The host of this season’s Finals went big in their Qualifier!
For the 6th stop in the World Ninja League Premier Series, Life Force Ninja, led by award-winning Course Designers Becca Margulies and Jadyn Welch, devised a pair of incredible courses for the athletes. Competitors from all over the United States and Canada duked it out for those coveted spots in the Premier Series Finals, leading to some incredible moments. Read below to find out how the weekend played out!
In the youth divisions, three athletes won on both the Placement and Challenge Courses. Those athletes were Penelope Hay (Kids Female), Tyler Bowers (Mature Kids Male), Bodhi Snow (Preteen Male). Hay, alongside runner-up Ellie Milligan, hit buzzers on both courses! The same went for Bowers as well as the rest of the Mature Kids Male podium, Miles Wilson (2nd) and Grayson Salinas (3rd). Bodhi Snow followed that up with two buzzers as well, alongside Logan Stacey (2nd) and Eoghan O’Sullivan (3rd). These kids came to play!
Both Elite Champions Spencer O’Brien (Elite Male) and Nora Brown-John (Elite Female) swept their divisions. On the same note, both hit buzzers on the Placement Course, but not quite the Challenge Course. Nora advanced to obstacle 9 out of 11, while Spencer pushed his way to the final obstacle before running out of time.
Some winners in the Premier Series took the top spot by either pushing through Life Force’s long, grueling Challenge Course. Kids Male winner Graeme Royle surpassed all expectations by becoming his division’s only Challenge Course finisher. In the Preteen Female division, Paisley Rudkowsky just missed the clear, but was the only athlete to advance to the final obstacle, securing her first place!
In the Teen divisions, Parker Malacad (Teen Male) and Savanna Salinas (Teen Female) missed the top spot on the Placement Course. However, both were quickly able to bounce back with buzzers on the Challenge Course, winning their respective divisions. Amateur Male winner Owen Mitchelson was also his division’s only Challenge Course clear, while Kalina Keating was the only Amateur Female athlete to advance to the final obstacle, locking her into first place.
Speed also played a factor in determining the win in the Mature Kids Female division. The entire podium of this division advanced to obstacle 9 on the Challenge Course, meaning it would come down to time. In the end, it was Eloise Olsen who made it there the fastest, a whole 13 seconds ahead of runner-up Eve Prockiw.
The World Ninja League will return to Life Force Ninja on November 15-17 for the Premier Series Finals. But first, the Premier Series hits the road (and plane) for a competition at True Function Ninja Training Ground in the United Kingdom! You can view the Premier Series schedule on the WNL website and watch all divisions compete on the WNL YouTube!
The premier obstacle league.