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CrossFit Fittest in Cape Town Semifinal Crowns Champions: Merand and Henry Take Win

The CrossFit Semifinal for the Africa region has crowned its champions, with only one team, one male, and one female athlete qualifying for the 2022 CrossFit Games.

The CrossFit Fittest in Cape Town Semifinal has crowned its leaders, with Michelle Merand and Kealan Henry coming our victorious.

This is the only Semifinal around the world where only one CrossFit Games qualifying spot is available per division, which means only the top female and male athletes and the best team continue their season to the ultimate proving grounds.

The event, which took place between May 27 and 29, in Stellenbosch, South Africa, saw 30 of the best male and female athletes from the region, as well as 20 teams compete in six workouts for their chance to qualify for the Games.

The female competition was hotly contested, with Michelle Merand and Michelle Basnett entering the last day of competition tied in 1st place. Last year, it was Basnett who won the battle, but a 1st and 2nd place finishes on the last two events secured Merand the CrossFit Games spot.

michelle merand celebrates after qualifying for the 2022 crossfit gamesSource: Courtesy of CrossFit Inc.

Jason Smith, the beloved South African CrossFit Games athlete, lead the competition coming into the last day. He was, however, bested by Kealan Henry by 12 points. Henry placed inside the top 5 in four out of the six workouts and secured his first CrossFit Games ticket.

Most impressively, this was only Henry’s second live CrossFit competition ever.

His first in-person competition was the 2021 Fittest in Cape Town Semifinal, where he finished 5th.

Read more: How to Watch 2022 CrossFit Semifinals

CrossFit Fittest in Cape Town leaderboard

PlaceMenWomen
1Kealan HenryMichelle Merand
2Jason SmithChristina Livaditakis
3Darren ZurnamerMichelle Basnett
4Ruan PotgieterLeeverne Engelbrecht
5Mohamed ElomdaAnneke Spies
6Ruan DuvenageTanha Bouffe
7Conrad WinnertzReegan Finkel
8Devin RamsdenMary Jamieson
9Robert HeuerAngelique Connoway
10James Van DongenDina Swift

Second through to fourth place finishers have earnt an invitation to compete in the Last-Chance Qualifier, an online competition taking place the week of June 29 – July 1, 2022, with two CrossFit Games tickets for athletes close to qualifying positions after Semifinals.

Who are Michelle Merand and Kealan Henry, winners of 2022 Fittest in Cape Town CrossFit Semifinal?

Michelle Merand is a 33-year-old CrossFit athlete from South Africa. She competed at the CrossFit Games in 2019 and finished 41st, having previously competed at the Meridian Regionals twice, once as an individual and once in a team. She is the owner and Head Coach at FitBox Durbanville and competed in her first Open in 2015.

Kealan Henry is a 29-year-old athlete from South Africa. He has a background in waterpolo, athletics, and soccer but his passion for rugby led him to pursue a career in the sport. After retiring from rugby, he dedicated himself to coaching CrossFit and participated in his first Open in 2017.

2022 fittest in cape town podiumSource: Courtesy of CrossFit Inc.

Fittest in Cape Town best performances

Workout 1: The Deep End

For time:

  • 1000m Ski Erg

Then 5RfT of:

  • 100m Swim
  • 20 Alternating Bear Hug Forward Lunges with Slam Ball

30kg | 50kg

Time cap: 24 minutes

Winners

1Mary Jamieson (17:28)Ruan Potgieter (16:50)
2Christina Livaditakis (17:51)Jason Smith (17:14)
3Michelle Basnett (17:52)Kealan Henry (17:22)

Workout 2: 2014 Regional Event 5

10 rounds for time of:

  • 1 Legless Rope Climb
  • 170ft Run

Winners

1Michelle Merand (4:16)Robert Heuer (3:02)
2Leeverne Engelbrecht (5:21)Estian Ferreira (3:04)
3Reegan Finkel (5:23)Jason Smith (3:06)

Workout 3: Lucky Number 7

7 rounds for time of:

  • 7 Ring Muscle-Ups
  • 7 Bar Facing Burpees
  • 7 Deadlifts

84kg | 125kg

Time cap: 18 minutes

Winners

1Christina Livaditakis (12:33)Kealan Henry (10:16)
2Leeverne Engelbrecht (12:50)Darren Zurnamer (10:58)
3Michelle Merand (13:42)Jason Smith (11:23)

Workout 4: Barbell Complex

3 attempts for max load of:

  • 3 Cleans
  • 2 Front Squats
  • 1 Jerk

Time cap: 15 minutes

Winners

1Megan Faul (225)Justin Holliday (315)
2Michelle Basnett (216)Assem Effat (313)
3Anneke Spies (209)Brandon Jacobs (311)

Workout 5: Stellies Chipper

For time:

  • 100 Wall Balls
  • 15m Handstand Walk
  • 75cal Row
  • 15m Handstand Walk
  • 50 Handstand Push-Ups
  • 15m Handstand Walk
  • 25 Toes-to-Bar
  • 15m Handstand Walk

Time cap: 21 minutes

Winners

1Michelle Merand (15:42)Mohamed Elomda (12:54)
2Tanha Bouffe (16:12)Ruan Potgieter (12:57)
3Christina Livaditakis (16:49)Darren Zurnamer (13:33)

Workout 6: Time for Pudding

For time:

  • 27 Chest to Bar Pull-Ups
  • 27 Dumbbell Squat Snatches
  • 18 Chest to Bar Pull-Ups
  • 18 Dumbbell Squat Snatches
  • 9 Chest to Bar Pull-Ups
  • 9 Dumbbell Squat Snatches

15kg | 22.5kg

Time cap: 8 minutes

Winners

1Leeverne Engelbrecht (3:43)Ruan Potgieter (3:40)
2Michelle Merand (3:50)Mohamed Elomda (3:41)
3Tanha Bouffe (3:56)Kealan Henry (3:43)

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