In 2014, the only competitors going to the CrossFit Games are those who qualify at regionals—no special invitations, no past-champ rule, no wild cards.

In the Central East Region, that means only the top three go to the Games, and the region is arguably the toughest one for male athletes. Among the competitors are two past champs, several top-10 Games finishers and a whole line of tough athletes hungry for a ticket to Carson, California.

In this in-depth, emotional look at the men’s competition at the Central East Regional, we follow the top athletes—Rich Froning, Scott Panchik, Graham Holmberg, Marcus Hendren, Nick Fory, Will Moorad, Nick Urankar and Gerald Sasser—through all seven events over three days.

In the end, two veterans and one rookie will represent the Central East Region at the 2014 Reebok CrossFit Games.

Video by Sevan Matossian, Hayley Parlen, Matt Krautstrunk and Gary Roberts.