The CrossFit Open Highlights
Leaning into the open and highlighting the athletes
The CrossFit Open has been in existence since 2011. In many ways, it has become a holiday of sorts, a marker of time. Ask any CrossFitter to name a random Open workout and they can tell you where they were, who they did it with, and the emotions tied to the effort itself. Some still remember Coach Brian grinding (dying) through 14.5 with great amusement.
Each year we put our work capacity to the test. Each year we reflect on what we should have prioritized just a little more. And each year we are given the opportunity to showcase the truth: we did the work, we are capable, and our friends are there to bear witness to it all.
This year, several athletes truly rose to the occasion and embodied the spirit of the Open. A combination of choosing to be in the arena and being fully present in the moment.
Cliff is 73, turning 74 in May. His summer after high school wasn’t a vacation, it was a draft notice and deployment to Vietnam with the Army. After retiring as a Sheriff Deputy, he has spent over a decade as a pillar of the 8:30 class at MidState CrossFit. This year, he wanted it. Truly wanted it.
If Cliff can do the Open, what exactly are the rest of us complaining about? His example is the vision of lifelong fitness: caring enough to show up, putting in the work, and continuing to test himself at 74 years old. We should all hope to be like Cliff.
In Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg challenges readers with the question:
“What would I do if I weren’t afraid? What if I am afraid and I do it anyway”
Without diving too deeply into the details, Deleena has been navigating a difficult season of life. Where did she go for refuge? To the place where her friends are. Where the work is. A safe space filled with thrusters, burpees, smiles, and laughter.
Many people claim they work out for their physique. Deleena showed us she works out for her mental health. That is the sign of someone who has found their why. Not just a workout of the day — but a lifestyle of movement. Deleena, you leaned in.
Jake Ross represents another powerful story, the man who simply does the work and continues to climb. When we first met Jake, it was the final day of CrossFit Chowchilla. The building was being dismantled, mats gone, the rig coming down. A crew of MidState MisFits showed up with tools to salvage what would become our beloved “Frankenstein.”
A few days later, Jake walked into MidState CrossFit as an athlete and never looked back. Since then, he has become a husband, a father, and a leader of his family. His Open performance has mirrored his personal growth:
2021 — 39%
2022 — 40%
2023 — 62%
2024 — 68%
2025 — 71%
2026 — 74%
One percent away from Quarterfinals. But Jake has tenacity. He will get it next year.
And finally, Harpreet and Rachel. It would be a missed opportunity not to point out something that often goes unnoticed. The Open places individuals shoulder-to-shoulder who otherwise might never cross paths. They dig deep together. Compete together. Then later stand side-by-side again, sharing a drink and reliving the experience.
Classmates become friends. Struggle becomes connection. Effort becomes memory.
This is the magic of MidState CrossFit & The Open!
