Consistent Wins

June 4, 2017

Andréa Maria Cecil

Guðmundsson, Holte, CrossFit JST win Meridian Regional.

Consistency is key.

That’s what Meridian Regional winners demonstrated across three days of competition at La Caja Mágica in Madrid, Spain.

Björgvin Karl Guðmundsson, Kristin Holte and CrossFit JST made the podium by never placing lower than sixth in any event, remaining steady and stoic.

MEN

Coming into the Regional, his goal was to be at the top of the Leaderboard.

“Definitely. One-hundred percent to win it,” Guðmundsson said.

Yet, he said there wasn’t one event in his wheelhouse.

“There’s not a single workout where I said, ‘I’ll win that one.’”

He added: “That probably means I’m doing the right things.”

Indeed.

Björgvin Karl Guðmundsson

Guðmundsson won only one event, placed second in two, then recorded a third, a fourth and a fifth-place finish.

After the emcee announced he was the Regional winner, Guðmundsson celebrated by taking a stage-like bow with an Icelandic flag draped across his back. As the crowd cheered, he casually squatted down and alternated flexing each peck while spectators roared with laughter.

When asked if that was a celebratory ritual, Guðmundsson said it seemed like an opportune time for comedy.

This will be Guðmundsson’s fourth Games appearance. He made the podium in 2015, finishing third behind Mat Fraser and victor Ben Smith.

From left: Lukas Esslinger, Jonne Koski, Björgvin Karl Guðmundsson, Jason Smith, Frederik Aegidius

Meanwhile, it will be Jason Smith’s first Games appearance.

In seven years of Regional competition, the South African has failed to qualify once.

“Not even as a volunteer,” he joked on Saturday afternoon. “Not that I even applied.”

This year was different.

“(It’s been) a long time in the making,” a grinning Smith said minutes after the emcee announced his name as a Games qualifier.

He added: “I don’t think it’s hit me yet. … I over-exceed my expectations.”

From the end of Day 1, the 32-year-old held on to the Leaderboard’s third spot and remained there with one second-place finish and one third.

“To maintain and keep that position was awesome,” he said. “Consistency is key.”

In the fifth qualifying spot was Frederik Aegidius, who failed to qualify for the Games the previous three years.

In one of the few dramatic moments of the weekend, Aegidius dropped to his knees after hearing the emcee say his name, clenched his fists near his shoulders and released a forceful roar that reddened his face. His girlfriend, Annie Thorisdottir, who qualified by finishing third in the previous heat, ran onto the floor to hug Aegidius, who ended up shedding tears.

WOMEN

If there’s any way to characterize Holte’s past year of training, it doesn’t involve flash or fuss.

The 31-year-old had surgery on her wrists in November and back problems throughout the fall.

“I was free to do more basic work,” she explained moments after she won the Regional.

That involved Strongman movements, a lot of time on a stationary bike and rowing. In May, she spent four weeks training at CrossFit Invictus in San Diego, California.

“The main part is that I’m healthy,” Holte said with a smile.

From left: Jamie Greene, Sam Briggs, Kristin Holte, Annie Thorisdottir and Thuridur Erla Helgadottir

Meanwhile, the woman who has been called both “The Engine” and “The Machine” did what she typically does: Got shit done.

After surgery on her left shoulder in late August, Sam Briggs didn’t think she’d even be able to compete. But she did more than that at the Meridian Regional, recording three second-place finishes and two thirds. Her lowest finish was sixth place in Event 4.

In terms of ever considering Masters competition, the 35-year-old shrugged it off.

“I don’t even think of it.”

Earlier this year, Briggs finished first worldwide in the 35-39 age division of the Masters Online Qualifier.

“I’m making the most of both avenues open to me,” Briggs said.

TEAMS

Steve Fawcett has been making history.

In 2015, he was one of the first two U.K. men to qualify for the CrossFit Games. Then, on Sunday, he led CrossFit JST to become part of the first U.K. team to qualify for the Games.

The team won the Open in the Europe Region and placed third among teams worldwide. It ended Day 1 in first place and never relinquished it.

CrossFit JST

As the emcee announced the team had won the Regional, CrossFit JST team members—all former individual Regional competitors—hugged beneath the cover of the Union Jack.

In the stands a sea of CrossFit JST fans went wild, jumping in place, shooting their arms into the air and waving a giant British flag.

From left: Maxpuls Spartans, CrossFit Fabriken, CrossFit JST, CFXY and CrossFit Reykjavik

Two days earlier, Fawcett had said team members were “passionate” about increasing the number of competitive CrossFit athletes in the U.K. and pointed to 2013 Games champion Briggs as a pioneer.

“Hopefully it’s just a message to people in the U.K. that it can be done,” he said on Sunday.

In terms of planning for August in Madison, Wisconsin, Fawcett indicated that it was too soon to have such thoughts.

“Nah. We’ll regroup next week.”

As for tonight, there are celebrations to be had.

“After party,” Fawcett said, smiling. “Have some fun.”

*          *          *

 

Men

1. Björgvin Karl Guðmundsson (545)

2. Jonne Koski (485)

3. Jason Smith (476)

4. Lukas Esslinger (447)

5. Frederik Aegidius (438)

 

Women

1. Kristin Holte (545)

2. Sam Briggs (540)

3. Annie Thorisdottir (512)

4. Jamie Greene (510)

5. Thuridur Erla Helgadottir (464)

 

Teams

1. CrossFit JST (540)

2. CrossFit Fabriken (499)

3. CFXY (489)

4. Maxpuls Spartans (484)

5. CrossFit Reykjavik (479)

 

For complete details, visit the Leaderboard.