CrossFit Games

2022 CrossFit Lowlands Semifinal: Day 2 Takeaways

May 21, 2022 by
Photo Credit: Barbell Photography | @barbellphotography
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All three division leaders from day one have extended their leads significantly on day two, but behind them on the rest of the leaderboard changed quite a lot on day two. 

Men: 

Serbia’s Lazar Dukic extended his lead to 40 points behind a third place finish in Event 3, and an 8th place on the Barbell Complex. Despite that 8th place finish being his lowest so far, it could be the one he’s most proud of. At both Rogue and Dubai he missed the jerk at the end of similar complexes, today he hit it all three times. If his lifting is catching up to his peers, his threat level at the Games will be even higher than most are crediting him for. 

Uldis Upenieks survived the Barbell Complex and retains a second place tie with Bjorgvin Karl Gumundsson with 320 points. Both men have been consistent this weekend and are looking solid for a Games spot. 

In fourth is a man with no competition pedigree to speak of. Italy’s Enrico Zenoni showed up in Amsterdam as a total unknown, and has been nothing short of impressive. All four finishes have been between 4th and 11th, including an 8th in the lifting test. At only 23 years-old his strength is already good enough not to cost him. We’ll see what tomorrow brings, but this might be the next bright young star in Europe. 

Zenoni is tied on points with Games veteran Adrian Mundwiler, who, just at the close of day one, serves as the gatekeeper for a Games spot in fifth. Behind him are Luka Dukic who gave away big points on the Barbell Complex; Moritz Fiebig, and another competition surprise in Serbia’s third man in the top ten–Luka Vunjak. All of those men still have a chance to qualify, so tomorrow is sure to be very intense. 

Women: 

Laura Horvath had done it all except get an event win. That changed on Saturday night when she took down the lifting event to build her lead up to 48 points over the field with one day to go. She still needs to show up, and will certainly want to lock up the win, but Sunday will mostly be a formality for her. 

There’s a massive battle behind her however. Karin Freyova and would-be Games rookie Matilde Garnes are tied in 2nd and 3rd with 324 points. 

Lucy Campbell is four points back in fourth place and survived what could have been a deal breaker workout for her on the lift. With that out of the way she has to be feeling good however. 

Gabriela Migala sits in 5th with 312 points, but at only 12 points out of second, she’s as a good a bet as any to wind up on the podium when things conclude Sunday. The real question is, can anyone unseat the current top 5 with two events to go? 

The next closest competitor is Spain’s Elena Carratala Sanahuja, 32 points behind Migala. That’s not a margin you want to have behind someone as accomplished as her however. After that comes Sara Sigmundsdottir, and although it’s not what anyone wants to hear, pointswise, the gap is likely too big at this point. If she’s going to make the Games this year, it will likely have to be via the LCQ. 

Teams:

CrossFit Reykjavik remains perfect through two days – 400 for 400. Not only that, but on the back of Tola Morkinyo’s 309 lb snatch they actually outlifted CrossFit Mayhem Freedom on the Snatch Ladder. They are looking more and more dangerous with each passing event and are likely also building confidence amongst themselves too. 

In second and third are CrossFit Zarautz Training Culture and CrossFit Portti who are well behind Reykjavik, but well ahead of everyone else. For Zarautz it seems they are poised for a Games debut, while Portti will be making a return trip to the Games after placing 12th last year. 

There are a host of talented teams sitting 4th through 8th, but only two spots for them tomorrow. The biggest movers on day two were Crossfit 2150 Team Norce BL who currently sit fourth 25 points ahead of CrossFit Oslo Purple Red who hold the final Games spot with 280 points. 

However, Blueprint CrossFit Team AOD are only 10 points back, and CrossFit Nordic, who took second on the Barbell Complex to close the day are only five points behind that. All four teams will have ambitions of staking their claim in the top five tomorrow. 

The big picture: The top five women might just be locked in for the Games, but with the strength of the women’s field overall, the last chance qualifier spots are a big deal as the European women will be amongst the favorites come early July. 

In both the men’s and team divisions there are multiple spots that are going to be hotly contested tomorrow. The weekend is set up for a dramatic finish, especially for the individuals who have a blistering sprint triplet to round things out in Event 6. The stage is set, the athletes are ready, tune in tomorrow to see who’s going to Madison. 

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