Final Four Games Spots Secured
Photo credit: Philip Roussy
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The 2021 NOBULL CrossFit Games is set, well unofficially, as the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) concluded on Sunday with the submission of the final two workouts. Roman Khrennikov and Emma Tall held on to their day one leads and won the LCQ with Alexandre Caron and Kristi Eramo O’Connell receiving their respective divisions’ final Games invitation.
The leaderboard will be finalized by CrossFit on or before July 10.
Four Takeaways from the Final Day of the LCQ
- The Khrennikov Question. Khrennikov was a popular choice to receive one of the two men’s invitations from the LCQ and also a favorite to win the online competition. The looming question as always with the Russian athlete is can he make his live, in-person appearance at the Games? His difficulties in being able to secure the necessary visa to travel to the United States to compete at the Games is well known. There’s little to indicate that it will change this year, especially with the Games set to start in less than three weeks.
- So where does that put CrossFit? Do they backfill that spot with third-place finisher Tyler Christophel or not? Either way Khrennikov has once again shown he belongs at the Games with this weekend’s performance.
- O’Connell’s Perfect Scenario. Sitting in 11th place after the first two of four workouts would probably be a death sentence for most athletes. Kristi Eramo O’Connell was just 40 points behind leader, Emma Tall, and 28 points out of the second Games qualifying spot. She needed a perfect scenario; she had to win out.
- In events that were tailor-made for her, she won Workout 3 in 4:16, completing her 100 burpees nearly :30 seconds faster than Feeroozeh Saghafi and then took the finale with a time of 12:42, just under a minute better than Tall.
- In events that were tailor-made for her, she won Workout 3 in 4:16, completing her 100 burpees nearly :30 seconds faster than Feeroozeh Saghafi and then took the finale with a time of 12:42, just under a minute better than Tall.
- Tall’s Redemption. Emma Tall has had an interesting path to her second Games invitation. The Swede has been at the center of a controversy in which she was announced as a Game’s qualifier, only to see it taken away a few days later.
- Using it as motivation, she proved that she belongs at the Games. Tall rounded out the weekend recording top-ten finishes in all four workouts.
- Caron’s Consistency. The Candian’s path to a second Games berth was built upon his consistency. He was one of just two athletes in the men’s division to record all top-ten finishes through the weekend.
- With an average event placing of 6.5, Caron only trailed LCQ winner Khrennikov by one spot. A fourth place finish in the final workout secured his invitation, and it never hurts having a fellow countryman and Games podium favorite like Jeffrey Adler pushing you through a competition.
The Final Leaderboard*
- Roman Khrennikov (332) | Emma Tall (344) **
- Alexandre Caron (312) | Kristi O’Connell (328) **
- Tyler Cristophel (304) | Madeline Sturt (262)
- Taylor Self (275) | Karin Freyova (261)
- Khan Porter (268) | Manon Angonese (257)
- Phil Toon (257) | Matilda Garnes (256)
- Ioannis Papadopolous (256) | Feeroozeh Saghafi (252)
- Alex Kotoulas (255) | Valentina Rangel (244)
- Kaique Cerveny (249) | Christine Kolenbrander (237)
- James Newbury (240) | Oihana Moya (235)
*Pending Final Video Review
**Top Two Men and Women Qualify for CrossFit Games
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