The Race Brain Drop vol. 33

With the close of the EMEA Regional Championships, 11 of the 15 qualifying spots in every Elite division are now filled.

Just two events remain to complete the Elite 15 field for the World Championships in June. One final spot will be awarded at the APAC Regional Championships, with the last three coming from the season’s final Major in Warsaw.

It was an action-packed weekend in London. Here are the biggest takeaways:

A Fast Weekend for Individuals

It started with the women’s race, which produced six sub-60 performances, while the top eight women all set personal bests.

That momentum carried into the men’s race, where Hidde Weersma took 1:33 off his previous best to lower the world record by 33 seconds, finishing in 52:42.

Despite 30 seconds of questionable penalties, Tim Wenisch still crossed in 53:00, also under the previous world record mark. Tomas Tvrdik came within 3 seconds of the old record, and Sean Noble missed it by just 7 seconds.

In total, 9 of the top 10 men set new personal bests, including Louis Osselaer, who improved by 3:50 from his first Elite appearance in Phoenix.

But It Was a Fast Weekend for Doubles, Too

The quick times continued in Doubles, where Tim Wenisch and Alexander Roncevic took 51 seconds off the previous world record set by Richlayo — a mark that had stood for nearly a year.

There was also world record buzz in the women’s race. Holly Archer and Saskia Millard were on pace for much of the event, but penalties and a series of no reps on the Wall Balls ended that chase.

Times Don’t Matter Anymore

This was the last weekend to qualify for the Warsaw Major using time.

From here on out, qualification will be determined by the new points system and head-to-head racing.

On the women’s side, bubble athletes like Elli Stenfors, Kat Parnell, and Stefanie Oswald were able to lock up bids for Warsaw.

For the men, Luke Greer, Louis Osselaer, Maarten Enthoven, and Liam McCroary posted the kind of times that should earn them one final shot in Warsaw.

Finish Line Controversy

With one qualifying spot on the line, it initially looked like Elli Stenfors had secured it.

But after her final Wall Ball, she cut between Emilie Dahmen and the rig and made inadvertent contact. The penalty was not issued immediately, but officials later assessed her a one-minute penalty, which shifted the qualifying spot to Seka Arning.

The women’s Doubles race ended in even more controversy.

After a brilliant performance, Lauren Stockley and Charlie Searle crossed the line as EMEA Champions in 53:38, a time that would have made them the third-fastest team of all time. Hours later, after a challenge from a competing team, it was ruled that they had cut a corner exiting the Sled Pull and they were given a one-minute penalty.

That was the same penalty assessed to Archer and Millard during the race.

Changing results after a podium ceremony, post-race interviews, and the check presentation was a bad look for HYROX.

Who’s Hot for Warsaw?

Elli Stenfors and Emilie Dahmen were both in strong positions to qualify and just missed out.

But another contender emerged that same weekend in Toulouse: Alyssa McElheny made the trip from the U.S. and ran 58:26 to secure a spot in Warsaw.

If Meg Jacoby is also able to return to competition, the battle for the final three spots could get very hectic.

On the men’s side, Luke Greer and Louis Osselaer were the first unqualified athletes to finish, both clocking 53:40.

There are only two other athletes currently sitting in qualifying position for Poland: Jon Wynn and Maarten Enthoven.

There will almost certainly be roll-downs, but if Jon Wynn qualifies in Brisbane and everyone accepts their Warsaw spot, we could see three men racing for three remaining spots.