Mackay CrossFit 4740 open challenge event
Mackay crossfit athletes have taken on the annual open challenge for 2023. Find out what drives the athletes to stretch their limitations.
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Sitting on a rower, Mackay’s Molly Kingswill is poised for the buzzer.
She has 14 minutes to complete what seems like an enormous task.
And it is – 60 calories on the machine, 50 toes to bar movements, 40 wall balls, 30 power cleans and 20 muscle-ups.
It’s the first workout in the 2023 CrossFit open and it’s her first time stepping up for the challenge at CrossFit 4740’s Friday Night Lights event.
“I’ve been doing CrossFit for 14 months now so I feel like I knew the movements well enough to have a crack this year,” she said.
“I wasn’t nervous about this workout because we did this a few weeks ago at the gym, but being in heat six watching everyone else go, I definitely felt a bit nervous,” the 23 year old said afterwards – she was in the last heat for the night.
Ms Kingwill didn’t make it through the reps. In fact, many who took part didn’t finish the AMRAP-style workout (as many rounds as possible).
Not everyone who takes part in the open workout has their eye on making it to the CrossFit Games, held in the US later this year, but those who compete will be ranked on a worldwide scale.
The open is a global online competition where anyone can register and involves one workout each week for three weeks – the top 10 per cent then moved on to the quarterfinals.
“I’m not expecting anything big but it will be nice just to see a number and see how fit everyone else is,” Ms Kingwill said.
Supremely fit teen athlete James McGowan has a steely focus when it comes to CrossFit – his goal was to compete against the best of the best at the Games.
“My grip is on fire right now but overall happy with the effort I put in … it’s all I could really ask for,” he said after the workout.
The 18 year old was one rep off finishing an entire round within the time cap.
“I was feeling really good until I got to the cleans … I came off the wall balls … I still (had) my breath,” he said.
With minutes on the clock and supporters cheering him on, he then had to knock out 20 ring muscle-ups, which is already a complicated gymnastic movement made even harder under fatigue.
“One rep off finishing … (I) failed my last rep,” he said.
Kylie Watts, 23, said she was feeling “pretty rough” after the workout.
“It’s a classic chipper-style CrossFit workout, lots of strategy involved so trying to time and pace your row, which I went way too hot in,” she said.
“Which I felt as soon as I jumped onto that rig.
“It was all just about strategising reps and just stick to your game plan.”
It’s not her first time giving the CrossFit Open a go.
“Every year you get that little bit better,” she said.
“So every year you’re like … I can do more toes to bar so this workout will be better or I’m a little bit fitter so the rowing will be better.
“So every year you expect a little bit better of yourself, which is exciting.”
Dean Fuhlbohm said he loved the surprise of the open workout.
“You need to be ready to adapt and manage the workout,” he said.
“The competition also gives you a gauge … for your own fitness with some level of comparison to others worldwide,” he said.
Before CrossFit Mr Fuhlbohm said he did nothing physically until mates opened a gym dedicated to the sport and he decided to try it.
He said he had never liked the average gym atmosphere, but he liked being able to turn up and just be told what the workout is
“Looking back (I’ve) made enormous gains in strength and fitness,” he said.
Ms Watt’s said she got into CrossFit after high school when she said she “gained a heap of weight and didn’t know what I wanted to do”.
“I was just studying and not training or exercising anymore, I gave up sport,” she said.
After discovering it on YouTube, she decided she “wanted to give it a go” and fell in love with the community.
“And just being fit … being able to say I can walk on my hands or I can squat double my body weight … especially as a female … I’m strong, it feels good,” she said.
CrossFitter of 12 years, Maata Strecker also praised the sport’s supportive community and said she thrived in a competitive environment.
She also took part in the open event, describing the workout as “really tough”.
“I’ve got to learn to work on my grip,” she said.
“But it was great, the vibe and everything and people supporting us.
“It’s just good to kind of be a part of what everyone else is doing.”
Mr McGowan said it was the community that helped him push harder and grow as an athlete.
“That’s the best thing about the open, is the community coming together and helping you with your career,” he said.
“(And) I just love the everyday grind … just putting in the work behind the scenes and then letting it show on competition day.”
Ms Kingwill said she loved the challenge and endorphins.
“Then you can tackle the rest of the day,” she said.
For CrossFit 4740 owner Kurt Brunker the Friday Night Lights was a CrossFit community event and an opportunity for athletes of all levels to test their fitness and skill while a supportive crowd cheered on.
He said it also gave “metrics to track”.
When you start, you’ll get a number and then next year when you compete again, put in those hard yards … see the improvements that you’ve made,” he said.
The next Fright Night Lights event is on February 24.
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