Pro 1 Montreal and Physics CrossFit will represent Canada East at the CrossFit Games.
CrossFit Outlaw North was almost assured of a podium finish at the dawn of the third day of competition in Canada East. Yet, they weren’t satisfied—they wanted to go to the Games.
“It’s not the spot we want to be in, especially in this region,” said Jay Rhodes of Outlaw North before the events started. “What we are thinking is just go all out – we have nothing to lose.”
To make it to the Games, Outlaw North had to close a 14-point gap between themselves as top teams Pro 1 Montreal and Physics CrossFit.
“We need a little help to get there. But, you know, crazier things have happened,” Rhodes added.
Team Event 7
The teams of Canada East took the floor in coed pairs to take on a 500-m row, 125 double-unders, 50 deadlifts (275 / 185 lb.), and 50 toes-to-bar.
CrossFit de l’Ouest was the first to have all six team members on the finishing mat, taking Heat 1 in 17:44. In a hotly contested race that came down to the last sets of deadlifts and toes-to-bars, CrossFit NCR 2 edged ahead of Équipe CrossFit Laval in Heat 2, finishing in 16:19.
When the athletes of Heat 3 stood facing the rowers awaiting the “3-2-1…Go!” there were two questions looming in the air: Would Pro 1 Montreal or Physics CrossFit take the overall lead? Could Outlaw challenge them?
Pro 1 Montreal was off the rower first by a few seconds, with Roch Proteau and Emilie Pfeiffer-Badoux looking strong. They led an otherwise uniform pack to the deadlifts. CrossFit NCR and Laval 1 beat them to the mat, but were penalized for the movements they skipped due to their teammate Isabelle Tardiff’s injured hand.
All eyes were on the middle lanes as the third pair strapped themselves in, ready to fight for the lead. Outlaw North and Pro 1 Montreal came off the rowers at the same time, followed closely by Physics.
Pro 1 Montreal hit the rig first, ready to rip out their toes-to-bar as fast as possible with Outlaw North chasing. With all four athletes – Dominic Trepanier and Mirakim Couvrette of Pro 1 Montreal, and Jay Rhodes and Lacey Van Der Marel of Outlaw North--opting for a mixed grip on the bar, the last hurdle before the finish was too tight to predict.
Pro 1 Montreal would finally edge ahead, winning the Heat and securing their first-overall placing. Outlaw North touched down in second, followed by CrossFit FirePower. Physics would take fourth in the heat. NCR 2’s time from Heat 2 would snag third.
“Our strategy was clear – put our strongest couple at the end,” said Roch Proteau of Pro 1 Montreal, who added that they had practiced the event twice before the weekend, refining their strategy. “Having Outlaw North right beside us made us push the limit – we never did it in training as fast as that.”
“I was aware that we were tight with Pro 1 Montreal, but I didn’t know where Physics was. You try to have blinders on when you are out there,” said Jay Rhodes of Outlaw North. “I said this morning that it’s not over ‘till it’s over. We came out flying on that one – we did exactly what we needed to do.”
Team Event 7 Results
1. Pro 1 Montreal (15:53)
2. Outlaw North (16:02)
3. CrossFit NCR 2 (16:19)
Team Event 8
With their last chance to prove themselves in the competition, the athletes took to the Rogue rig, ready for a sprint through 49 pull-ups and seven overhead squats.
In the first two heats, no teams would finish under the 16-minute time cap, reaching a sudden stop at the overhead squats.
As the athletes in Heat 3 set up under the rig, Outlaw North knew they would need a spectacular performance and some luck to overtake Physics in the overall standings.
CrossFit Chambly was the first off the rig and onto the overhead squats, followed closely by Outlaw North’s Jay Rhodes. Rhodes, looking focused, got the 185 lb. overhead easily. As he completed his last squat, he was no-repped but didn’t notice. He ran to the finish mat before he realized his error, and had to double back to put the barbell overhead one more time.
Outlaw’s Lacey Van Der Marel cycled through her pull-ups smoothly, snatching the 115 lb. barbell and dropping into seven unbroken squats to take the lead away from Chambly. Followed closely by Pro 1 Montreal’s Mirakim Couvrette, the top two teams had their second male athletes reach the rig for their pull-ups, butterflying rep for rep.
Outlaw’s second male, Tyler Kopacz, was the first to the finishing mat, sending their second woman, Christina Nowak, onto the floor.
By the time it was Pro 1 Montreal’s Stephanie Roy’s turn to go, Outlaw had a considerable lead. Gaining momentum with smooth pull-ups, she slowly closed in on the leaders.
Roy, a police officer who was shot in the leg three years ago, finished the seven overhead squats in one unbroken set to overtake Outlaw’s Nowak, which was stuck on the barbell work.
With Nowak still trying to finish her reps, Pro 1 Montreal was able to get their third male, Zachary Hebert, through to the finishing mat.
Pro 1 Montreal had a clear path to the finish, with their last and final athlete, Emilie Pfeiffer-Badoux chipping away at the last reps of the regional. Physics made some gains late in the game, moving into second position and getting their last female, Natalie Connors, onto the floor just before the 12-minute mark.
Pro 1 Montreal’s Pfeiffer-Badoux completed her last overhead squat, and reached the finish mat only to be pulled into an immediate celebratory team huddle (12:37). Nearly two minutes later, Physics followed (14:33).
Outlaw North would not finish within the 16-minute time cap.
After eight events, Pro 1 Montreal and CrossFit Physics are headed to the Games. Outlaw North stayed in third overall.
“I’m definitely not satisfied with third,” said Outlaw’s Jay Rhodes. “But the top teams deserve to be there – they were rock solid all weekend. We know what we have to fix.”
“We really wanted one of the top two spots this year,” said Alex Howard of Physics CrossFit, who put their depth on display this weekend with eight top-five finishes and finished strong to solidify second place.
Francois Leclerc added that Physics CrossFit learned a lot this weekend – lessons they will apply as they set their sights on the Games.
“Stay with one another throughout each event,” Leclerc said. “Don’t sweat the small stuff, and stay calm – know that our strength is out well-rounded team.”
Showing their depth and poise under pressure, Pro 1 Montreal made a name for themselves this weekend with a dominating performance.
“The goal was to do the best that we could and we achieved first place,” said Roch Proteau of Pro 1 Montreal. “We cannot ask for more.”
“It’s pretty amazing – it’s a dream for all of us,” added Stephanie Roy of Pro 1 Montreal. “We have a good bunch of athletes, but it’s the first time we’ve been together as a team so it’s definitely an accomplishment.”