They were not going to let it happen again.
Last year, Josh Bridges and Lauren Fisher failed to qualify for the CrossFit Games. The year on the sidelines made them focused, hungry, and above all, determined.
Bridges and Fisher claimed the top spots early in the competition and never relinquished their lead. Neither won the last event, but their dominant performances over the weekend made an Event 7 victory unnecessary, and both finished the California Regional in first place.
Fisher, who took ninth at the 2014 Games, said she made some changes in the last year.
“My strategy was to focus on myself. To stay off social media and not stress out about what the other girls are doing,” Fisher said. “I have been focusing more on my cardio foundation, rowing two times per week and running.”
It worked. Fisher spent most of the weekend at the top of the leaderboard, earning only one first-place finish (Event 3), but performing consistently enough to finish on top.
As for Bridges, he said the difference between 2015 and 2016 (other than a stylish mustache) was his training.
“Volume is higher, less days off,” Bridges said. He said he has fewer distractions, now that he’s not in the military.
Hagiya Edges Out Ence
The women’s leaderboard was filled with veterans save for one new name: Jamie Hagiya. In her fourth year at regionals, Hagiya finally qualified for the Games, which she said she accomplished by living a more relaxed, balanced life.
To qualify, Hagiya beat out last year’s California Regional champion, Brooke Ence. There were no major missteps or errors for Ence. She went into the last event just 1 point behind Hagiya, but Hagiya’s second-place finish on Event 7 was enough to give her the fifth ticket to the 2016 Games.
Alessandra Pichelli started off the weekend with a 31st-place finish on Event 2, Regional Nate, but a first and a second place on Events 5 and 6, respectively, pushed her up the leaderboard and she finished in third place, qualifying for her fourth consecutive Games.
Pichellli said her strategy throughout the competition was to “always stick to my game plan and not rely on others to push me,” she said.
“It’s up to me to fight to the end,” Pichelli said. “With the last two years being injury free, it’s been the longest that I have been able to stick to my complete programming.”
New Names: Lucero and Andersen
Two rookie men qualified for the CrossFit Games: Christian Lucero and Rasmus Wisbech Andersen.
Andersen took eighth at the 2015 California Regional, and in hindsight he said he wasn’t ready to qualify in 2015.
“Last year I bombed out on the strict handstand push-ups,” Andersen said. “I was hoping I would be good enough, but I was nowhere near ready."
Andersen said he spent the year leaning out and building muscle. Before Event 7, the last event of the weekend, Andersen said he was relaxed and ready for the final challenge.
“I’m going to do as good as I can,” he said. “I’ve done this workout three or four times, and I’m not going to win, but I’m not going to be last."
Andersen’s prediction was correct. He took 11th in the event, and second overall.
The fourth-place men’s spot went to Garret Fisher, who hasn’t been to the Games since 2013. Fisher will be headed to the Games with his sister, Lauren, making them the first siblings to qualify for the Games since 2010.
Bridges said the mental part of the competition is difficult, but he’s learned a way to survive the ups and downs and keep moving.
“I mean it’s tough for all of us,” he said, “It’s ups and downs every workout, it can fluctuate, your mentality.” For him, the key is to leave each event behind, and avoid getting wrapped up in each success or failure.
“You have to try to stay positive and stay focused and have a short memory,” Bridges said.
