Mady Howard competes within the Season 15 premiere of “American Ninja Warrior.” Howard is one in every of a number of Utahns competing this season. Elizabeth Morris, NBC
Violet Kepo’o competes on “American Ninja Warrior.” Elizabeth Morris, NBC
Mady Howard competes within the Season 15 premiere of “American Ninja Warrior.” Elizabeth Morris, NBC
Brian Beckstrand competes within the Season 15 premiere of “American Ninja Warrior.” Elizabeth Morris, NBC
Josh Ferguson competes within the Season 15 premiere of “American Ninja Warrior.” Elizabeth Morris, NBC
Larissa Cottle competes within the Season 15 premiere of “American Ninja Warrior.” Elizabeth Morris, NBC
“American Ninja Warrior” has lengthy had a robust Utah following, and this season isn't any completely different: The Season 15 premiere alone featured six rivals from Utah.
Right here’s a have a look at how the Utah ninjas fared — and who's advancing to the semifinals.
Kai Beckstrand
When Kai Beckstrand made his “ANW” debut in Season 13, he beat out skilled athletes and seasoned veterans of the present to safe the quickest time of all of the rivals within the first spherical (he did it in 1:38.83).
Now 17, Beckstrand has returned — and he’s even quicker.
The teenager appeared to cruise by means of the six obstacles that put steadiness and higher physique energy to the take a look at with excessive ease — a difficult course that solely 11 rivals accomplished in the course of the two-hour season premiere, per NBC.com.
On prime of that, Beckstrand completed the course in a bit over 54 seconds — greater than 20 seconds forward of the second-fastest time of the night time.
In a significant change to the present this season, the peak of the Mega Wall has been elevated to a file breaking 18.5 ft. Opponents who full the primary spherical course in beneath 1 minute and 20 seconds get a shot at working up this wall for $10,000.
Beckstrand didn’t even appear fazed by the peak change. He shortly ran up the wall, hit the buzzer and have become the primary ninja of the night time to assert the $10,000 prize — just one different competitor completed this in the course of the season premiere.
In accordance with the “American Ninja Warrior” announcers, Beckstrand is a favourite to win the entire present.
Violet Kepo’o
“American Ninja Warrior” lowered the age requirement to compete from 19 to fifteen throughout Season 13 — main younger rivals like Beckstrand to make a formidable run all the way in which to the nationwide finals.
Now, one other Utah teenager has joined the “ANW” competitors.
Violet Kepo’o, a 15-year-old from Nice Grove, made her “ANW” debut in the course of the Season 15 premiere. Earlier than her run, the teenager — who's an enormous “Harry Potter” fan — shared the way it’s been a longtime dream of hers to compete on “ANW” and that she hoped “to make numerous magic” on the present.
Violet Kepo’o competes on “American Ninja Warrior.”
Elizabeth Morris, NBC
Kepo’o was visibly emotional earlier than she began her run on the impediment course. And she or he was expressive as she labored her means by means of the course. She appeared genuinely stunned each time she made it by means of an impediment, and jumped up and down after she survived the third impediment, the Domino Impact, which required her to run throughout a sequence of dominos that change in top.
The teenager’s run got here to an finish on the fifth impediment, a brand new impediment referred to as Ring the Bells that took down numerous rivals in the course of the season premiere. Ring the Bells requires contestants to swing throughout a sequence of 4 bells on a pendulum. Kepo’o nearly made it by means of, however fell earlier than she might stick the touchdown, run up the wall and hit the buzzer.
However making it that far secured the teenager’s place within the semifinals as she snagged the No. 3 spot among the many episode’s feminine rivals (the highest 4 feminine rivals from every episode advance to the semifinals).
Mady Howard
When Mady Howard made it to the finals throughout her “American Ninja Warrior” debut in 2019, the present’s announcers referred to as her a “breakout star” who “immediately turned one in every of our prime rivals.”
Final season, the previous Southern Utah College gymnast competed on the present and made all of it the way in which to the nationwide finals — roughly six months after giving beginning to her son, Beckham.
Mady Howard competes within the Season 15 premiere of “American Ninja Warrior.”
Elizabeth Morris, NBC
Now, the 27-year-old nurse from Washington, Utah, has returned to the competitors for a fourth time. Within the Season 15 premiere, Howard mentioned she was “feeling extra ready” and famous that she wished her son to see her full a course and hit the buzzer.
However like Kepo’o, Howard additionally fell sufferer to the brand new Ring the Bells impediment. Howard managed to swing throughout all the bells and land on the platform, however she couldn’t stick the touchdown and fell backward into the water. Though Howard was visibly upset that she didn’t get to hit the buzzer, she nonetheless superior to the semifinals with a time of 1 minute and 20 seconds, securing the No. 2 spot among the many feminine rivals within the episode.
Brian Beckstrand
Kai Beckstrand and his father, Brian Beckstrand, made historical past after they turned the primary father-son duo to finish a course, hit the buzzer and advance to the semifinals in the course of the thirteenth season of “ANW,” the Deseret Information beforehand reported.
Brian Beckstrand competes within the Season 15 premiere of “American Ninja Warrior.”
Elizabeth Morris, NBC
In his return to “ANW,” Brian Beckstrand wasn’t capable of end the course this time — like a number of of his fellow rivals, he received bested by the Ring the Bells impediment. However his time of 1 minute and 21 seconds positioned him No. 8 among the many male rivals within the episode and landed him within the semifinals (the highest 12 male rivals from every episode advance to the semifinals).
Josh Ferguson
Josh Ferguson, a 38-year-old photographer based mostly in American Fork, received into “American Ninja Warrior” as a means to deal with his spouse’s breast most cancers analysis — and “to present his household a carry,” the announcers mentioned forward of Ferguson’s “ANW” debut.
Josh Ferguson competes within the Season 15 premiere of “American Ninja Warrior.”
Elizabeth Morris, NBC
Carrying a pink shirt in assist of his spouse, Libby, who was on the sidelines with their three children, Ferguson was beaming as he ready to run the impediment course. He lasted on the course for roughly 23 seconds earlier than getting tripped up by the third impediment, Domino Impact. Nevertheless it was sufficient to safe his spot within the semifinals as he positioned No. 11 among the many male rivals throughout his episode.
“I had a blast and as a ‘38 12 months previous dad of three’ it was fairly superior to be racing in opposition to children 20+ years youthful than me,” Ferguson shared in an Instagram submit. “Let’s prepare for the semifinals.”
Larissa Cottle
After a four-year hiatus — which included giving beginning to her daughter, Jovi — Larissa Cottle has returned to “American Ninja Warrior.” The competitor from Lehi has beforehand competed on the present a whopping six occasions, starting in Season 8.
In her energetic return, Cottle made it to the fourth impediment earlier than falling. In a brand new twist to the season, she competed in a run-off with Jaelyn Bennett in an try to assert the fourth spot among the many feminine rivals. Though she didn’t find yourself securing a spot within the semifinals, Cottle shared in an Instagram submit that she “had a lot enjoyable” and was joyful to be again competing once more.
Larissa Cottle competes within the Season 15 premiere of “American Ninja Warrior.”
Elizabeth Morris, NBC
“I’m nonetheless attempting to recover from the rushed foolish errors I made on this season however take them to coronary heart as mandatory classes to study and develop from!” she wrote. “I had simply had a chest surgical procedure in November of final 12 months getting a number of scar tissue eliminated and it set my coaching again large time (no hanging on something for no less than 8 weeks) it felt like beginning another time! However finally SO joyful to be on the market once more and be part of this season! Thanks all for love and assist.”