Competition is filled with emotion. From May 15 to May 31, hundreds of CrossFit athletes from around the world competed in eight regionals.

From the sorrow of defeat to the glee of triumph, CrossFit brought out a myriad of emotions in the athletes as they fought for a trip to the CrossFit Games in arguably the most competitive year to date.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Zxum1ej7Ec

The competition floor at the 2015 South Regional was reminiscent of the CrossFit Games, with many big names in the field. The biggest story was perhaps 2014 Games champ Camille Leblanc-Bazinet’s move from Canada to Colorado, putting her in the South.

Another transplant on the women’s side, three-time Games qualifier Margaux Alvarez, moved from Northern California to Texas earlier this year. All eyes were on the two women as Alvarez ended Day 1 in first before giving way to Leblanc-Bazinet on Day 2.

On the men’s side, former Games athlete Roy Gamboa kick-started his weekend with second- and first-place finishes. After missing the Games at last year’s South Central Regional, Gamboa said he’d been working his weaknesses and was ready to tackle the competition.

An event record was set at the South Regional when Amanda Goodman crushed Event 7—the muscle-up/clean ladder—in1:21 flat.

The South Regional will send four rookies—Travis Williams, Adrian Conway (a two-time Affiliate Cup champion with Hack’s Pack Ute), Maddy Myers and Chad Cole—and six vets—Gamboa, Jordan Cook, Leblanc-Bazinet, Alvarez, Goodman and Jenn Jones—to this year’s individual competition at the CrossFit Games.

The 2015 Atlantic Regional was a matchup of champions not to be missed: 2014 South East Regional champ Emily Bridgers faced 2013 Reebok CrossFit Games winner Samantha Briggs, while fellow 2014 South East winner Noah Ohlsen stared down four-time Mid Atlantic Regional champ Ben Smith.

Day 1 opened with two Hero workouts: Randy and Tommy V. As expected, Briggs, known as “The Engine,” set the bar high as she cruised through Randy’s 75 snatches in just 2:28.8 to take first overall. The transplant from the Europe Region followed that up with second place on Tommy V to end Day 1 atop the leaderboard. But Bridgers was on home turf in Atlanta, Georgia, and was eager to represent.

“There is no one in here that has momentum like Emily Bridgers does,” CrossFit Media announcer Brandon Domingue said as Bridgers sailed to an Event 3 win. It was her first of four victories over the last five events, and she was well on her way to first overall.

Smith was challenged not only by Ohlsen but also new face Aaron Hanna and longtime Games hopeful Elijah Muhammad.

“I want it bad,” Muhammad said on the first day of competition. “I’m just gonna keep trying and keep giving it my all to get it. My daughter wants to see me get it, so, she’s rooting for me.”

Muhammad’s daughter was no doubt pleased to see her father finish third. Ohlsen held a 38-point lead over second-place Hanna at the end of the competition.

There was a single world record set at the Atlantic Regional: CrossFit Bound from Kennesaw, Georgia, lifted a combined 1,230 lb. in Event 4 (one-rep-max snatch).

The Atlantic will send four rookies—Hanna, Muhammad, Nathan Bramblett and Whitney Gelin—and six vets—Ohlsen, Smith, Bridgers, Briggs, Anna Tunnicliffe and Cassidy Lance—to this year’s individual competition at the CrossFit Games.