Event 2 was a brutal combination of back squats and hills sprint carries.
Men’s Single Malt
- 10 Back Squat (315/225)
- Sprint
- 8 Back Squat (335/235)
- Sprint
- 6 Back Squat (355/250)
- Sprint
- 4 Back Squat (375/265)
- Sprint
- 2 Back Squat (405/285)
- Sprint
Each sprint was up a hill, and they had to carry big sandbags that altered in load.
Reigning champion Jeff Adler finished Event 1 in sixth place. Let’s take a look at his usual form for the first event each year. Interestingly enough, he has never finished off the podium at Rogue Invitational.
Event 1 Finishes at Rogue Invitational
- 2026: 6th place
- 2025: 11th place
- 2024: 2nd place
- 2023: 1st place
- 2022: 2nd place
- 2021: 12th place
Could the Canadian make up some ground in Event 2? Not if the Iron Hog had anything to say about it.
In the first heat Fiebig, the Rogue rookie, started with quick reps. Martin had zero hesitation through the first few sets. Ackerman was solid and consistent with both his lifts and carries.

Bayley Martin won convincingly with a time of 05:03.68.
In the second heat Mertens moved quickly and smoothly. He made the weights look like nothing. He barely even slowed down for his final two reps at 405lbs. Finishing in style with a casual finger touch to press the button.

Pepper chased Crouch to the finish but was unable to catch the Aussie.
Mertens, the iron hog, wins with a hugely impressive time of 4.45.97.
“Nothing feels better than taking the event win from my training partner Bayley Martin”
Single Malt Event 2 Results
| Place | Athlete | Country | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colten Mertens | United States | 04:45.97 |
| 2 | Bayley Martin | Australia | 05:03.68 |
| 3 | Jay Crouch | Australia | 05:10.93 |
| 4 | Dallin Pepper | United States | 05:12.00 |
| 5 | James Sprague | United States | 05:19.05 |
| 6 | Chandler Smith | United States | 05:19.93 |
| 7 | Guilherme Malheiros | Brazil | 05:27.56 |
| 8 | Jeffrey Adler | Canada | 05:29.79 |
| 9 | Tudor Magda | United States | 05:37.91 |
| 10 | Fabian Hermans | Netherlands | 05:40.39 |
Check out the results from the Women’s division.