The 2024 National Team Trials concluded last night with Boulder Finals at Sportrock Rio in Gaithersburg, MD. Athletes battled for spots on the National Team Trials podium and on the 2024 Boulder National Team, which designates athletes to represent the U.S. at international World Cup events sanctioned by the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC). Ben Hanna managed to flash Boulders 1 and 2 and get the Zone on Boulder 4, earning him 3rd place. Dillon Countryman had already secured his 2nd place finish before starting Boulder 4, having sent Boulders 1, 2, and 3, but also sent Boulder 4 in just two quick attempts for good measure. Hugo Hoyer, who entered the round in 6th, wooed the crowd with an impressive comeback, flashing every single boulder and finishing in 1st place. “I felt like everything I worked on training at home just kind of finally came together,” said Hoyer, who’s already looking forward to the summer and next year’s competitions. Dillon Countryman and Hugo Hoyer both earned enough National Team Ranking points to join the 2024 Boulder National Team. For the first time in USA Climbing history, a Women’s Finalist was briefly interrupted by a fire alarm while on the wall, triggered by another business in the complex. Luckily, athletes and spectators were evacuated and then back inside in about 10 minutes, with Clark returning to battle with Boulder 3 after warming back up. Adriene Akiko Clark, Analise Van Hoang, and Nekaia Sanders all powered to the top of Boulders 1, 2, and 4. By the time Helen Gillett was on Boulder 4, she only needed to reach the Zone to finish in 1st. After one slip on the volume, she did just that, smiling and looking back to the crowd, which erupted in applause. Gillett finished 1st, followed by Van Hoang and Sanders. “I’ve been focusing on being in a good place with myself and having fun climbing and trying to bring that here,” said Gillett after her knockout performance. Melina Costanza and Helen Gillett both earned enough National Team Ranking points to join the 2024 Boulder National Team. Men’s Boulder Podium: Hugo Hoyer Dillon Countryman Ben Hanna Women’s Boulder Podium: Helen Gillett Analise Van Hoang Nekaia Sanders 2024 Boulder National Team: Kyra Condie Melina Costanza Kylie Cullen Helen Gillett Natalia Grossman Brooke Raboutou Annie Sanders Dillon Countryman Colin Duffy Jesse Grupper Hugo Hoyer The Boulder Finals Round is currently streaming on Outside Watch.
The 2024 National Team Trials continued on Wednesday with Semi-Final and Final Rounds in Lead. The stakes were twofold: spots on the National Team Trials podium and on the 2024 Lead National Team, which designates athletes to represent the U.S. at international World Cup events sanctioned by the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC). The eight highest-ranked women and men entered Finals, which began with a route preview. All competitors had a chance to view and discuss the Finals route, some even donning binoculars to get a better look. Meanwhile, a packed crowd (including athletes from the Qualification Round, family members, reporters, and even Mayor of Gaithersburg, Jud Ashman) closed in around the lead alcove of Sportrock Rio. The Women’s Finals boiled down to Annie Sanders, Olivia Ma, and Adriene Akiko Clark setting the high point, and all falling from or just past the 36th hold, a thin undercling. This spurred a judgement related to rule 7.11.2 (b)(iv) of the USA Climbing Rulebook which states a competitor’s score is paused at the last scored hold from which a quickdraw can be clipped, as deemed by the Chief Routesetter. During one competitor’s attempt, as she was moving past hold 36, a Head Judging Official immediately consulted with the Chief Routesetter to determine which hold was the last one from which the draw could be clipped, and that resulted in the competitor’s score being paused at 36. The competitor’s attempt was not terminated by an official. With the Semi-Finals performance in mind, Sanders ultimately finished 1st, followed by Ma and Clark. Annie Sanders and Melina Costanza both earned enough National Team Ranking points to join the 2024 Lead National Team. Ben Hanna was the first to find a drop knee/kneebar resting position on the Men’s Route, allowing him to pause longer than the other competitors before venturing into the final headwall. He fell from the 38th hold, setting a highpoint and earning him 3rd place. Soon after, Hugo Hoyer was moving faster through the lower moves and managed to control the 40th hold, a large, slopey pinch that slipped through Hanna’s fingers. Declan Osgood was the last Men’s competitor of the night, looking calm and collected through most of the Finals Route. He controlled the 40th hold, same as Hoyer, and was even able to bump higher on the pinch, setting up his feet to lunge for the 41st hold, but ultimately logging the 40th as his last controlled hold. Declan Osgood and Hugo Hoyer both earned enough National Team Ranking points to join the 2024 Lead National Team. Women’s Lead Podium: Annie Sanders Olivia Ma Adriene Akiko Clark Men’s Lead Podium: Declan Osgood Hugo Hoyer Ben Hanna 2024 Lead National Team: Kyra Condie Melina Costanza Kylie Cullen Natalia Grossman Brooke Raboutou Annie Sanders Colin Duffy Jesse Grupper Hugo Hoyer Declan Osgood The Lead Finals Round is currently streaming on Outside Watch. Photo highlights from the Lead Finals Round can be found HERE (photos by Dan Gajda, not available for commercial use).
