Coaches, firebreathers, masters, totally new CrossFitters, and everyone in between came together to battle through burpee after burpee.
Seven minutes of burpees. When the first workout of the 2012 CrossFit Games Open was announced on Wednesday night, many people wondered if this was real. Immediately after the workout posted, the conversation started on Facebook, Twitter, messaging, and at local boxes.
Then the realization began to set in--this first workout was a great kick-off for the Open. Here’s what this workout looked like for the athletes of Northern California.
Workout 12.1 brought people together. CrossFit affiliates all over had athletes registering for the Open, now knowing that this was something they could participate in. Coaches, firebreathers, masters, totally new CrossFitters, and everyone in between came together to battle through burpee after burpee.
After all those burpees, the Leaderboard for Week 1 sets the stage for an exciting and unpredictable 2012 Open. In the NorCal region, only one of our past Individual Division competitors holds a spot in the top 10. Annie Sakamoto (CrossFit Santa Cruz Central) takes first place with 135 reps. KC Stallsmith, of CrossFit AllStar, and Kasey Beckman from CrossFit Core Zone, round out the top three women with 133 and 130 reps respectively.
The leading NorCal men are Joe Ward (CrossFit North Marin) with 145 reps, Chad Augustin (Rocklin CrossFit) with 144, Marc Kaiser (Diablo CrossFit) and Emmett Zeigler (CrossFit West Santa Cruz), both with 141 reps. This first workout might have thrown the perennial top individual male competitors of NorCal for a loop with this single movement, but there is no doubt they are looking to make up ground as the more traditional CrossFit couplets and triplets undoubtedly appear.
The team race here is fierce and strong; currently led by Diablo CrossFit Anejo, also ranked 4th worldwide, Rocklin CrossFit Honey Badgers, ranked 6th worldwide, and CrossFit CSA. With the high numbers of athletes participating in the NorCal region, each team knows the workouts ahead are sure to favor different athletes in their gym, shaking up the rankings each and every week.
As always, Masters started strong and several worldwide rankings of note include: Elizabeth Meyers (Tamalpais CrossFit), 2nd worldwide in the Women 45-49 division, Clarke Holland (Tamalpais CrossFit) 1st worldwide, Chris Kulp (CrossFit Los Gatos,) 2nd worldwide in the Men 60-plus, and Mary Schwing (CrossFit 808), 2nd worldwide in the Women 60-plus..
The burpees are over. What will Week 2 of the CrossFit Open bring?
*The scores and rankings are unofficial until Tuesdays at 5 p.m., PT.
