2022 Syndicate Crown Semifinal: Day 2 Takeaways
The second day of the Syndicate Crown opened with athletes facing down two workouts and getting ready for moving day. And moves were made.
Here are four takeaways:
Mayhem Freedom, Medeiros at the Top to the Surprise of No One
Rich Froning’s Mayhem Freedom rolled through another two event wins on moving day, giving them a clean sweep thus far along with Tia-Clair Toomey at the Torian Pro and CrossFit Reykjavik at Lowlands. Not only is Mayhem 70 points ahead of second-place CrossFit CLT, but the differentials between them and the next finisher in every event are the definition of dominant.
Mayhem scores over second place:
Event 1: 15 pounds above CrossFit Blues City Gold with a complex total of 935lbs.
Event 2: 3 reps ahead of second place, and 21 reps ahead of third.
Event 3: Finished 1:03 before CrossFit Mayhem Justice crossed the finish line next.
Event 4: 1:11 ahead of second place, CrossFit CLT.
Similarly, Medeiros utilized his trademark consistency to stay atop the leaderboard. His Event 3 finish of 2:52 would’ve scored him in second and third at Lowlands and Torian Pro, respectively, but 23-year-old rookie Spencer Arey’s new world record time set a blistering pace in Knoxville. After his lowest finish yet of seventh place, Medeiros bounced back in the afternoon, chasing down early leaders Cole Greashaber and Tudor Magda, to take his first event win of the weekend in Event 4.
Panchik Out with Injury
While the details remain unclear, CrossFit legend and first-ballot hall of famer, Scott Panchik withdrew from the competition with an unspecified injury. While Panchik is, in his own words, “retired,” his first three events put him in range to punch a ticket to his tenth CrossFit Games.
Panchik fought through a knee injury at last year’s Games, though it’s uncertain thus far whether or not this is a similar issue, and Panchik declined to comment after Event 4. Panchik had a remarkable Event 1, landing in fourth place overall with a clean and jerk complex of 335 pounds, and stayed neck-and-neck with the top finishers all weekend.
McClelland Shoots for the Stars
Breakout star Gabby McClelland proved her Day 1 wasn’t a fluke, ending moving day right where she started: on top. McClelland, a US Air Force Academy graduate and current Space Force Guardian, stayed consistent with two top-ten finishes.
Despite sliding down the leaderboard in Events 3 and 4, McClelland has held on to her top placing, four points ahead of Alexis Raptis and barring any massive tragedies, has all but secured her spot at the Games this summer.
Eramo O’Connell Finds Stride in Event 3, Adams and Loewen Make Moves
Starting the day in Heat 2, Kristi Eramo O’Connell hit the ground running in Event 3, the 2014 Regionals repeat, with a blistering time of 2:21. This new world record put her in 8th overall, 13 points out of a qualifying position, after three events and starting the day in 19th place. Her sixth-place finish in Event 4 pushed her into seventh place overall, moving her within striking distance of her seventh trip to the Games.
Similarly, Haley Adams and Arielle Loewen, who both struggled on Day 1, climbed up the leaderboard ending Saturday in third and sixth respectively. Both of the Games vets will look to lock up their tickets by the end of the day tomorrow.
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