The 2024 National Team Trials kicked off yesterday in Gaithersburg, MD. As rain fell on Sportrock Rio, the country’s top speed climbers battled for spots on the podium and on the National Team. Of course, National Team athletes will be designated to represent the U.S. at international World Cup events sanctioned by the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC). Camaraderie was at an all-time high throughout the night, as athletes cheered each other to the buzzer, played rock-paper-scissors before races, and snagged new records. Notably, Emma Hunt broke her own Women’s Speed Pan American Record (6.67 seconds), setting a new Women’s Speed American Record of 6.54 seconds. Meanwhile, Zach Hammer set a new personal record of 5.12 seconds during the Qualification Round, making him the second-fastest American Speed Climber. Even though Emma Hunt and Piper Kelly were pre-selected for the National Team because of their Olympic Qualification, the two still joined their fellow athletes for Qualification and an Olympic Format Exhibition that followed the Finals Round. The four fastest women and men entered Semi-Finals as an energetic crowd grew around the 15-meter speed wall. The women’s “small final” boiled down to Micaela Patajo against Liberty Runnels, with Runnels finishing roughly half of a second ahead of Patajo, earning Runnels the 3rd place finish. The “big final” boiled down to Sophia Curcio against Kaitlyn Bone, with Curcio finishing in 7.33 seconds and Bone finishing in 8.16 seconds, earning them the 1st and 2nd place finishes respectively. Curcio and Bone both earned enough National Team Ranking points to join the 2024 Speed National Team. The men’s “small final” boiled down to Zachary Hammer against Thomas Lin, which kicked off with a false start, earning Lin the 3rd place finish. The “big final” boiled down to Noah Bratschi against Richard Li. Both had an efficient run, with Bratschi finishing in 5.29 seconds and Li finishing in 5.41 seconds, earning them the 1st and 2nd place finishes respectively. Bratschi and Hammer both earned enough National Team Ranking points to join the 2024 Speed National Team. Women’s Speed Podium: Sophia Curcio Kaitlyn Bone Liberty Runnels Photo by Dan Gajda. “I feel pretty psyched,” said Curcio, who looked calm as ever after her win. “I especially want to thank my parents and all my coaches.” Men’s Speed Podium: Noah Bratschi Richard Li Thomas Lin Photo by Dan Gajda. “I was just trying to feel the flow and get a good run,” said Bratschi, who had his mind on a celebration dessert coming out of Finals. 2024 Speed National Team: Emma Hunt Piper Kelly Sophia Curcio Kaitlyn Bone Sam Watson John Brosler Zachary Hammer Noah Bratschi The Speed Finals Round is currently streaming on Outside Watch. Photo highlights from the Speed Finals Round can be found here (photos by Dan Gajda, not available for commercial use).
The 2024 USA Climbing National Team Trials will be held at Sportrock Rio in Gaithersburg, MD on March 5-8, 2024. This year’s National Team Trials event will highlight all three climbing disciplines: Boulder, Lead and Speed. The top two (2) ranked U.S. athletes after the conclusion of this event will join those athletes who are already selected to the U.S. National Team in 2024. Athletes from the newly formed National Team will begin their quest of competing on the IFSC World Cup circuit, some with the opportunity of competing at the Olympic Qualifying Series in search of the two (2) remaining Olympic quota spots for Team USA. Al Smith and Pete Woods will host live streams for the Semi-Finals and Finals on Outside Watch. You can watch them live at the times below or on-demand at any time post event. HOW TO WATCH (all times EST) Tuesday, March 5 | Speed 6:00 p.m. | Speed Finals – LIVE on Outside Watch | Results Wednesday, March 6 | Lead 10:00 a.m. | Lead Semi-Finals – LIVE on Outside Watch 6:00 p.m. | Lead Finals – LIVE on Outside Watch Friday, March 8 | Boulder 10:00 a.m. | Boulder Semi-Finals – LIVE on Outside Watch 6:00 p.m. | Boulder Finals – LIVE on Outside Watch