The Meridian Regional brought Europe and Africa together in Ballerup, Denmark, from May 29 to 31.
A group of strong Icelandic women were poised to dominate the podium, and many bet on two-time Games champion Annie Thorisdottir to win. Instead, rookie Icelander Sara Sigmundsdottir handily topped the regional by collecting 38 points more than second-placed Katrin Tanja Davidsdottir. Despite starting the weekend with an Event 1 win, Thorisdottir sat in unfamiliar territory in third place at the end of the weekend.
Two-time Games qualifier Jonne Koski owned the men’s competition, taking first place in four of seven events and only finishing outside the top five once—Event 5, the max snatch. Koski also managed a record on Event 1—Randy—with a time of 2:17.5.
Europe’s women took down records in four of seven events. Kristin Holte finished Event 3 in 23:52, Davidsdottir posted 1:19.8 in Event 4, Oxana Slivenko’s 210-lb. snatch was tops in Event 5, and Sigmundsdottir completed Event 6 in 13 minutes flat.
After a weekend of intense competition, the Meridian will send three rookies—Sigmundsdottir, Steven Fawcett and Phil Hesketh—and seven veterans—Koski, Björgvin Karl Guðmundsson, Lukas Högberg, Davidsdottir, Thorisdottir, Holte and Thuridur Erla Helgadottir—to the individual competition at this year’s CrossFit Games.
Video by Eric Maciel and Adam Cline.
18min 46sec
Additional reading: “Tour de Force” by Mike Warkentin, published June 15, 2012.
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