SteelFit Championships Hosts Second Qualifier in Morristown

MORRISTOWN, NJ, May 12, 2014 –  The Super SteelFit Championships, a series of intense qualifying fitness competitions leading up to the championship on the Jersey Shore, held its second qualifier at the Morristown National Guard Armory on Saturday, May 10th.

One hundred athletes from all over New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania competed in four different workouts, which included deadlifts, thrusters, burpees, rowing, and a bear complex ladder, that tested various aspects of fitness.

Sergeant Vincent Damiano of the New Jersey Army National Guard awarded the finalists with their SteelFit Championships Finalist Medals.

For the Women’s Scaled Division, Kristin Castiglione of Surge Training Center in Parsippany, Lisa Ho of CrossFit Garwood, Kristina Revell of CrossFit Mahwah, Jessica Gaal of South Mountain CrossFit (PA), Tara Swanton of CrossFit Randolph, Julie Vagnini from local Morristown’s CrossFit 13 Stars, Jasmine Sancho of Surge Training Center in Parsippany, and Cynthia Marlin of CrossFit Apex (PA) all qualified for the Finals.

“A bunch of people from my gym competed last year and it looked like a lot of fun so I signed up for the competition this year,” said Kristin Castiglione of Surge Training Center otherwise known as CrossFit Parsippany. “I’m a little scared but excited to compete on the beach. It should be a lot of fun.”

For Women’s Executive, Becky Bedrosian of CrossFit 908, Kelly Rickert of South Mountain CrossFit (PA), Sharon Saks of CrossFit Apex (PA), Melissa Bratina of CrossFit Apex (PA), and Tracey Swenson of CrossFit Skylands qualified for the Finals at Jenkinson’s Beach.

For the Women’s RX Division, Angela Salveo of CrossFit Salus, Candice Bellochio of Outerbridge CrossFit (NY), Andrea Santiago of CrossFit Sayreville, Christi Anthony of CrossFit 973, and Samantha Dowgin of Surge Training Center in Parsippany are all advancing on.

For the Men’s Scaled Division, the finalists are Chris Nojman of CrossFit Hoboken, Daniel Burnett of South Mountain CrossFit (PA), Charlie Nelson of CrossFit Randolph, Eric Schantzenbach of South Mountain CrossFit (PA), Daniel Coda of CrossFit Hoboken, Joseph D’Alessio if Guerrilla Fitness- CrossFit Montclair, Christopher Contino of South Mountain CrossFit (PA), Daniel Roche of CrossFit Randolph, David Jackson of CrossFit Hoboken, Nick Toro of South Mountain CrossFit (PA), Jose Almeida of CrossFit Garwood, and Justin Houck of South Mountain CrossFit (PA).

“With a bunch of CrossFit Hoboken athletes qualifying for Jenkinson’s, it’s going to be great competing at the beach. We have a lot of support and friends who will be coming down to Jenkinson’s,” said Chris Nojman of CrossFit Hoboken. “It’s going to be spectacular to see everyone there cheering us on.”

“Hoboken is such a community. I know CrossFit in general is, but with Hoboken, it’s incredible the amount of community we have there,” said Daniel Coda of CrossFit Hoboken. “We [including Chris Nojman and David Jackson] have been CrossFitting for a different number of years, but in the last six months we all decided we wanted to start competing and we have been really pushing each other.”

For the Men’s Executive Division, Justin LaSala of CrossFit Garwood, Terrence Hammons of CrossFit Lehigh Valley, Erik Petersen of CrossFit Apex (PA), and Marc Mendoza of RedShed CrossFit are advancing to the Finals.

“I thought last year’s event was great. I loved the element on the beach. It’s something we don’t have the chance to do all the time and that was the aspect I really wanted to be a part of again,” said Justin LaSala of CrossFit Garwood and SteelFit Championships alum. “Last year, I was playing with some of the younger guys. Now I’m forty and competing with guys who are around my same age so that’s good.”

For the Men’s RX division, David Syvertsen of CrossFit Bison, Dallas Ouano of CrossFit Hoboken, Keith Bussom of CrossFit Apex (PA), Patrick Chanod Jr. of CrossFit Salus, Jeffrey Raimo of South Mountain CrossFit (PA), Scott McKinnie of CrossFit Hoboken, Austin McVaugh of CrossFit Apex (PA), Brandon Sauers of South Mountain CrossFit (PA), John Carstensen of Outerbridge CrossFit (NY), Anthony Pieters of Guerrilla Fitness-CrossFit Montclair will all be competing at Jenkinson’s in the Finals.

David Syvertsen, Jasmine Sancho, Eric Schantzenbach, Joseph D’Alessio, David Jackson, Nick Toro, Jose Almeida, and Justin LaSala will be making their second appearance at the Finals.

“The level of intensity in all the divisions was fierce. They epitomized Super SteelFit. You could see the determination in each of the athletes’ faces. We salute all the athletes who trained so hard for May 10th and we wish our finalists all the best on June 21st,” said Armand Milanesi, event founder.

This year’s Super SteelFit Championships corporate partners include the New Jersey Army National Guard, Scion, Nutrishop, North Jersey Orthopaedic Group, Jack-EE-Boyz Equipment, Champion System, Atlas Power Wraps and JAG Physical Therapy. In addition, there were representatives from Strengthlete (formerly Heavy Athletics Nutrition), Warrior Wellness Center, Schuylkill Valley Sports, Legends Body Sports, Caveman Cookies, and Paleo Cuisine on site.

The Finals will be held on the beach at Jenkinson’s Boardwalk on Saturday, June 21st with the final ‘SteelFitters’ competing for over $7,500 prize purse.

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About The Super SteelFit Championships

The Super SteelFit Championships is a New Jersey based fitness competition designed to find the fittest of the fit. In its second year, the Super SteelFit Championships will host qualifiers around New Jersey that will culminate with the finals at the Jersey Shore. In true brash Jersey style, this competition will challenge experienced fitness competitors yet also inspire introductory fitness enthusiasts. Our pledge is to offer a fitness competition not yet experienced on the East Coast. For more information about the Super SteelFit Championships, visit www.steelfitchampionships.com.