Loki Nelson of Chapel Hill repeated as open men winner and Audrey Williams of Cary scored first in open women at Webster’s Rock the Hill 35 indoor climbing competition in Chapel Hill. There were 128 climbers, and more than $13,000 worth of prizes awarded.
The preliminaries were held during the week and the finals Feb. 18 at the Chapel Hill Community Center climbing wall. The event is considered the oldest continuous indoor climbing competition in the U.S.
Davis Slocum of Chapel Hill was second and David “Grechy” Grech third in open, with Hannah Breen, Hillsborough. second woman, Heidi Segars, Raleigh, third.
Chapel Hill award winners: Youth Men, Nick Schubert, Fayetteville, first, Kenyon Laurer, second. Weston Morris, third; Youth Women, Rebecca Benitz, first, Naomi Joiner, Carrboro, second, Rowan Bursky, third; Recreational Men, Patrick Watts, Durham, first, Devin Plauche, Kennesaw, GA, second, Jon Sadowsky, third; Recreational Women, Anna Stromberg, Carrboro, first, Anita Hallberg, Raleigh, second, Kate Nelson, third; Intermediate Men, William Hesler, first, Jimmy Kempter, second, Ben Gaspar, third; Intermediate Women, Rose Kohout, Carrboro, first, Kate Thacker, second, Rosie Maloney, Carrboro, third.
Old Skool Krew, Diane Joseph, Daly City, CA, first, Dave Gilbert, second, Steve Molnar, third.
Other awards went to:
Oldest—Bryan Kempter, 71 (beat Bill Webster by a few months).
Youngest—Adelyn Mitchell age 6.
Hang time—Hannah Breen with 13:28.00.
Crate stacking—Tamara Sanders stacked all 16 and stood on top in 2:20.20s.
Campus only—Davis Slocum time 16.95s.
Speed climb—Audrey Williams time 5.43s.
Event founder and retired, Webster competed and made it to the finals in Old Skool Krew, finishing fourth.