The Story in NorCal

In the fourth and final week of regional competition, NorCal athletes took the floor at the San Jose University Event Center.

In a region that's home to three of the top 10 male athletes from last year's CrossFit Games, squeezing into a qualifying spot would not be an easy task. Neal Maddox proved he was ready to go back to the Games by setting a record in Event 1 with a 295-lb. hang snatch.

"I just want to go out there and do the best that I possibly can, and everything else will take care of itself," Maddox said.

Powerhouse team NorCal CrossFit also set an event record on Day 1, besting the previous top time for the first team event by 17 seconds.

On the women's side, former gymnast Courtney Walker was a top pick for for the podium, and with just three events to go, Walker was confidently sitting in third place.

"I have just as good of a chance as anyone else to do well," Walker said on Day 2.

A disappointing 32nd-place finish on Event 6—the 50s chipper—cost Walker dearly, and she ended her weekend in fifth place overall. At the end of Day 3, Margaux Alvarez was in third, while Chyna Cho took second and will return to the Games after a three-year absence. As she did in 2013, Alessandra Pichellistood atop the podium and will return to Carson for a second time.

Also repeating as champion was Jason Khalipa, who will make his seventh consecutive Games appearance. He was followed by Maddox and Marcus Filly.

Video by Eric Maciel.

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