Five bring back crossfit medals from teen gathering

PULL-UP CHALLENGE: Alicia Keepa (far left) and Kalani Pakaru (second from left) from Crossfit 4010 perform pull-ups during Workout 5, which included 10 deadlifts, 10 kettlebell swings and 10 pull-ups. Pictures supplied

FIVE Gisborne teenagers brought home medals this month from Hastings, where they took part in the Teen Gauntlet Gathering for high-performing crossfit athletes.

Eight Gisborne athletes from Crossfit Gisborne and Crossfit 4010 were among 38 who took part in the two-day event at Hastings Intermediate. One of the competitors had come from the United States.

They took part in eight events testing their gymnastic, weightlifting and metabolic conditioning.

Included was a sprint workout where the teens had to zigzag run between cones, sprint forwards and backwards, then finish with a sled-push over the finish line

The final workout was an elimination round where athletes had to complete exercises to get back to the rower. If they were the last back to the rower, they were eliminated.

Exercises included double-unders, thrusters, one-legged squats, chest-to-bar pull-ups, and a handstand-walk to finish.

Gisborne medallists• Tuteari Te Rauna-Lamont (Crossfit 4010): gold in novice males’ section.

• Lyric Baty-Akurangi (Crossfit 4010): bronze in novice males’ section.

• Kalani Pakaru (Crossfit 4010): gold in novice girls’ section.

• Campbell Hall (Crossfit Gisborne): gold in junior varsity section

• Holly Drain (Crossfit Gisborne): silver in varsity girls’ section.

Happy with teens' performanceCrossfit Gisborne coach Renae Lolohea said she was happy with how her teens had performed, and impressed with the improved skills shown by those who had been competing in the Gauntlet over the past two to three years.

“Crossfit Gisborne teens are preparing for upcoming competitions and also the next Gauntlet in Hawke’s Bay in October, which will be a qualifier for next year’s world event,” she said.

Crossfit 4010 teens coach Darryn White said the gathering was a contest of the best crossfit teens from all over New Zealand, with input from further afield.

Over two days of competition, all eight of the Gisborne athletes finished in the top 10, he said.

“The competition was fierce,” White said.

“I was blown away with the results. All the time and effort these teens have put in has helped them get the results they deserve.”

The athletes now prepare for another competition at Mt Maunganui on August 13.