The third regional competing on the first weekend is the South Regional. This year Latin American athletes have their own regional this year so only the South Central and South West will be vying for the 5 qualifying spots.
The men’s leaderboard from last year has changed significantly. Travis Williams went team. Dakota Rager and Elijah Muhammad moved out of the region and both failed to qualify for regionals this year. That leaves Logan Collins and Tommy Vinas as the only two athletes returning from the top 5.
The women return all five Games athletes from last year. The only change is that Bethany Branham got divorced and is now Bethany Shadburne on the leaderboard.
Men
1. Logan Collins
2. Travis Williams
3. Dakota Rager
4. Elijah Muhammad
5. Tommy Vinas
Women
1. Tennil Reed-Beuerlein
2. Camille Leblanc-Bazinet
3. Margaux Alvarez
4. Bethany Branham
5. Alexis Johnson
There will be at least three different male athletes to qualify for the Games this year. Logan Collins dominated the South Regional last year and is one of the favorites to qualify once again this year.
Before last year, however, Roy Gamboa was unbeatable in the South (and South Central) Regional. Gamboa took the year off last year, but is back in 2018. Look for Gamboa to be back competing for a spot at the Games.
So who else will be making noise in Salt Lake City this weekend? Keep an eye out for Jared Enderton, Sean Sweeney and Mitch Spjut. Enderton has been improving over the past three seasons after switching from Olympic Weightlifting. Sweeney is looking to get back to the Games after missing last year and Spjut was on last year’s winning CrossFit Games team, Wasatch CrossFit.
The Barbell Spin’s Predictions (Men)
1. Logan Collins
2. Rogelio Gamboa
3. Tommy Vinas
4. Sean Sweeney
5. Mitch Spjut
With all five Games qualifiers coming back on the women’s side, it will difficult for a newcomer (or prior Games veteran) to break into the top 5. Camille Leblanc-Bazinet is coming off shoulder surgery in the offseason, but looked strong in the Open. Tennil Beuerlein appears to be building after last season’s breakout year.
There are several athletes who could jump into the top 5 this year. Amanda Goodman is back after a couple years off. Goodman qualified for the CrossFit Games three times from 2013 to 2015. And new to the region is Colleen Fotsch. Fotsch has narrowly missed qualifying out of the California Regional in the past and has moved to the South Regional to train with OPEX.
The Barbell Spin’s Predictions (Women)
1. Tennil Beuerlein
2. Camille Leblanc-Bazinet
3. Bethany Shadburne
4. Colleen Fotsch
5. Alexis Johnson
