The second event of the 2023 Rogue Strongman Invitational got underway under the humid sun at the Dell Diamond Stadium in Round Rock, TX. The second event, titled “Iron Bull,” featured a harnessed 1,000-pound sled pull for time. Athletes were given 60 seconds to pull the weight on the gigantic tread adorned with a mounted metal bull’s head 50 feet.
Trey Mitchell and Bobby Thompson shared the lead after pulling an event-winning eight reps in the “Tower of Power.” Check out the results below for the second of six events:
2023 Rogue Invitational Strongman Event Two Results — “Iron Bull”
- Mateusz Kieliszkowski — 42.54 seconds
- Mitchell Hooper — CAP + 161
- Evan Singleton — CAP + 170
- Luke Stoltman — CAP + 194
- Maxime Boudreault — CAP + 225
- Tom Stoltman — CAP + 322
- Oleksii Novikov — CAP + 335
- Thomas Evans — CAP + 348
- Trey Mitchell — CAP + 401
- Bobby Thompson — CAP + 480
2023 Rogue Invitational Strongman Event Two Recap — “Iron Bull”
Four-time World’s Strongest Man (WSM) champion Brian Shaw tested the event and explained that friction and momentum are not the same as a typical truck pull-like event. Typically, momentum continues for a truck pull, but on the Iron Bull, if an athlete stops or slows, so does the tread. This means that maintaining leg drive throughout the event is critical.
Kieliszkowski was the first strongman to the Iron Bull and needed a big performance. The Polish strongman displayed the significant difference between the Iron Bull and a truck pull. Halfway through the course, all the initial momentum was gone. His time was considered respectable by the commentary team, but without anyone else to compare it to, Kieliszkowski remained stoic post-event.
Boudreault was up second, also seeking a strong run after a poor showing in the deadlift. He exploded through the opening, but at the 15-foot mark, his momentum evaporated. By 40 seconds, he momentarily let go of the rope from fatigue. He traversed 30 feet before reaching the time cap.
Luke Stoltman stepped onto the tread after the Iron Bull reset. With only six days’ rest after the 2023 Giants Live World Tour Finals, it was unclear if Stoltman was at 100 percent. He had fast feet through the opening but hit the same sticking point at the 15-foot mark. Stoltman’s face was on the verge of exploding as he used a double-footed drive to advance the sled. He capped after plopping on the track after a max effort.
Singleton batted clean-up. His intensity seemed like it would prove advantageous as he stepped onto the tread. He had a clean opening straight to the sticking point, but he handled it as well as on could. By The 30-foot mark, he roared with each pull, but his posture was far too upright to create any further momentum.
Thomas Evans stepped up, looking to be the second athlete to complete the Iron Bull. He stumbled through the opening as his feet slipped backward, unable to gain traction. By the 15-foot mark, He was pulling from a nearly upright position. A max effort was stayed by the immense weight, and he capped out with the shortest distance thus far.
Tom Stoltman was sixth to the Iron Bull. Fast feet got him through the opening, and he maintained low hips through the sticking point. However, at the 20-foot mark, Stoltman’s left foot fell off, and it stunted him entirely from advancing forward. A great start met a disastrous finish.
Oleksii Novikov entered the concourse knowing that only Kieliszkowski had successfully pulled the full distance. A strong break out of the opening was met with a double-footed pull at the 15-foot mark. As the lightest athlete in the field, Novikov had a more challenging run than the other athletes, and that was displayed by a near last-place distance.
Hooper placed a sneaker at 50 feet as a visual marker for himself — he expected to be the second athlete to clear the course. A much lower hip position for Hooper paid off well through 25 feet, but again, the sticking point seemed insurmountable. He advanced past Luke Stoltman’s time by the time the whistle blew, ensuring he would rank at worst in the top four.
Trey Mitchell stepped up with the advantage of being the heaviest athlete on the roster. A huge opening pull positioned Mitchell into a typical truck pull stance. However, the momentum just wasn’t there. Half the time was gone by the 30-second mark. Mitchell appeared to have fainted on the course before his time was up. Athletes and crew alike rushed to Mitchell’s aid. The Texan strongman was back on his feet shortly thereafter.
Thompson closed the event with a very wide stance that looked like a duck walk through the first 10 feet. He adjusted his harness and failed to get any additional distance. Only Kieliszkowski cleared the course and he scored a much-needed 10 points.
Featured image: @kieliszkowskimateusz on Instagram
