Pegboards were ascended in Albany.
Last updated on August 1st, 2025
Feeroozeh “Fee” Saghafi set the time to beat in “IE3: Climbing Couplet,” a classic CrossFit-style workout consisting of pegboard ascents and a barbell squat clean complex. The workout stopped some athletes in their tracks and was a launching point for others.
- The workout was the final event of the day for elite individuals and tested a high-skill movement, as well as overall grip strength. The event was announced upon the athletes’ arrival for their briefing on Wednesday and then demonstrated immediately afterward by members of the demo team.
Saghafi, who is making her third appearance at the Games and was in the second of three heats for the event, seemed to have no issues ascending the pegboard. She also handled the barbell with ease, even as the weights went up on the squat clean/front squat complex.
- “Competing at the CrossFit Games is such a gift. I don’t take it for granted any time I get to qualify, and the fact that I won an event [is] a gift from the Lord that is not mine,” Saghafi said during a post-event interview.
Another notable finish was Albanian athlete Siria Meha, a rookie at the Games this year. She was in the first heat of the event and was handling the pegboards and managing her grip each round. Meha, an engineer by trade, won the CrossFit In-Affiliate Semifinals and has already proven she deserves to be competing with the best of the best.
- Separately, another rookie, Lydia Fish, took a heat win as she moved through the pegboard ascents at a brisk pace and handled the barbell without any issue. She took second in the event with a time of 9:30, moving her into second place overall at the end of the first day.
Over on the men’s side, Jayson Hopper showed everyone that he belongs at his fourth CrossFit Games. The former football player ascended the pegboard quickly, using his long limbs to make big reaches with the dowels. And had no trouble cleaning the barbells, even as the weight reached a staggering 305 pounds.
Ricky Garard and Hopper approached the first barbell at roughly the same time, but Hopper’s speed and efficiency on the pegboard gave him a lead that he carried through to the very end.
When the workout was announced, Dave Castro, CrossFit’s general manager of sport, commented that this event would stop athletes in their tracks. Hopper quickly questioned and quipped, “I’ve done a pegboard before.”
- “Dave said this was going to be the hardest workout of the week, and he said he wanted me to come in last, so I had a little extra motivation,” Hopper said in a post-event interview.
Hopper took the event win with a time of 5:34.
Other athletes who cruised to the finish line were Roman Khrennikov, Harry Lightfoot, and Justin Medeiros. In addition, Jack Rozema set a fast time in a previous heat that gave him a top ten finish with a time of 6:09.
One last thing: Elite individuals are done with their first day as they head into moving day tomorrow. With four scored events on tap, including some heavy back squats, it’s sure to make for some great CrossFit TV.
2025 CrossFit Games Event 3 — Top 5 Men
| Place | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jayson Hopper | 05:34.90 |
| 2 | Roman Khrennikov | 05:38.67 |
| 3 | Harry Lightfoot | 05:41.48 |
| 4 | Justin Medeiros | 05:41.58 |
| 5 | Jay Crouch | 05:53.23 |
2025 CrossFit Games Event 3 — Top 5 Women
| Place | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Feeroozeh Saghafi | 08:33.24 |
| 2 | Lydia Fish | 09:30.58 |
| 3 | Siria Meha | 09:41.98 |
| 4 | Olivia Kerstetter | 09:55.15 |
| 5 | Lexi Neely | 10:01.58 |
Featured image: Scott Freymond
