After four events on Wednesday, a rookie was on top of the leaderboard. Laura Horvath was in 1st place heading into Friday ahead of 2017 CrossFit Games champ Tia-Clair Toomey. But after three more events, Toomey surged to the top while Horvath dropped to 2nd overall.
Friday, however, started where Wednesday finished. Horvath looked strong Friday morning during The Battleground where she took the event win and 100 points. Toomey was on Horvath’s heels on the run back into the North Park Stadium, but she struggled with the final Rescue Randy drag and dropped to 6th in the event.
But that is where things changed. On the Speed Clean & Jerk Ladder, Toomey showed her power while Horvath failed to advance to the semi-finals. Horvath would have the 21st fastest time in Round 1 while the top 20 advanced. Toomey took advantage of Horvath’s misfortune and ended up taking 2nd place behind Games rookie Amanda Barnhart.
Horvath would still have a lead over Toomey entering Friday night’s Fibonacci event, but after struggling with the deficit handstand push-ups Horvath’s lead would disappear. Toomey made her move and would take 4th in the event. Horvath finished 17th.
After a day where Horvath finished all four events in the top 10 and then started the next day with an event win, the last two events on Friday were devastating. Horvath now trails Toomey by 58 points.
Current Standings after Friday:
1) Tia-Clair Toomey (580)
2) Laura Horvath (522)
3) Annie Thorisdottir (516)
4) Katrin Davidsdottir (482)
5) Kara Saunders (474)
Behind Toomey and Horvath, Annie Thorisdottir and Katrin Davidsdottir both had strong days and moved into contention for a podium finish. Both former Games champions finished all three events in the top 8 and Davidsdottir took the event win on Fibonacci.
Saturday begins with the Madison Triplus, a swim, paddleboard and run chipper. In the afternoon the athletes will face an unknown event called “Chaos” and the day will finish with the two Bicouplet events. Kara Saunders is strong in the water so keep an eye out for her tomorrow morning as she might move herself up into contention.