By: Kalle Beck

After the first day of competition, the bottom 40% of the field was cut in each division and the points were normalized, really making it anyone's game in each division. In the first event of the day, competitors had to clean and press a circus dumbbell (either 80, 110, or 130lbs depending on division) for as many reps as possible in a 60 second time limit.

Lightweights (80#)

The lightweight women started it off, cleaning and pressing an 80lb circus dumbbell over their head with one hand. Jamie Christenson got five reps in the first heat, unable to lock out a few reps at the end. In heat two, Cynthia McWright and Rachel Pyron faced off with Pyron pushing the pace to end up with an impressive 10 reps. She took the lead. McWright was on pace until shoulder fatigue took over on her fifth rep. She dug deep and managed a sixth rep to move into second place in the event. The last heat of the day featured Leslie Hofheins and Jessica Kite, the two separated by less than a point. Whoever won this would go into the final event with the lead. Kite set a blistering pace to end up with 12 overall for the event win while Hofheins got seven reps to secure third.

Middleweights (110#)

Three seemed to be the wall for the middleweights on this incredibly heavy 110lb Circus Dumbbell. Kimberly Lawrance hit a clutch fourth rep after a few misses to move into first before the final group- Liefa Ingalls and Dani Schwalbe. Schwalbe showed her insane pressing power we saw the first day in the log press is even more impressive on the Circus Dumbbell. She never slowed down on her way to 14 reps for first place and the lead going into the final event.

[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BJqg064D7iZ/?taken-by=dlschwabs" hide_caption="0"]

Heavyweights (130#)

The 130lb Circus Dumbbell proved to be no easy task and gave a lot of the athletes fits. Hoss and Sousa failed to get a rep, while Peck, Cornelius, and Rader got one. Resulting in a piece for a three way tie.

Photo Credit: Dani Schwalbe Instagram (@dlschwabs)