The final event of Day One at the 2024 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) at Myrtle Beach, SC, was the Sandbag Steeplechase. After a day of stones and deadlifts, the 30 strongmen wrapped the day with sandbags.
This was the debut of the Sandbag Steeplechase at WSM. Athletes were charged with carrying three sandbags weighing 176 to 264 pounds. The athletes carried each bag down a course over a log.
After each bag carry, they rush to the other side, pick up the bag again, and run to the podium at the other end of the course. Athletes could choose to pick up the sandbags in any order they choose during the timed segments. The fastest time or furthest distance in 75 seconds determined the winners.
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2024 World’s Strongest Man Results — Sandbag Steeplechase
The summaries of the event for all six groups are below:
Group 1
- Tristain Hoath (CAN) — 1:03.36 seconds
- Luke Stoltman (UK) — 1:04.16 seconds
- Trey Mitchell (USA) —1:13.92 seconds
- Eddie Williams (AUS) — Five segments in 57.95 seconds
- Kevin Faires (USA) — Five segments in 58.33 seconds
- Oskar Ziółkowski (POL) — Four segments in 54.85 seconds
The crowd was loud. Once again, the strongmen competed in pairs. Group 1 started the action in Myrtle Beach with Oskar Ziółkowski versus Trey Mitchell. Mitchell completed the course in less than 75 seconds, while Ziółkowski only cleared the four segments.
Next up was Kevin Faires and Luke Stoltman, and the final pairing was Tristain Hoath and Eddie Williams. By the time all six men finished their races, the group winner was Hoath, with a time of 63 seconds.
Group 2
- Mitchell Hooper (CAN) — 53.54 seconds
- Ondrej Fojtu (CZE) — 1:02.91 seconds
- Spenser Remick (USA) — Five segments in 1:06.41 seconds
- Austin Andrade (MEX) — Five segments in 1:05.09 seconds
- Gavin Bilton UK) — Three segments in 34.32 seconds
- Nicolas Cambi (ITA) — no lift
Spenser Remick and Nicolas Cambi opened for Group Two. After watching Group One, they could devise a strategy. The match-up between Italy and the United States went to the American, Remick, who secured five of the six segments.
Cambi stopped after appearing to suffer an injury. He did not complete a segment. No details were shared regarding Cambi’s potential injury; he walked off the competition floor on his own power.
Gavin Bilton versus Ondrej Fojtu clashed in heat two. Fojtu was the quicker of the two. When Bilton rushed to his second sandbag, he required medical attention and could not finish. Medical provided him with oxygen and water. Bilton was assisted off the course to the crowd’s applause for his effort.
Austin Andrade and defending champion Mitchell Hooper closed for Group Two. Hooper committed several minutes to evaluate the course before the event began, and it paid off as he won the matchup and the event overall
Group 3
- Mathew Ragg (NZ) — 1:00.1 seconds
- Adam Bishop (GB) — Five segments in 58.7 seconds
- Pa O’Dwyer (IRL) — Five segments in 1:06.62 seconds
- Rob Kearney (USA) — Five segments in 1:12.1 seconds
- Aivars Šmaukstelis (LVA) — Four segments in 43.85 seconds
- Thomas Evans (USA) — Three segments in 35.46 seconds
Before the Group Three battled, medical confirmed Bilton was okay once he returned backstage.
Rob Kearney versus Pa O’Dwyer was followed by Thomas Evans versus Aivars Šmaukstelis and concluded with Matthew Ragg versus group leader Adam Bishop. Ragg scored the event win as the only athlete to complete all six segments.
Group 4
- Pavlo Kordiyaka (UA) — 57.58 seconds
- Evan Singleton (USA) — 1:11.01 seconds
- Evans Nana (GHA) — Five segments in 1:01.82 seconds
- Kane Francis (GB) — Four segments in 36.23 seconds
- Marcus Crowder (USA) — Four segments in 36.65 seconds
- Rauno Heinla (EST) — Four segments in 59.13 seconds
The afternoon transitioned to evening as Group Four prepared for battle. Pavlo Kordiyaka and Marcus Crowder approached the course first. Evans Nana raced against Kane Francis to score the middle scores across the group overall.
The final matchup pitted Rauno Heinla versus Evan Singleton, who felt confident due to his increased cardio and running training during his prep. Kordiyaka was the first to complete all six segments, but Singleton’s speed would not be denied.
Group 5
- Tom Stoltman (GB) — 53.69 seconds
- Jaco Schoonwinkel (SA) — 1:08.39 seconds
- Nathan Goltry (USA) — 1:14.95 seconds
- Wesley Derwinsky (CA) — Five segments in 57.23 seconds
- Adam Roszkowski (POL) — Five segments in 1:05.76 seconds
- Bobby Thompson (USA) — Withdrawn
The final group had plenty of time to watch what worked and what didn’t, which made these races the most interesting. Eight men out of 25 managed to finish the course by this point.
Adam Roszkowski was first and we went alone due to Bobby Thompson dropping out earlier in the day due to injury. He completed five of the six segments. Next up was Nathan Goltry and Jaco Schoonwinkel, and both beat the whistle to complete all six segments. Schoonwinkel was a few seconds faster.
The last pair of the day was Canadian Wesley Derwinsky and two-time WSM champion Tom Stoltman. Stoltman finished the course, won the matchup, and the group to end the first day of competition.
Day One Is Wrapped
The first day of the 2024 World’s Strongest Man is now officially in the books. Day Two promises another incredible showing as the Qualifying Events wrap up to determine who will compete in the Finals. The events on Thursday, May 3 will be as follows:
- Qualifying Event 4: Globe Viking Press — 9:00 AM
- Qualifying Event 5: Car Walk — 1:00 PM
- Qualifying Event 6: Stone-Off — 5:00 PM
Still need to catch up on Day One? Here’s our event coverage:
While you won’t be able to check out tomorrow’s action live online, stay tuned to BarBend‘s continuous coverage.
Featured Image: Rich Storry / World’s Strongest Man
