The HYROX Elite 15 season kicked off in style as the world’s top athletes gathered in Amsterdam for the 2024/25 opener. With a place at the HYROX World Championships on the line, competitors delivered standout performances in both the men’s and women’s races.
Among the competitors were HYROX Men’s Doubles World Champion Jake Dearden, Elite 15 Season 23/24 Women’s World Champion Megan Jacoby, Three-Time Women’s World Champion Lauren Weeks, and Elite 15 Season 23/24 Men’s World Champion Alexander Roncevic – all returning after the summer break and the HYROX World Championships held in Nice in June of this year. Here is all you need to know:
The day began with the Women’s Elite 15 race, where three-time World Champion Lauren Weeks triumphed with a record-breaking time of 57:28, surpassing her previous best of 58:03 set in Vienna earlier this year. Weeks, battling reigning champion Megan Jacoby and LA champion Lauren Griffith, took control during the burpees station, edging out Jacoby by just 32 seconds.
“It was an absolute fight out there today,” said Jacoby, who finished in 58:00. “This is a test, and the big goal is the World Championships.”
Weeks, cautious about her form early in the season, expressed satisfaction with her performance. “The course was very smooth, it was definitely set up for a fast run. My run felt really, really good,” she said.
Known for her versatility, Weeks used the off-season to explore various endurance races. However, the American hinted at her hesitation to compete in upcoming events due to family commitments.
Johanna Wietrzyk, a 22-year-old former tennis player, took third place with a time of 59:28 in her Elite 15 debut, marking herself as a rising star in the sport.
In the Men’s Elite 15, reigning World Champion Alexander Roncevic of Austria claimed victory with a time of 53:31, the second-fastest time in HYROX history. Australian James Kelly pushed Roncevic all the way, finishing just 22 seconds behind at 53:53.
The two athletes were evenly matched throughout, but Roncevic’s dominance in the wall balls gave him the edge. “[With] all the people expecting something from you, it’s a bit of pressure, but I love HYROX and the community so it’s fun just coming here,” Roncevic said on his first time defending a championship title. Reflecting on the race, he added: “My goal was to set the pace for myself. I knew it was going to be a running game, and James is a better runner, but I knew I was going to crush on the stations, and that’s what happened.”
Kelly, a veteran of the sport, praised his rival, saying: “The first thing I said to him was I thought I broke him twice. Kudos to Roncevic, he’s come back strong and proven he’s the man to beat.”
Several new competitors made their mark in Amsterdam, hinting at a season of surprises. British athlete Kate Davey finished fourth after a slow start, while Jake Dearden made his Elite 15 debut. Dearden, fresh off a marathon and a personal best in Cape Town, finished 11th but remains optimistic. “This experience was humbling, but it’s where the real learning happens. It’s a stepping stone towards my ultimate goal: making it to the Elite 15 at the World Championships.,” he said.
As the 2024/25 season unfolds, all eyes will be on these rising stars and established champions as they push the boundaries of endurance and skill.
Watch “This is HYROX” on Red Bull TV, and discover what makes this fitness competition so gruelling.