Joanna Wietrzyk Sets New World Record in HYROX Phoenix

Joanna Wietrzyk’s performance in Phoenix has reset the standard for Women’s Elite HYROX racing. Her final time of 56:03 saw her shave 20 seconds off the previous world record, an extraordinary margin at the very top level of the sport.

The victory also rounded our her third major win, with Wietrzyk going three-for-three at the HYROX Majors. In a field stacked with elite talent, Phoenix confirmed what has become increasingly clear throughout the season, the Aussie athlete is not just winning races, she is redefining what’s possible at the cutting edge of elite HYROX performance.

Running Splits

Workout Splits

Race Recap

From the start it was Lauren Weeks who asserted early control. Within the first minute, Weeks surged straight into the lead, with Wietrzyk settling into second place as the rest of the field found its rhythm on the opening run.

Weeks continued to dictate the early stages, being the first athlete to reach the SkiErg and the first to exit the station. Nikora-Baker, Arning and Pettrow followed the leading two athlete around the second 1,000m lap.

One of the commentators, former Pro Ironman athlete and Endurance coach to the CrossFit elite, Chris Hinshaw, was measuring the ratio between respiratory rate (breaths) and steps for Weeks. He explained how its a good indicator of how comfortable an athlete is when running, and how well or badly it bodes for the rest of the race. He stated that it looked like Weeks would suffer later on.

Race Tip – When running, try to run off the shoulder of another athlete and reduce the air resistance for yourself. Small differences will make big differences when compounded across the entire race.

But while Weeks controlled the front early, Wietrzyk was quietly setting the stage for something special. The pressure of going for her third Major win did look present on her face. She looked calm and focused.

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Wietrzyk steadily closed the gap as the race progressed. When Wietrzyk entered the sled pull, it became clear that the momentum had swung decisively. From that point on, even the camera increasingly struggled to capture both athletes in the same frame — Wietrzyk was simply too far ahead.

Race Tip – Think about the transitions between runs and workout stations as longer that simply the end of the run and the start of the workout station. If you struggle on certain stations, then slow your pace as you end the run, catch your breath slightly and then hit the sled push or the Burpee Broad Jumps with more energy and power.

This extends out of the other side as well, prep yourself mentally for the hardest transitions in the race following each Station and pace accordingly. Very rarely do HYROX athletes clock their best running lap following the Burpee Broad Jumps for example.

The Aussie tore through the mid-race stations, even lapping competitors as she moved into the burpee broad jumps and then the rower. By the time she exited the rower, the gap was enormous, and the victory looked clear cut.

As she entered the farmer’s carry and progressed onto the final run, Wietrzyk still looked comfortable.

When Wietrzyk arrived at the wall balls, the commentary team began openly discussing the possibility of a new world record. Any doubt was quickly erased. She attacked the station relentlessly. By the time Lauren Weeks started the station she was already 60 reps ahead.

The final moments were sensational. Wietrzyk powered through the final wall balls and crossed the line to secure her third Major win and a new World Record Time of 56:03, sealing one of the most commanding performances ever seen in Women’s Elite HYROX racing.

Glance over her workout splits above and you will see that here lowest place finish on any of the workout stations was the burpee broad jumps, which she completed in 5th place with a time or 3:13. On every other workout station she clocked the first or second fastest times.

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