CrossFit Arlington Heights Crowns 2015 Tandem Throwdown Champs
Tandem Throwdown organizers had no idea when they named the final workout of the 2015 event "Better Together" that the moniker would set the stage for the thisclose scoring between the top duos throughout the day, including two separate tiebreakers.
The 2015 Tandem Throwdown Open Division title was up for grabs as 2013 champions Vanessa Stack, St. Charles & Michael Bodi, Island Lake, held just a single point lead after three workouts over Ashley Carlson, Vernon Hills & Ryan Poole, Grayslake. Poole & Carlson bested Stack & Bodi on the final workout, a grueling 10-minute workout featuring Handstand Push Ups, Bar Muscle Ups and two sets of Squat Snatch (85# / 115#). With the leaderboard deadlocked at six, the first tiebreaker ruling of the day was invoked; the final workout victory clinched the 2015 title for Poole & Carlson. The Tandem Throwdown victory was the second title earned by Carlson at Elite Athletic Development | CrossFit Arlington Heights this year; she was crowned Athena Classic champ April 18.
Joining Stack & Bodi and Carlson & Poole in the finals were six duos who consistently placed in the top 10 on the leaderboard throughout the day: Maggie Kerrigan, Frankfort & Reid Specht, Oak Forrest (3rd); Kalah Blue, Round Lake & Brian Kent, Wauconda (4th); Kinsy Rosati, Woodstock & Clark Dendinger, Huntley (5th); Kate Konkel, Arlington Heights & Pat Scanlan, Palatine (6th); 2014 Tandem Throwdown champs Christina Meeks & Trent Meeks (7th), South Holland. The early departure by the one of duos tied for 6th place after three workouts, Skyler Bahrke & Jesse Bahrke, Johnsburg, (family function), invoked a tiebreaker ruling between 2014 Masters Division champ Thadine Zajac and her partner, Jason Rice, Roselle, and Jacqie Seyller, Plainfield & Andy Rodriguez, Oswego. Zajac & Rice went on to top the Masters Division. Rounding out the Masters Division were Jody Corbit & Justin Corbit, Fitchburg, WI; Courtney Fedacsek & Glenn Backus, Highland Park; Nicole Herchenbach, Barrington & John Allen, Wauconda; Bill Miller & Amber Rich, Arlington Heights; Laura Martin, Fox River Grove & Scott Beutler, Barrington; Dara Madrid & Marco Fernandez, Lake Barrington; Ann Marie Nordby & Todd Nordby, Arlington Heights; Lisa Lowenthal, Highland Park & Terry Barlin, Northbrook. Full leaderboard results are posted at WODLeader and the event photo album is posted at 2015 Tandem Throwdown Photos. Competitors hailed from 28 CrossFit Affiliates across California, Illinois and Wisconsin.
"Back in Shackles," a workout inspired by the first workout of the 2013 Tandem Throwdown, was met with enthusiasm - and a bit of bemusement - by competitors. The 10-minute workout featured 30 Overhead Plate Lunges, 30 Unanchored Sit Ups and 30 Single Unders, and a 250m Plate Run (45# / 25#) … completed as many times as possible and with Tandem members bound at the wrist. The workout kicked off what would become a fairly consistent leaderboard; eight of the top 10 finishers would go on to the finals.
Perhaps the loudest cheers of the day rumbled through the gym during Workout #2 | Kong. Tandems had a single barbell and 45 seconds for the female to complete a Deadlift and the male a Clean (any style). Ana Grimh & Tyler Grimh, Madison, WI, were the first to complete the 10-station ladder (135# - 305#). They were soon followed by Blue & Kent, Meeks & Meeks, Rosati & Dendinger, Stack & Bodi, Carlson & Poole, and Kerrigan & Specht.
Workout #3 | Hold On - 100 Shoulder-to-Overhead (95# / 65#), 90 Bar Hop Burpees, 80 Front Squats, and a 70 kcal Row paired either a Front Rack or Extended Arm Hang static barbell holds - showcased the athleticism of Bodi & Stack who logged an blistering finish time of 11:35.
The Tandem Throwdown returns to Elite Athletic Development | CrossFit Arlington Heights Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016.