Granite Games: Saxon Panchik holds off Chandler Smith to take semi-final
- The 25-year-old, who owns a gym with his twin Spencer, holds off a charging Chandler Smith and youngster Colton Mertens
- Arielle Loewen wins the women’s division and Omnia win the team event as five men, women and teams qualify for the 2021 CrossFit Games
A youthful veteran held off a pack of even younger up and coming CrossFitters at the Granite Games over the weekend.
Saxon Panchik, 25, took the top spot at the Eagan, Minnesota after edging young guns such as 23-year-old Colten Mertens, who had two first-place finishes on the first day and sat second. Panchik is part of a trio of brothers – along with his twin Spencer and their eldest sibling Scott, who have all competed at the games. The two twins own and operate a CrossFit gym in Cleveland.
Panchik has gone to the CrossFit Games three times and showed poise in Eagan over the three-day competition, peaking at the right time, and held off fellow American Chandler by a mere 38 points to take the title. Along with Mortens, who came fifth, Tim Paulson (third) and Rogelio Gamboa (fourth) were also able to book their tickets to the 2021 CrossFit Games, which kick off on July 27 and run until August 1 in front of fans in Madison, Wisconsin.
On the women’s side, Arielle Loewen came first, followed by Mallory O’Brien, Emma Cary, Alessandra Pichelli and Caroline Conners, all of whom have now qualified for the games. Tia-Clair Toomey, the four-time defending champion, has already qualified for the games via the Mid-Atlantic CrossFit Challenge, which took place last weekend.
On the team side, Omnia won followed by Movefastliftheavy Crew, I1uvit, 8th Day Gym and Ocean States Finest. Those five teams also booked their spots to compete against Rich Froning and the famed CrossFit Mayhem Freedom team in Madison as they look for their fifth title.