An online qualifier ran throughout the month of October last year, where any athlete could complete weekly workouts, record them and submit their efforts for ranking.

Seven members of GTK Crossfit in Moree decided to step up and compete for a chance to make the top 12 and receive an invitation to the finals in Melbourne on January 20 and 21.

GTK Crossfit owner Heidi Dell said after entering online, each athlete was put into categories and each week a new workout would be released, along with one “floater” workout.

“We were competing against around 1000 other athletes who entered The Aussie Throwdown. Each week we were ranked and at the end of the four weeks, the top 12 were invited to the finals in Melbourne,” she said.

Dell individually qualified in fourth place, GTK Crossfit trainer Trent Loder placed fifth in his division and local physiotherapist Cameron Rodgers placed 12^th.

Since qualifying, the three athletes have changed up their training in various ways.

“I’ve actually been taking training back a little bit, allowing for more rest and ensuring there is more quality in the workouts I am completing,” Loder said.

Dell has started training with Loder twice a week, roughly five to six days a week with at least one workout on the sixth day.

Five of the seven workouts to be completed at the finals have now been released, and with just a few days until they hop on a plane to Melbourne, the athletes have been focusing on a few particular lifts and movements.

“During the qualifier you had one workout to complete within a four day period, however the finals require us to complete seven workouts within a two-day period so volume will be the biggest thing,” Loder said.

Both athletes agreed organisers of the huge event had stepped up the exercises included in the workouts for the finals, compared to those of the qualifiers.

“They’ve really stepped it up in terms of weight and advanced exercises like pistol squats and rope climbs,” Dell said.

The huge event will be held at Crossfit Southwarf. Be sure to like and follow GTK Crossfit on Facebook for live updates on our local athletes.

“We’ve competed in the Crossfit Open before but this is the biggest competition any of us have actually qualified for due to our effort of results; we’ve earned the invitation for this event,” Loder said.

Dell and Loder thanked the many local businesses who donated prizes for their raffle to raise funds for their travel expenses, as well as Amcal Pharmacy who ran a separate raffle for the local athletes.