Back to News The Boulder rounds of USA Climbing’s National Team Trials Presented by The North Face concluded last night, determining which athletes will represent the United States on the 2026 Boulder National Team. This year’s event also introduced a new format. Rather than the traditional qualification, semi-final, and final rounds where athletes are progressively eliminated, all competitors advanced through three rounds of climbing. Athletes had three opportunities to earn strong finishes, with their rank in each round contributing to their final National Team Ranking score. A first-place finish in Round 1 counted just as much as a first-place finish in Round 3, rewarding consistency and breakthrough performances across the entire competition. Two athletes entered the competition already preselected through their Continuously Updated World Ranking: Annie Sanders on the women’s side and Colin Duffy on the men’s side. The remaining roster positions were determined through performances across the three rounds. Women’s Boulder National Team From left to right, and from highest to lowest National Team Ranking, Melina Costanza, Nekaia Sanders, Brooke Raboutou, and Adriene Akiko Clark. Not shown: Annie Sanders (preselected). Melina Costanza, Nekaia Sanders, Brooke Raboutou, and Adriene Akiko Clark secured their places on the 2026 Women’s Boulder National Team following three rounds of tightly contested climbing. Melina Costanza opened the competition with one of the strongest performances of Round 1, finishing first after topping multiple boulders early in the round. That strong start established an early advantage in the National Team Rankings. Contanza commented on the new format, “I think that it allowed a lot of opportunities for people to get on different styles. Everyone doing every single round was long overdue. I think it was really fun and it felt almost like a camp, which was also kind of enjoyable because we got to hang out with all our friends every round.” Adriene Akiko Clark followed with a breakthrough Round 2 performance, winning the round with impressive consistency across the five problems. Nekaia Sanders closed the competition with the strongest finish in Round 3. Brooke Raboutou also delivered steady performances throughout the competition, finishing near the top of the standings in multiple rounds to earn her position on the roster. Across the three rounds, the women’s field showcased both rising talent and experienced international competitors as they fought for limited team positions. Women’s Boulder National Team: Annie Sanders (Preselected) Melina Costanza Nekaia Sanders Brooke Raboutou Adriene Akiko Clark Men’s/Open Boulder National Team From left to right, and from highest to lowest National Team Ranking, Auggie Chi, Hugo Hoyer, Vail Everett, and Ben Hanna. Preselected: Colin Duffy. Auggie Chi, Hugo Hoyer, Vail Everett, and Ben Hanna earned their places on the 2026 Men’s/Open Boulder National Team following three gripping rounds of competition. Auggie Chi delivered one of the most dominant performances of the event in Round 1, winning the round after topping multiple problems with minimal attempts. That performance immediately placed him among the leaders in the National Team Ranking standings. Chi reflected on his performance after the event. “It honestly feels unreal considering I took a decent break from competition climbing,” said Chi. “I didn’t have many expectations coming into these events but I’m proud of my results!” Despite being preselected, Colin Duffy responded in Round 2 with a commanding performance of his own, winning the round and reinforcing his status as one of the top competitors in the field. Hugo Hoyer performed consistently strong across all three rounds and secured his National Team position with a strong finish in Round 3. Vail Everett also maintained steady performances across the rounds, including a second-place finish in Round 1 that helped secure his National Team Ranking. Ben Hanna rounded out the team with a series of consistent climbs across the competition, remaining within the top standings throughout the three rounds. The depth of the men’s field was on full display throughout the event as experienced international competitors and rising athletes battled across three rounds. Men’s/Open Boulder National Team: Colin Duffy (Preselected) Auggie Chi Hugo Hoyer Vail Everett Ben Hanna Full results from the 2026 National Team Trials Presented by The North Face are available here. Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action. You can rewatch the National Team Trials Presented by The North Face on Outside TV.