The Open has come and gone but there are still opportunities for athletes around the world to earn a chance to compete on the biggest stage in fitness. The remaining Sanctionals are that much more important because as each one passes, another qualifying opportunity does as well.

The most recent Sanctional took place in the U.S. capital of Washington, D.C. At stake were one men’s, one women’s, and one team spot to move on to Madison, Wisconsin, and be a part of the 2019 CrossFit Games. Here’s a brief recap of who seized the moment and claimed victory.

Men

1st – John-Paul Hethcock

Hethcock was originally coming to this event to work as the coach for Tammy Wildgoose. He was actually offered an opportunity to compete himself and he decided to have some fun and take part. Little did he know that he would actually go on to win the entire event and earn his ticket to the Games.

He was out of the top three after day one but made his move on Saturday, thanks in part to his new PR of a 355 pound clean and jerk. This will be the 26-year-old’s first trip to the Games, and he undoubtedly made his friends at Shockoe Bottom CrossFit in Richmond, Virginia, proud.  

2nd – Samuel Kwant

Kwant could’ve been considered one of the early favorites going in to this competition since he has experience competing at the Games. He finished in the top 20 in both 2016 and 2017. To come in second at an event like this is a feat in itself, but Hethcock is keeping this qualification since he didn’t win one in the Open. That means Kwant will have to compete again at another Sanctional if he wants to compete at the Games for a third time.

3rd – Will Moorad

Moorad was looking to make it back to the Games for the first time since he debuted on the big stage in 2014. Like Kwant, he will have to compete again this season, but he will be in the mix for any event he chooses to enter.

Women

1st – Meg Reardon

Thanks to her efforts in Washington, D.C., Reardon will be making her second career appearance at the Games. Her previous outing was in 2016 where she finished 33rd. Like Hethcock on the men’s side, she did not have a previous qualification locked up, which shows why these Sanctional events have been so important to athletes like her. She was in third after day one and was able to build upon that as each event passed, until ultimately she stood atop the podium.

2nd – Dani Speegle

Speegle actually did have a spot at the Games in her pocket thanks to finishing in the top five of the Open. Of course, that is if the current standings remain as they are when they are made official on May 1. 

Speegle had also been taking part in the qualifiers for the Rogue Invitational, which takes place next month. The focus on that along with the toll of the training may have been a factor here, but to still place in the top two at an event like this shows the caliber of athlete Speegle is.

3rd – KT Trombetta

Trombetta was in contention from start to finish. The highlight for her included a 185-pound snatch combined with a 235-pound clean and jerk. That kept her in the top three after Saturday. The other two athletes ahead of her never slipped up, so she remained in that third-place spot. No word yet on what event she will take part in next.

Other Notes

CrossFit Invictus took the team victory at the MACC, with MisFit coming in second and CrossFit Balance rounding out the top three. CI also won in Dubai back in December, so it didn’t need this qualification but taking a win here can be great momentum going into the Games.

The next Sanctional will be the CrossFit Italian Showdown which takes place April 26-28 in Milan, Italy. We will have a preview of this Sanctional coming up soon here on FloElite.

Roger Lockridge is from Lewisburg, West Virginia. His work has been featured on numerous platforms and magazines in the fitness industry over the last 10 years. You can find him on Twitter and Instagram @rocklockridge.