Crossfit challenge excites former Tokoroa woman
Having a suspected fractured arm was never going to stop a former Tokoroa woman from taking part in the world 2016 Reebok Crossfit Games for the second year in a row.
Francine Pehi, who spent the early years of her childhood living in Tokoroa before moving to Australia, took part in the hotly contested competition held over three days in California this month.
She was joined by approximately 8,200 competitors from around the world.
After gaining bronze in last year’s 45-49 Masters Division and considering her injured arm, Pehi said she was ecstatic to have gone in placed 19th and to finish 13th.
‘‘The qualifying process is extremely gruelling both physically and mentally and spans over approximately three months and is broken down into two stages before the Crossfit Games itself, ‘‘she said.
‘‘The top 20 athletes worldwide in each division then get invited to compete at the Crossfit Games and I was absolutely overwhelmed and ecstatic to have qualified again.
‘‘It’s such a tough competition and the field of competitors grows and gets stronger every year.
‘‘I don’t have a consistent training schedule due to my employment so to qualify again I consider a blessing and a gift.’’
‘‘The last workout I completed with a suspected fractured arm, which I’m yet to get checked when I return home to Australia, but my goal was to gain a few places from where I went in, which I did and I’m very proud of that,’’ she said.
Pehi, who has been crossfitting for six years, said she was ‘‘extremely passionate’’ about the sport.
‘‘It’s because of the community, the constantly challenging aspects of the workouts and the variety.
It pushes me to my limits and beyond and helps me become a stronger person of both body and mind,’’ she said.
She said it was her desire to be healthy, fit and strong that has helped her get so far.
‘‘It helps me to want to train regularly therefore I’ve eventually become good at Crossfit.
‘‘I still have a very long way to go and so much to learn but I’m enjoying the challenges that that learning brings,’’ she said.
The category was won by California based Cheryl Brost with Atlantic’s Tracy Shuford in second.