"There are some incredible athletes in Latin America. Some I know and have competed against while others I haven't. It's going to be great fun."
For the last two years, only one name has been synonymous with winning CrossFit competitions in the Latin America Region: Orlando Trejo.
Like Rich Froning's reign in the Central East or Jason Khalipa's dominance in Northern California, Trejo has ruled the competition in Latin America.
The pint-sized dynamo burst onto the scene at the 2011 Latin America Regional in Panama City, Panama. After suffering through the first event’s 1-km run, 30 handstand push-ups and 1-km row, where he placed fifth, he started accumulating wins with the Thruster Ladder, the 100s, and Amanda. Despite his three wins, he wasn’t able to get ahead of Matthew Barnett from CrossFit Cayman. His fifth - place finish on the first event, and seventh-place finish on the deadlift and box jump couplet left him seven points behind Barnett at the end of the weekend.
His time on the Peruvian National Weightlifting team had developed his skill in Olympic weightlifting, but he still had some work to do. Over the next year, he put in many hours working on his weaknesses at CrossFit Peru.
He returned a true generalist, who was out of reach of every other man in Latin America. Trejo accumulated just six points across five workouts in the 2012 Open and the next year improved by winning every workout in the 2013 Open in the region.
Over the last two years, he has followed his Open wins with regional wins.
His challengers have shifted from year to year, but he has consistently taken his place at the top. Which is why it’s surprising to many to see his name below someone else’s in the 2014 Open: Leonidas Jenkins.
Jenkins, who recently moved to Latin America, has competed with the likes of Chris Spealler and Matt Chan in the South West. He will surely be Trejo’s toughest regional challenger to date.
Trejo fell behind Jenkins due to one workout: 14.1. Snatches and double-unders, two CrossFit staples—which should’ve been up Trejo’s wheelhouse—took him down.
“Sometimes you get so technical or focused on weaknesses that you overlook the simple things,” said Trejo. “Fortunately, I was able to correct it quickly.”
Trejo was able to beat Jenkins in 14.3 and 14.5, and settle to second place overall in Latin America--10 points behind Jenkins and 43 points ahead of Mark Desin.
Although many fans are focused on how the Open played out, Trejo isn’t so worried.
"The important thing is to qualify for Regionals,” Trejo said. “I gave a good effort in the Open and had a very good result. I'm training for Santiago (Chile) and I will be ready. I'm just trying to stay healthy, stay focused and if I do that, I'll be fine.”
The two-time Games competitor has learned the ultimate mission has to be to arrive strong and healthy. In his first CrossFit Games in 2012, Trejo was unable to participate after injuring his Achilles before even getting in the water in the first event.
In his second year at the Games, Trejo focused on his weaknesses such as swimming, as well as working on his speed, and becoming quicker and more agile. His hard work paid off with a stronger performance in California, which has only added to his arsenal.
"I have been to Carson twice now,” he said. “This year I want to go back and have an even better showing and proudly represent our region, which grows and grows every single day.”
“It will not be easy though,” Trejo added. “There are some incredible athletes in Latin America. Some I know and have competed against while others I haven't. It's going to be great fun."
