5 Memorable Rogue Invitational Performances You Might Have Missed
Most of the attention surrounding last weekend’s Rogue Invitational has focused on the podium finishers, especially Laura Horvath, who earned her third career title, and Jeff Adler, who defended his. However, there were plenty of other noteworthy individual performances worth highlighting.
Here are five of the most impressive from Aberdeen, Scotland.
Danielle Brandon in Event 1
This event had Danielle Brandon’s name written all over it, and the fan favorite delivered.
Event 1: Nessie
For time:
- 160 double-unders
- 80-meter handstand walk
- 60 GHD sit-ups
- 40 box jump overs
- 20/16 log bar muscle-ups
Brandon was the first to finish the double-unders before putting on a handstand walking clinic: her hips were perfectly stacked over her shoulders, and her technique and sheer speed are unmatched in the sport.
- She maintained her lead through the GHD sit-ups and box jump overs, and had pulled far ahead of the field by the time she reached the log bar muscle-up, a movement women have struggled with in the past at the Rogue Invitational.
Not Brandon. Her last rep looked just like her first, and she cruised to the finish line over a minute faster than any other athlete.
And then came a twist when Brandon was hit with a penalty for completing only 40 GHD sit-ups instead of 60. None of that mattered in the end because, even with the 57-second penalty, her official time of 9:24 was still good enough to win the event overall.
Colten Mertens in Event 3
Event 3 was something any CrossFit enthusiast could relate to, featuring three staple moves: back squats, dumbbell snatches, and sandbag cleans. That makes Colten Mertens’ performance even more impressive, considering that the back squat weights were heavier than many of our one-rep maxes.
Event 3: Tax Collector
4 rounds for time:
- 10 back squat (315/225 pounds)
- 10 dumbbell snatch (100/70 pounds)
- 10 sandbag clean (150/100 pounds)
Mertens won the one-rep max back squat at the CrossFit Games last summer after squatting 570 pounds, so we knew that 315 pounds wouldn’t be a challenge. However, strength endurance is a completely different test from a one-rep max, and Mertens was truly in a league of his own.
He was the only athlete to complete all four sets of back squats unbroken and quickly.
His first set of 10 took only 17 seconds, his second set took 27 seconds, his third 23 seconds, and his final set 28 seconds.
Mertens’ time of 10:27 was a full two minutes faster than second-place finisher Justin Medeiros (12:26).
Lucy Campbell in Event 8
Lucy Campbell entered the final day of competition in ninth place overall, 100 points out of podium position.
- A second-place finish in Event 7 on Sunday morning helped Campbell move into seventh, and then came Event 8, an event designed for athletes who aren’t afraid of a bit of pain.
Event 8: Double Bogey
10 rounds for time:
- 8 overhead squats (135/95 pounds)
- 6 burpee over bar
Campbell rose to the challenge, looking confident she would win the event.
Ultimately, no one could match her speed and sheer willpower as she secured an event victory, moving her into fourth place with one event remaining. She, of course, went on to earn the final podium spot behind Horvath and Alex Gazan.
Roman Khrennikov in Event 9
Roman Khrennikov arguably cemented his reputation as the King of the Echo Bike during the final event of the competition.
- Heading into Event 9, Khrennikov was sitting in third place overall, tied in points with Jay Crouch. James Sprague was in fifth, just 10 points behind.
Event 9: PEDICAB
For time:
- 100-meter carry (150/100 pounds)
- 50-calorie bike
- 100-meter carry
Like Event 8, the final event was a test of pure willpower, and with a podium spot on the line, it was Khrennikov who demonstrated his ability to push into that dark place.
Khrennikov led from the first bag carry, and there was no stopping him once he hit the Echo Bike. He won the event in 3:11, 12 seconds ahead of Sprague, securing a third-place overall finish.
Grace Walton in Event 9
Similar to Khrennikov, Grace Walton used all her energy in Event 9, posting a time in Heat 1 (4:27) that the final women’s heat couldn’t beat.
What makes Walton’s performance especially remarkable is that she was not in podium contention; she finished seventh overall. Her willingness to push herself so hard with little at stake shows her strong determination.
The Bottom Line
While Horvath and Adler claimed the bragging rights and a big paycheck home from Scotland, there were plenty of other memorable performances all weekend – from Brandon in the first event to Khrennikov and Walton in the final event – that reminded us of just how fit the top CrossFit athletes in the world really are.
Featured image: Sebastian Vallejo
