The final week of the CrossFit Regionals is just about here! Week 3 brings us competition from the Atlantic, Meridian, and Pacific regions, and it’s safe to say the Regional season will end with a bang.
Each of these Regionals has a stacked lineup and we’ve compiled a list of who to keep an eye on throughout the weekend. Week 3 starts Friday, June 1, and ends Sunday, June 3. You can watch all the action live on Games.CrossFit.com or the CrossFit Games Facebook page.
Atlantic Regional
Comprised of the fittest in the Open from the Mid Atlantic and South East Regions, the Atlantic Regional is home to several big names in the sport of CrossFit. Perennial Games athlete and 2015’s Fittest Man on Earth Ben Smith will no doubt be in the mix, as will 2017 Games fourth-place finisher Noah Ohlsen.
On the women’s side, 2018 Open champion Cassidy Lance-McWherter will fight for a fifth trip to the Games, and Emily Bridgers, Mekenzie Riley, and Anna Tobias will defend their Regional reputations.
Connor Duddy
Despite the big names around him, we challenge you to put your money on Connor Duddy. Duddy has improved his Open ranking by region each year since 2013, climbing from 174th all the way to first in 2018. He took 11th in 2016 as an individual at the East Regional, beating out now-familiar names like 2017 Games rookies Tim Paulson and Michael Palomba.
Duddy beat Smith in this year’s Open and his scores held their own against Ohlsen, as well. Duddy’s been prepping for Regionals and is looking poised and ready.
Alison Scudds
While Lance-McWherter, Bridgers, Riley, and Tobias will be favorites heading into the weekend, Alison Scudds has our attention. The 25-year-old comes from Peak 360 CrossFit and was a member of the 2017 Games demo team.
After a seventh-place finish in 2017 at the Atlantic Regional, Scudds is fired up to nab her first spot at the Games — and not on the demo team.
Meridian Regional
Bringing together two new regions in Africa Middle East and Europe South, the Meridian Regional will feature familiar names such as 2017’s 18th-place Games finisher Lukas Esslinger, and first-place Open finisher in Africa Middle East Jason Smith. (Note: Smith suffered an injury recently during a mock Regional practice and is hoping to still be able to compete in Madrid.)
On the women’s side, 2017 Games eighth-place finisher and former CrossFit Yas member Jamie Greene will be looking for a repeat trip to Madison.
Elliot Simmonds
Elliot Simmonds, a member of the 2016 Games third-place finishing team CrossFit Yas is going for individuals again this year and we think he’s got what it takes. Simmonds took seventh at the 2017 Meridian Regional after a stellar performance in which he took three top-10 finishes. The transition from team to individual can be tricky, but after some experience, Simmonds looks ready.
Lauren Fisher
Native Southern California athlete and experienced team and individual competitor Lauren Fisher moved to the United Arab Emirates. The perennial Games athlete might be in a new region but she has the same goal: get to the Games. We think she’ll be a force to be reckoned with this week.
Pacific Regional
The Pacific Regional is home to the fittest and second-fittest women on earth, Tia-Clair Toomey and Kara Saunders. Enough said.
The Regional — which is comprised of Asia and Australia — is also hosting 2017 Games athletes Zeke Grove, Mitchell Sinnamon, and James Newbury on the men’s side. But we’ve got a couple more athletes for you to look out for.
Brandon Swan
His Instagram handle says it all: @whoisbrandonswan. Brandon Swan has flown under the radar since 2012. He took third, third, and second in 2012-2014 at the Australia Regionals. The merge of the Pacific saw him take a plunge, placing 10th, 11th, and 21st in 2015, 2016 and 2017, but we think Swan is back. After finishing second in the Open in Australasia, he seems poised to make a massive comeback in 2018. He’s practicing the events but always having fun, which may spell disaster for his competitors.
Jessica Coughlan
On the women’s side, we’re watching Jessica Coughlan. The 29-year-old athlete outworked Toomey in this year’s Open and took second in the region just below Saunders.
Coughlan made her CrossFit Games debut in 2017, taking fifth at the Pacific Regional and nabbing the final spot to Madison where she took 36th place. Having a year of Games experience under her belt might be just what she needs to come back, crush the Regional, and get back to the Games. She’s prepped and ready to take on the events.
Don’t forget to stop by TWL’s pop-up shop at Regionals and check out our newest apparel!
Main image: Alison Scudds/Instagram
