lacking.
His disappointment underscores a common misunderstanding about strength, which affects how we train and measure progress.
When discussing strength, we need to distinguish between two fundamental types: relative strength and absolute strength.
PROFILE
Credit: Scott Freymond
From Gymnastics to Games Hopeful—UK’s Ella Wilkinson Eyes 2025 Breakthrough
Ella Wilkinson walked into a CrossFit gym in 2018, encouraged by her parents and sister.
She loved her first workout, but after seven years of competitive gymnastics, she felt frustrated by her lackluster performance. This frustration motivated her to return the next day. And the next.
Soon, she was hooked.
One of Wilkinson’s initial challenges, she explained, was upper body strength.
“I was a tumbler and a trampolinist, so all the power was generated through [my] legs. The upper body plays a lesser role. I remember this guy I knew, a world-class tumbler who could barely string together five pull-ups. That has actually been one of my weaknesses: upper body pulling,” Wilkinson told Morning Chalk Up.
HIGHLIGHTS
Celebrating a PR, hosting a fundraiser, this, that, or otherwise? Send us a tip.
🎂Happy birthday to Mike Halpin and Armen Amirian.
Rebecka Vitesson is back from injury and throwing around some weights 🏋️♀️ We’re here for it!
Name someone with a prettier ring muscle-up than Elisa Fuliano; we’ll wait.
Three wheels 🛞🛞🛞 for Noah Ohlsen on this clean complex! Congratulations!
Check out Jake Douglas’ latest workout buddy. Way to go, you two. 🫶
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