Fraser Handily Wins Handstand Sprint, Toomey Comes in Dead Last

Event four of the 2020 CrossFit Games Finals seemed to be the great equalizer for some competitors thus far. Though Mathew Fraser won the 100-yard Handstand Sprint, Tia-Clair Toomey came in last place, trailing the winner Brooke Wells by 44 seconds. Justin Medeiros, the 21-year-old Games rookie, experienced a second wind as he snagged the runner-up spot with a time of 1:26. Here are the Handstand Sprint results.

Handstand Sprint Men’s Results:

1. Mathew Fraser, 1:20
2. Justin Medeiros, 1:26
3. Noah Ohlsen, 1:39
4. Samuel Kwant, 1:43
5. Jeffrey Adler, 1:54

Handstand Sprint Women’s Results:

1. Brooke Wells, 1:21
2. Kari Pearce, 1:23
3. Haley Adams, 1:24
4. Katrín Tanja Davíðsdóttir, 1:40
5. Tia-Clair Toomey, 2:05

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Handstand Sprint Highlights

Fraser completed the entire 100-yard Handstand Sprint breaking just once because, well, he’s Mat Fraser. However, Justin Medeiros employed a thoughtful strategy to secure second place. Every five yards or so, Medeiros would kick his feet down, regain his balance, and then drive back up to a handstand. The momentum he got from the leg drive helped propel him forward, and the frequent breaks kept him balanced and focused. Considering that Medeiros made a major rookie mistake during the Corn Sack Sprint, this was an impressive show of skill and smarts. 

In the women’s division, top dog Tia-Clair Toomey couldn’t seem to walk the walk in this event. Brooke Wells, who placed second behind Toomey in the CrossFit Total, completed the event four a full 45 seconds faster than Toomey. Behind Wells was Kari Pearce, which isn’t a shocker considering her gymnastics background and well-known core strength. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Despite her fifth-place finish, Toomey is still leading the women’s division by 95 points — which is incredible. This is in no doubt because she dominated the first three events. Has the Handstand Sprint revealed a possible chink in Toomey’s seemingly impenetrable armor? With one event left in the day and two more days of competition ahead, only time will tell.  

Feature Image: @thecrossfitgames on Instagram / photo by flsportsguy photography