Cologne hosted a weekend of HYROX on 13th and 14th April 2024 as part of the FIBO trade show. The event was held at the Messe Köln.
The Individual Pro division races formed the “Last Chance Qualifiers” (LCQ) where the fastest male Pro, and the 3 fastest female Pro’s, would earn themselves a spot in the Elite race at the 2024 HYROX World Championships. This was the final opportunity in Europe to gain a spot in those races (with the final one elsewhere in the world taking place in Anaheim on 19th May 2024). Â
Many top athletes in the sport were competing including Jonathon Wynn, Lukas Storath, James Kelly, Florian Gast, Kate Davey, Alina Wilnow, Zara Piergianni, and many more. We spoke to some of those athletes ahead of the race on the Rox Lyfe podcast – you can listen here. We covered the races live on the Rox Lyfe YouTube channel.
Other top athletes in the sport in attendance (though who had already gained a place at the World Championships) included Megan Jacoby and Linda Meier who teamed up in the Womens Pro Doubles, and Alex Roncevic who competed in the Men’s Open and Mixed Doubles.
Read on for all the news, results and pictures from an epic weekend!…
Men’s Pro
The Men’s Pro was won by James Kelly in an incredible time of 00:54:03. This is the second fastest HYROX time ever – a seriously impressive performance, and significant PB, for the Australian who had featured in all of this season’s “Major” races but hadn’t quite been able to gain a qualifying spot for the Worlds until now.
Second was Frenchman Joffrey Voisin in 00:56:57 (who passed many athletes at the final station with an impressive 3:16 on the wall balls), and third place was taken by Eugenio Bianchi in a time of 00:57:09. However, with just 1 qualifying spot up for grabs in the Men’s race, it is only James who has earned his entry to the World Championships.
There was no live footage of the event provided by HYROX, so we streamed a live watchalong on the YouTube channel along with Ian Kay (from the Fitness Racing Podcast), and Beau Wills. Fair warning, we had a little technical trouble up until just after the Ski Erg. You can watch below…
Women’s Pro
With 3 spots up for grabs for the World Championships in the Women’s Pro division, in a very deep field, it was all set to be a very exciting race. And it certainly didnt disappoint!
Ultimately, it was won by Zara Piergianni in a time of 01:02:45, and second was Jana Lebenstedt in 01:03:21. Third place was taken by Kate Davey in a time of 01:03:54. There was some late drama with Kate as she crossed the finishing line thinking she had completed her wall balls. However, her judge chased after her, telling her she had 1 more rep to complete! So she ran back, completed the rep, and fortunately for her was able to cross the line again before any of the other athletes. It was a PB performance for all 3 of those ladies who gave everything they had to earn themselves a spot in Nice.Â
As with the Mens race, we streamed a live watchalong on the YouTube channel with Ian Kay (from the Fitness Racing Podcast), Rebecca Mason and Marcus Funken. You can watch below…
Pro Doubles
The Men’s Pro Doubles was won by Tom Franssens and Thierry Willigenburg in a time of 00:51:49, giving them the 16-29 age group World Record.
The Women’s Pro Doubles was won by Megan Jacoby and Linda Meier in a time of 00:55:02, an impressive overall Pro Doubles World Record.
Men’s Open
The Men’s Open was won by Alexander Roncevic in an unbelievable World Record time of 00:50:38. This was nearly 4 minutes quicker than the previous world record and is a simply astonishing time that is quicker than most Men’s Doubles teams have ever been able to achieve (using the same weights). The Austrian is certainly in good shape as we head into the final weeks before the World Championships.
Second was Dean Jackson in 00:58:35, and third place was taken by René Biedermann in a time of 00:59:09.
Huge congratulations also to Joze Kojc, who broke the 55-59 age group World Record in an amazing time of 00:59:19.
Women’s Open
The Women’s Open was won by Katharina Wetzel in a time of 01:03:50.
Second was Marina Filgertshofer in 01:04:24.
Third place was taken by Lea Stratmann in a time of 01:06:01.
Open Doubles
The Men’s Open Doubles was won by Markus Rhöse and David Magida in a time of 00:51:26.
Nik Kojc and Joze Kojc were second in 00:53:17, giving them the 40-49 age group World Record (a second World Record of the weekend for Joze).
The Women’s Open Doubles was won by Zeliha Puls and Janine Heckwolf in a time of 00:59:59.
The Mixed Open Doubles was won by Alexander Roncevic and Alice Schürer in a time of 00:50:58, giving them the overall World Record.
Relay
There was a World Record set in the Mixed Relay by Lukas Storath, Megan Jacoby, Linda Meier and Ryan Kent with a time of 00:49:19.
The Women’s Relay was won by Julia Schmaus, Selina Parr, Valentina Groha and Iris Berendes-Dean in a time of 01:05:05.
The Men’s Relay was won by Nic Kojc, Joze Kojc, Dornik Domen and Jake Williamson in a time of 00:48:26 (the second fastest mens relay time ever).
Here are some photos of the event…
