This weekend, CrossFit TNT hosted the Midwestern Sectionals for the 2010 CrossFit Games. It was the first event held in TNT’s new box – a box Rochelle and crew worked tirelessly to prepare in time for the Games. And the first sectional of the 2010 CrossFit Games – an event which will determine the fittest man and woman alive (and awarding them $25,000 each… not too shabby). Forty-eight hours later, and I still can’t believe what an amazing weekend it was.
Competitors from all over, including Omaha, Chicago, Lincoln, Columbia, and countless other locations, joined St. Louis CrossFitters in hopes of making the top 30 and advancing to the Regionals. Some came from established boxes, and some came from their garage, but they all represented well.
The first WOD was named after The Air Force – The Midwestern Sectionals main sponsor – and it was a killer!
YOU WILL HAVE A 20 MINUTE TIME CAP TO COMPLETE THE AIR FORCE WOD.
A CONTINOUS CLOCK WILL BEEP AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH MINUTE, THE ATHLETE WILL STOP & COMPLETE 4 BURPEES EACH MINUTE UNTIL ALL FIVE BARBELL SKILLS ARE FINISHED:
Men 95lbs Women 65lbs
20-Thrusters
20-Sumo Deadlift High Pulls
20-Push jerks
20-Overhead squats
20-Front Squats
The top female, Katarzyna Slowinski, smoked through the WOD in 5:58. I kept waiting for her to take a break, but she never stopped. After the WOD, she informed me that she practiced earlier in the week, finishing in 6:20, and she was determined to avoid that 7th set of Burpees. I can certainly relate.
The top male, Pete Rasmusen of CrossFit Fire, finished the WOD in 3:53! I overheard one of the other judges say, “I could totally do that… if you took all the weight off the bar. Wait. No, I probably couldn’t.” I wholeheartedly agree.
Airforce WOD from Games Website
The second WOD was max reps of clean and jerks in 5 minutes (155/105). Hours after thrusters, SDHP’s, push jerks, and OHS’s, the shoulders were once again tested. Amazingly, Pete Rasmusen completed 47 reps! Not to be outdone, Justin VanBeek also turned in 47 reps, tying for 1st in the WOD. Kelly Allen from ML CrossFit complete 46 reps, 6 more than the second place female.
WOD #2 Video from Games Website
At the conclusion of the final heat of WOD #2, Rochelle Simmer announced Sunday’s WOD. A grueling 15 minute event for max reps:
5 minutes of Rowing for calories
4 minutes of Box Jumps for reps (20/24)
3 minutes of hang squat snatches for reps (45/75)
2 minutes of wall balls for reps (10 ft high)
1 minute of Handstand Push-ups for reps
Final WOD Video from Games Website
Numerous athletes rowed over 100 calories and logged over 100 box jumps. Several even squeezed out 10 or more handstand pushups. Most impressive, was Alex Nettey of CrossFit Chicago. I didn’t get an exact count, but he completed around 160 box jumps! His final score for the WOD was 313, which was 16 more than second place. Lauren Regula, a trainer at Windy City CrossFit, took 1st for the women with 256 reps. Strong performances in the other two WOD’s secured her spot in Regionals.
When all was said and done, Pete Rasmusen and Katarzyna Slowinski were named the top male and female, respectively. The top 30 men and women will head to Denver for the Regionals, April 30th – May 2nd. Good luck to all of you!
The St. Louis CrossFit community provided some stellar athletes. CrossFit Valley Park is sending 3 men to Regionals – Josh Nimmo (5th Overall), Jake Howard (9th Overall), and David Cornthwaite (11th Overall). Paul Cegon of CrossFit TNT fought through a shoulder injury during the final WOD to finish 29th overall.. If you’ve been following his blog, you know how hard he’s worked (modifying his diet, 2-a-days, fighting injuries), and it payed off with an entry to Regionals! Mike Walerius of CrossFit St. Louis and Rich Hill of CrossFit St. Charles also had solid performances. Congratulations to all of you, and thanks for showing the CF world what St. Louis is about!
But the top performance went to Rochelle, Dawn, Eric, Dan, and all of the volunteers. This was the first CrossFit Sectionals ever put on, and the bar was set high. Challenging and fair WOD’s, well-trained judges, medical staff, massage therapists, food and beverage service, and an awesome 12-year old DJ all came together to make a successful event. As CrossFitters, we always say how community is such an important part of the program. The Midwestern Sectionals was proof of that.
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