The second Event of the 2026 CrossFit Games was another brutal running race at The Ranch.
Ranch 7200
7,200-meter trail run
2 laps one direction, 2 laps in the opposite direction.
UK athlete Aimee Cringle and Aussie Ricky Garard both took first place. Before we dive into the details of the race, let’s dive into the history
The History
Check out the other running events that have taken place at the Ranch.
2016 – Ranch Trail Run
In 2016 Athletes traveled to the ranch in Aromas, California for the opening events of the 2016 CrossFit Games. Participants faced a grueling 7 km trail run over challenging terrain, featuring steep hills and creek crossings that test endurance beyond the typical competition venue. This was also coupled with a deadlift event, putting athletes through an incredibly tough test of both ends of the spectrum of fitness.
2020 – Ranch Loop
In the depths of the COVID lockdown, only ten athletes could travel to the Ranch, where the entire Games were held that year.
The athletes completed a punishing 3 mile race across the dusty hills and ravines of California. Out in front, Mat Fraser made it to the finishing line first. However Dave Castro then told him that he has to get back up and complete the course in reverse. None of the athletes were impressed at this cruel twist of programming.
Watch the video above to see Mat’s hilarious response to Dave Castro at 08:55.
2026 “Ranch 7200”
The 2026 version was a demanding 7,200 meter trail run that tested endurance, pacing and grit in the summer heat.
The course consisted of four laps. Athletes completed two laps in one direction before turning around and running the final two laps in the opposite direction. It was a brutal test featuring dusty trails, steep climbs and relentless hills. Each lap included approximately 1,500 feet of elevation change, making this one of the toughest pure running events in CrossFit Games history.
Maddie Sturt and Jay Crouch came into Event 2 wearing the leader’s jerseys after winning the opening event.
Men
The race started at a controlled pace with the athletes largely staying together through the opening section of the course. That quickly changed.
Ricky Garard, Jayson Hopper and James Sprague were the first athletes to break away from the pack. Justin Medeiros also looked comfortable early, having previously raced in these hills during the 2020 CrossFit Games.
The opening lap gave everyone an opportunity to learn the course, although it quickly became clear just how demanding it would be. While the leaders continued running, many athletes towards the back of the field had already started walking sections of the steep climbs.
Garard completed the opening lap in 8:15, immediately establishing himself as the man to beat.
Behind him, Jay Crouch and Jeff Adler gradually made up ground on the leaders, with Ty Jenkins and Roman Khrennikov also moving through the field. Despite the chase, Garard continued to extend his advantage heading into the second lap, while James Sprague held onto second place.
Even the leaders were forced to walk some of the steepest inclines during the second lap. The combination of hot weather, dusty conditions and relentless climbing was taking its toll on every athlete. As competitors completed their second lap they turned around and headed back over the same course in the opposite direction.
One of the memorable moments of the race came when Ricky Garard grabbed a cold towel and rested it across his shoulders. As he passed James Sprague, he tossed the towel across and hit the American. Sprague responded with a few choice gestures before both athletes carried on. It was good natured trash talking in the middle of an incredibly tough race.
At the halfway point Jeff Adler had moved into fourth place behind Jay Crouch. The sandy, uneven trail continued to punish the field, while Jayson Hopper gradually slipped back into the chasing pack.
Garard was simply in a class of his own. By the closing stages he had opened his advantage to more than a minute over the rest of the field. Along the way he even began lapping athletes, including Hannah Black and Paige Rogers. Both Black and Rogers had been dealing with ankle issues, while Anika Greer had also entered the 2026 CrossFit Games carrying an ankle injury.
Garard crossed the finish line comfortably in first to secure his sixth career CrossFit Games event victory, further strengthening his overall position on the leaderboard.
Women
The women’s race followed a similar pattern early on. Haley Adams immediately established herself at the front of the field, with Aimee Cringle and Lucy Campbell staying close behind. Like the men, the opening lap allowed the athletes to settle into the course and figure out the best pacing strategy for the brutal climbs ahead. Adams continued to lead through the second lap with Cringle still tracking her every move.
The hills proved just as punishing for the women’s field, with more and more athletes forced to walk sections of the steepest climbs as the race progressed. Managing effort became just as important as outright speed.
As the athletes turned around after two laps and began running the course in reverse, the race remained close between the leaders.
In the closing stages, Aimee Cringle made her move. The British athlete overtook Adams and held her advantage through the final kilometres to claim an impressive event victory. Haley Adams finished second after leading much of the race, while Ella Wilkinson completed the podium in third. It was a huge performance from Cringle on one of the most physically demanding endurance events of the 2026 CrossFit Games.
Learn how to watch The 2026 CrossFit Games or find out which athletes are competing.
