The 2026 CrossFit Games shifted gears on Day 3 with Event 13, a flat-out 500-meter sprint that rewarded explosive speed and mental resilience. Worth 50 points, the event produced two exciting finishes as Aimee Cringle and Ricky Garard both added another running victory to their 2026 Games resumes.
Aimee Cringle Continues Her Running Masterclass
The women’s race powered off the start line with Haley Adams and Danielle Brandon setting a blistering early pace. Ellie Turner, Aimee Cringle, Maddie Sturt, and Alex Gazan stayed close behind, knowing that positioning would be crucial over such a short distance.
Getting out fast proved essential. With little room to maneuver on the course, athletes who were trapped behind competitors had few opportunities to make up ground.
Cringle timed her effort perfectly. After staying within striking distance through the opening stages, she unleashed a devastating finishing kick over the final stretch to surge clear of the field. She crossed the line ahead of Madeline Sturt in second, while Alex Gazan rounded out the podium in third.
Women’s Event 13 Results
| Rank | Athlete | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aimee Cringle | Great Britain |
| 2 | Madeline Sturt | Australia |
| 3 | Alex Gazan | United States |
The victory further cemented Cringle’s reputation as one of the best runners in the field. Earlier in the Games she claimed victory in the demanding Ranch 7200 trail run, and now she had demonstrated that her speed extends from long-distance endurance to all-out sprinting.
“I used to do track and field when I was little and I think it helped,” Cringle said after the race.
Winning both the longest running event and one of the shortest highlights the remarkable versatility required to succeed at the CrossFit Games.
Ricky Garard Turns on the Speed
The men’s competition also unfolded across two heats.
Heat 1 saw Robinson push the pace from the gun, with Souza, Hamming, and Saxon Panchik all in contention. The finish came down to a dramatic sprint between Souza and Hamming, with Souza edging the victory in 1:13.98, just ahead of Hamming’s 1:14.18.
The second heat featured many of the overall contenders. Guilherme Malheiros attacked early alongside Ricky Garard, Jay Crouch, and Jeffrey Adler.
Garard hit the final turn first but came under immediate pressure from Malheiros. The Australian and Brazilian battled stride for stride down the closing straight before Garard found another gear in the final meters. Pumping his chest as he crossed the finish line, Garard claimed the event win in emphatic fashion.
“I knew I had the race from the start…it was fun, like drag racing but on foot and not in a car,” Garard said after his victory.
Speed Across Every Distance
Like Cringle, Garard had already won the Ranch 7200 earlier in the competition. Capturing victories in both a demanding trail run and a 500-meter sprint demonstrates an exceptional blend of endurance, efficiency, and raw speed.
It is a reminder that success at the CrossFit Games requires athletes to excel across the full spectrum of fitness. Whether covering several kilometers over rugged terrain or sprinting flat out for just over a minute, the best competitors continue to prove they can perform at an elite level regardless of the distance.
Learn how to watch The 2026 CrossFit Games or find out which athletes are competing.
