Regionals 1st Weekend Recap: Bailey Out. Khan is a legend!

CALIFORNIAN REGIONAL

NorCal + SoCal

Del Mar, Calif.

The California Regionals presented some huge upsets! Overall wins came from two Athletes that didn´t even make it to the Games last Year, and two top favourites didn’t make it through the qualifier.

Last year Josh Bridges and Lauren Fisher both missed the Qualifier. But this time they reported back for duty in impressive style.  Taking an early lead on the first events, they never let their top positions out of sight.

‘The biggest surprises of the weekend were the failures of Brooke Ence and Dan Bailey to qualify!’

This time last year, Bailey was standing as the Californian Regional Champion, and went on to finish 4^th overall at the CrossFit Games. This year he didn’t even qualify. With five CrossFit Games appearances under his belt, he also won the 2015 ‘Spirit of the Games’ award last year. So what happened?

It goes without saying that I am disappointed in my performance from this weekends regional…

— Dan Bailey (@Dan_Bailey9) 17 May 2016

Ence, winner of last year’s Regionals was beaten to the qualifying spot by Jamie Hagiy, who obtains her 5th ticket to the Games. Two male rookies qualified for the Games. Other notable former Games athletes that didn’t make it include:

• Elijah Muhammad
• Adrian Conway
• Jordan Cook
• Kevin Mauel

RASMUS WISBECH ANDERSEN

The 23 year old Southern Californian belongs to the Crossfit Invictus Team and smashed Event 1 with a new event Record. He finished Event 4 in 5th place and the following two, Events five and six each in 3rd position, bringing him to second place overall on the Leaderboard.

Rasmus Wisbech Andersen

Placed 13th at the 2013 European Regionals, the Danish native from Odense moved to San Diego to train in the Gym of Crossfit Invictus. What was initially planned as a short stop became a new home, and has resulted as a huge success this year.

CHRISTIAN LUCERO

The 21year old from San Diego comes from a martial arts and gymnastics background. He spent two years cage fighting, and brought this preparation with him into Crossfit. Training in Crossfit Costa Mesa he took 13th place in the 2013 Regionals (Team) and pushed himself to the 4th place overall on the 2016 California Regionals by winning Event 2, reaching a 4th place finish in event 6 and finishing 2nd in the final event.

Athletes that Qualified

Men

1. Josh Bridges
2. Rasmus Wisbech Andersen
3. Marcus Filly
4. Christian Lucero
5. Garret Fisher

Women

1. Lauren Fisher
2. Rebecca Voigt
3. Alessandra Pichelli
4. Chyna Cho
5. Jamie Hagiya

Team

1. Diabolo CrossFit Anejo
2. CrossFit 808
3. Invictus
4. Team CDR
5. CrossFit Davis

Besides Lauren Fisher, also her sibling Garret made it to the Games!

PACIFIC REGIONAL

Australia + Asia
Wollongong, Australia

The Pacific region which covers New Zealand, Australia, Asia and the Pacific Islands had 28,000 people compete in the online qualifier, but only 260 men and women have made it to the top.

The Pacific Regionals were settled by the two Games veterans Kara Webb and Rob Forte. Kara set such a current record for Event 1, no women even came within 1 minute of her result! While Rob won event 4 and 6, it was the 3rd placed Khan Porter who delivered the most astonishing performance.

Next to the veterans, this Year´s Pacific Regionals qualifiers were made up of new kids on the block. 50 percent of the qualified individuals are rookies.

JUSTINE BEATH

Starting CrossFit in 2009, the 25year old from CrossFit Lower Mountains in Penrith, New South Wales, she has taken part in every Pacific Regional since.

This year she obtains her Games Ticket with six Top 10 results, even reaching 2nd in Events 2 and 5 which pushed her to the 4th place overall on the Leaderboard.

MADELINE STURT

The 19year old from CrossFit Newcastle definitively earned some respect this Weekend. Coming from a track-and-field background no one had her on the plan until she smashed unbroken Deadlifts in Event 5 which brought her into the Top 10. She convinced even the last doubters with her rope climbs in the final event, which took her to 5th place overall.

Finishing Monday’s sessions with #dips and #deads ? #11days @givemcoldsteel @2115nine @carlzjsoda #givemcoldsteel #2115nine #livesuperlative #crossfit #roadtoregionals2016 #crossfitgirls #lifting #thesturtlocker

A video posted by Madeline Sturt (@maddiesturt) on May 1, 2016 at 11:17pm PDT

Athletes that Qualified

Women

1. Kara Webb
2. Tia-Clair Toomey
3. Alethea Boon
4. Justine Beath
5. Madeline Sturt

Men

1. Rob Forte
2. James Newbury
3. Khan Porter
4. Zeke Grove
5. Mitchell Sinnamon

Team

1. Zaks Pack East Tamaki
2. Schwartzs CrossFit Melbourne
3. CrossFit Athletic
4. CrossFit Torian
5. CrossFit Loaded

SOUTH REGIONAL

LatAm + South Central + South West
Dallas, Texas

4/15 Another great day ending the OLY session PR hang clean and jerk @ 370# (this ties my all time PR clean and jerk from the ground, also!) Moving good, feeling strong and blessed! @3fu3l #team3f #iamsecond

A video posted by Roy Gamboa (@cfroygamboa) on Apr 15, 2016 at 4:41pm PDT

Athletes that Qualified

Woman

1. Camille Leblanc-Bazinet
2. Whitney Cappellucci
3. Alexis Johnson
4. Tennil Reed
5. Candice Wagner

Men

1. Roy Gamboa
2. Travis Williams
3. Logan Collins
4. Sean Sweeney
5. Joseph Guesnier

Team

1. TeamDensity
2. Rockwell CrossFit
3. CrossFit Omnia
4. Pillar CrossFit
5. Backcountry Black
   

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Featured image © CrossFit Games

Rasmus Wisbech Andersen © CrossFit Games

Christian Lucero Video © Christian Lucero

Pacific Regional Coverage © CrossFit Games

Madeline Sturt Instagram © Madeline Sturt

Roy Gamboa Instagram © Roy Gamboa