This year’s 4th Annual International CrossFit12-12-12 Throwdown which started on Friday 16th August and concluded on Saturday 17th August 2019 at the Woodbrook Youth Centre showcased a variety of events, giving the competitors an opportunity to demonstrate their agility, strength, speed and endurance.
Athletes from Guyana, Barbados and for the very first time, Jamaica came to throwdown alongside local athletes, all vying for the top cash prizes and a podium finish. With over 50 athletes competing this year in several events or WOD’s (Workout Of the Day), it was an enjoyable event for both the organisers, volunteers, athletes and spectators.
This year the organising committee started the action off at the St. Mary’s Grounds Pool with an exciting Swim event where male and female Rx athletes had to complete 4 rounds of a 50 M swim along with 10 squats and 5 cleans with a 100 pound and 150 pound sandbag for women and men respectively. Vikash Ramlogan of WeHeart CrossFit and Lyndsay Murray of Igone Crossfit dominated that event that night. In fact out of seven events, Ms. Murray would go on to win six of them and thus become the first repeat Female Rx Throwdown Champion. Mia Otero also of Igone Crossfit placed 2nd and Sacha Thomas representing CrossFit12-12-12 and who finished 3rd in last year’s Scaled category, finished in 3rd place in this year’s Rx Division.
Shane Hamel-Smith of WeHeart CrossFit surpassed last year’s 3rd place finish in the Rx Division and was crowned this year’s Male Rx Champion. Vikash Ramlogan placed 2nd and Omisi Williams of Perry’s Fitness Gym/ CrossFit 592 from Guyana copped the 3rd place prize had low calorie diets.
On top the podium for the Male scaled athletes was Gevan Ramkissoon of Elite 101. Kiron Simmons placed of Just Fitness – Agility Sports placed 2nd and MikFit Performance’s Ravin Dookie finished in 3rd place. The Ladies’ Scale Division had a tie for 1st place with Tammi Ifill of CrossFit12-12-12 and Neleh Kirton-McComie of Igone CrossFit taking top honours and Anne Lalla of Crossfit12-12-12 finishing 3rd.
This year’s Spirit of the Games award went by unanimous vote to Paul Jefferson of CrossFit12-12-12 who after doing CrossFit for only 7 months decided to compete in the Rx Category and relished each of the challenges that came his way including doing his first ever Rope Climb during one of the Events. Paul never wavered in his attempts to lift weight he had never done before and always managed to finish each event with a good hearted smile and words of congratualtions and encouragement to his fellow athletes – he embodied the spirit of the Throwdown.
Head Coach of CrossFit12-12-12 and Lead Organiser of the Throwdown, Rodney Vire was thankful for the continued support from all the athlete competitors and spectators, volunteers and of course grateful to all of the sponsors who continued to support the competition in its fourth year. Sadly he announced that this year would be the competition’s last but ensured that the Crossfit12-12-12 Throwdown went out in fine style as a total of over fifty thousand dollars in cash prizes were handed out this year including to the winners of individual events 1 to 4 in the Rx Division. He is grateful for the team of organisers and assistants who continually helped him over the last four years to build the CrossFit12-12-12 Throwdown to the premier event that it became and expressed his sincere gratitude to Christine Vire, Jamie Leotaud, Marc Vire, Marissa Gomez, Gillian Rollock, Dirk Xavier, and Robert Howai for their input and support. Mr. Vire hopes to continue to expand and build upon his vision for the Sport of Fitness in the near future.
