Business & Tech

SPC Crossfit Dominates Regional Crossfit Competition, Headed to L.A. for 2012 Games

Kent gym ranked top team in world following win in Columbus at regionals

Some of the fittest people in the world are working out right here in Kent.

Six members who work out at dominated the team competition this past weekend at the Reebok CrossFit Games Central East Regional Competition in Columbus.

The team had qualified first in the region of five states heading into the competition and walked away first out of 30 teams that competed.

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Toby Jurging, owner of SPC Crossfit and the team's coach, said he's proud of the way the team finished and earned a spot at the 2012 Reebok Crossfit Games in Los Angeles later this summer.

"We set three world records and ended up first in the world, as of right now," Jurging said.

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The SPC Crossfit team is comprised of Danielle Sidell, Craig Charton, Julianne Broadbent, Brett Sepi, Sam Heydlauff and Kyle Kline.

For those unfamiliar, "crossfit" has simply been described as "an effective way to get fit." Crossfit is a type of physical training that combines exercises from various methods of strength and cardio conditioning.

It was developed in 2000 by Crossfit Inc. largely as a means to train police, firefighters and others who needed to prepare for intense, all-out exertion. It has since evolved into fitness for sport, and the Crossfit Games were established in 2007.

For the athletes, it's much more — almost a way of life.

Jurging described it as preparing for everyday life — whether that includes pull-ups, push-ups, running or more out of-the-box exercises.

"Our goal is to be ready for the unknown and the unknowable," he said.

At the regional games in Columbus, the team was tested in various exercises to see how much weight they could lift or how quickly they could complete an event. Events included: dead lifts; handstand pushups; buddy carries; partner dead-lifts; and box jumps — to name a few.

The games included competitions for the fittest man, woman and team. In total, 60 men, 60 women and the 30 teams (comprised of six members each) competed to advance to the 2012 Reebok Crossfit Games in Los Angeles. Thousands of people packed the three-day regional competition in Columbus, including 60 members from SPC Crossfit who made the drive to cheer on their team.

Jurging said the team missed qualifying for the regionals last year by one point, so they trained hard and qualified first going into the regionals this year. That qualifying position, and ultimately the overall win, brought with it high expectations.

"We had a pretty good idea we were going to be top three easily," he said. They were confident going in. To dominate the way they dominated ... "

"People are talking in the crossfit world, and the announcers who announced the games, and think we have a good shot at a podium" in Los Angeles, Jurging said. "If they work hard, I think they can made a podium."

The games themselves are exhilarating, Jurging said, because the competitors and the fans are all physically fit people dedicated to motivating others to get fit and healthy.

"It’s just unbelievable to see," he said. "It's a competition where there are no sore losers. "It’s motivating. It’s mentally and physically challenging, but it’s motivating."

You can get a first-hand look at what the SPC Crossfit team and gym members do later this month on May 27 when they host the Hammy WOD (workout of the day) at 's Dix Stadium. The Hammy WOD is dedicated in honor of Adam Hamilton, a 2007 Theodore Roosevelt High School graduate who died one year ago while serving in Afghanistan. Hamilton's dad, Scott, exercises at SPC Crossfit and Adam Hamilton was a member when not deployed.

Jurging said money raised at the Hammy WOD supports a scholarship in Hamilton's name.

"If people want to come out, meet the team, see what we do, support a great local cause and support a great local hero ... Anybody can do it," Jurging said. "You don’t have to be in great shape."


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