2012 Mid Atlantic Scouting Report

February 2, 2012

Brian Wilson

Mid Atlantic CrossFit Games Scouting Report

Individual Women and Men

Three big moves have opened up the race to the 2012 CrossFit Games in the Mid Atlantic Region. Spencer Hendel, A.J. Moore, and Becky Conzelman will all be competing in different regions this season. Hendel has moved to Massachusetts, Moore to Florida, and Conzelman to Colorado.

Michelle Crawford, Ballantyne YMCA CrossFit.

Raleigh, North Carolina.

Crawford came in 5th place in the Mid Atlantic in the 2011 Open, but had a disappointing finish on Day 1 of the Regional, coming in 22nd on the Run/HSPU/Row and 29th in the Thruster Ladder.

She has worked hard over the last year with the help of CrossFit Eternal owner and coach, Joshua Elmore. She’s been dominating local competitions in North Carolina, with a 1st place finish at the Carolina Fitness Challenge, hosted by CrossFit Durham.

Cameron Williams, CrossFit Greensboro

Greensboro, N.C.

Williams was a strong competitor at last year’s Mid Atlantic Regional, finishing 7th. She has since participated in local competitions, finishing 2nd at the Battle on the Border hosted by CrossFit Charlotte, and 4th at the Carolina Fitness Challenge.

When Williams isn’t CrossFitting, you can find her starting as a wide receiver for the Carolina Phoenix, an Independent Women’s Football League.

Jenn Jones, District CrossFit

Washington, D.C.

Jones missed a spot to the CrossFit Games in 2011 by one point. She is a coach at District CrossFit and a full-time nurse.

She’s spent the offseason training with other big names in the Mid Atlantic, including Christy Phillips, as well as doing local competitions, taking 3rd place in the Mid Atlantic Hopper Challenge hosted by CrossFit BWI.

Emily Pale, CrossFit Explode

West Chester, Penn.

The 22-year-old CrossFit coach and recent graduate of West Chester University picked up a sponsorship from Again Faster Equipment after the 2011 Garage Gym Games Series.

Pale and Jenn Jones ended up tying for 4th at the 2011 Mid Atlantic Regional CrossFit Games. Emily has competed in several local competitions, including a 4th place finish at the Fall Brawl hosted by R.A.W. Training, and 5th at the Beast of the East.

Additional Competitors

Another athlete to look out for is Lindsey Wehseler, who took 1st place in the 2011 Fall Brawl after finishing 6th at the Mid Atlantic Regional. Teresa Luz continues to take top spots in local competitions (2nd Fall Brawl, 5th Mid Atlantic Hopper) after her 12th place finish in the Mid Atlantic Regional. Laura Nielsen (Outlaw CrossFit owner, Rudy Nielsen’s wife), will also be competing in the Mid Atlantic in 2012. Neilsen took 22nd in the 2010 CrossFit Games and 14th in 2009.

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On the men’s side, it looks like Ben Smith and Nate Schrader will dominate it again this year. Their respective video channels plays like a one-on-one competition, with each squeaking by the other in a variety of benchmarks.

Here are some other athletes watch during the 2012 CrossFit Games Open:

John Zvejnieks, CrossFit Wilmington

Wilmington, N.C.

Zvejnieks took 5th place at the 2011 Mid Atlantic Regional and has remained dominant in the offseason, with a 2nd place finish at the Battle on the Border and 8th at the Carolina Fitness Challenge. He is a coach at CrossFit Wilmington.

Steve Pinkerton, CrossFit Vitality

Concord, N.C.

Pinkerton is the owner and head coach of CrossFit Vitality and an active duty Marine Officer. He took 1st place in the Battle on the Border and 11th at the Carolina Fitness Challenge.

Other names to watch out for thisyear include last year’s Mid Atlantic CrossFit Games Open Champion, Todd Edmunds of R.A.W. Training (11th at the Regional). Thomas Hooton was 2nd in the 2011 Open and was strong at the 2011 Regional, but had a disappointing 100s Event that dropped him to 10th overall.

Masters

Lisa Quinn, CrossFit Spotsy

Fredericksburg, Va.

Lisa Quinn was the sole Master’s athlete to qualify for the 2011 CrossFit Games out of the Mid Atlantic Region. Lisa owns CrossFit Spotsy and trains along side her husband, Kerry, a retired Marine, and their daughter, Tiana.

Jerry Hill, CrossFit Old Town

Alexandria, Va.

Jerry Hill, owner and coach of CrossFit Old Town, scored 44th in the 2010 Mid Atlantic Open at the age of 44. Hill has the potential to dominate the Masters division now that he is old enough to qualify.