Mid-Atlantic CrossFit Challenge: who will win the first semi-final of the 2021 CrossFit Games season?

The first two of 10 semi-final events, which includes the Knoxville, Tennessee event, kick off this weekend

CrossFit stars such as Tia-Clair Toomey, Rich Froning, Justin Medeiros and Brooke Wells look to book their tickets to the finale

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Tia-Clair Toomey leads the women’s pack at the Mid-Atlantic CrossFit Challenge, which kicks off the semi-final stage for the 2021 CrossFit Games. Photo: CrossFit Games

Published: 4:45am, 28 May 2021Updated: 6:37am, 28 May 2021

A dominant dynasty team and a late addition for the women should make most of the noise at the first of 10 semi-final events towards a berth at the 2021 CrossFit Games.

Four-time reigning women’s champion Tia-Clair Toomey was a late addition to the competition, after being granted a travel exemption by CrossFit to attend the Mid-Atlantic CrossFit Challenge.

The first of three days of competition kicks off early on Saturday morning at 2am (Hong Kong time) and concludes at 8am. Toomey will be joined by fellow CrossFit legend Rich Froning, who will be debuting his brand new CrossFit Mayhem Freedom team, which is partially due to new restrictions on where team members can live in accordance to their home gyms.

On the men’s side, Justin Medeiros leads a stacked field which also includes Travis Mayer, Scott Panchik, Samuel Kwant and former CrossFit Games champion Ben Smith.

Can Rich Froning win yet another team title at the 2021 CrossFit Games? Photo: CrossFit Games

The top five men, women and teams from each category will automatically get a birth at the 2021 CrossFit Games, which are set to take place in Madison, Wisconsin from July 27-August 1 in front of fans at the Alliant Energy Center.

The games will feature 20 men, 20 women and 20 teams, and on top of nine semi-final events, five of which will be live (pending Covid-19 restrictions), there will be a Last Chance Qualifier virtual competition after the final semi-final. This is the CrossFit Asia Invitational, which will be a virtual event from June 18-20, and will feature Hong Kong’s own Ant Haynes.