The 2010 CrossFit Games

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The ultimate proving grounds of the world’s fittest athletes.

July 16-18, 2010 • Carson, CA

The Home Depot Center Sports Complex

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Southeast Regional

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Southeast Regional

Athlete Profile: Michelle Kinney - Southeast Regional

Muli-sport collegiate athlete finished first in Bama

Michelle Kinney brought an NCAA D-I strength and conditioning background with her when she found CrossFit. As a member of the Track, Cross Country, and Softball teams at Mississippi State University diversity was already a familiar concept. She started CrossFit in September 2009 under the programming of Justin Emmons at CrossFit Bartlett in Bartlett, TN. Kinney says CrossFit has allowed her to satisfy her thrill for competition in her post collegiate years.

Vitals
Name: Michelle Kinney
Age: 25
Height: 5'4
Weight: 135
Sectional: Alabama, 1st place
Cindy: 22
Fran: 3:58
Nancy: 15:13
Michael: 19:32
30 Muscle Ups: 14:12
5K run: 21:57
Deadlift: 275
Press: 95
Back Squat: 195
Front Squat: 155
C&J: 125

What is your Athletic Background?
I played/tried almost every sport imaginable throughout my life. Competitive softball was my favorite and where I spent most of my time. I also started running cross country in high school after being forced to by Coach Bingham, my softball (and not-so-coincidentally cross country) coach. I ended up doing well with distance running and won the individual TN State Championship one year. I earned an athletic scholarship to run track and cross country at Mississippi State University. In track, I competed in the 3000m steeplechase and javelin. (I suggest incorporating the steeplechase in a CrossFit WOD. It's intense for sure!) I earned All-Southeastern Conference honors in the javelin, placing 7th at the SEC Outdoor Championships. After two years of competing on the track and cross country teams, I switched sports and walked on the softball team at MSU. I finished my first season as the starting center fielder and earned a softball scholarship for my remaining years at MSU. After college, I fed my competitive hunger by playing for a local women's tackle football team for two years as quaterback, safety, and kicker. About nine months ago, I found CrossFit Bartlett and after several months of training with Justin Emmons, I decided to compete. I hung up my football pads and have been hitting the gym hard ever since. I began CrossFit in August 2009. I am a coach in training.

What is interesting about you as an individual or athlete?
I'd say an interesting story about me is when I tore my ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in my right (throwing) elbow while throwing the javelin in college. It was my second year of competing in the javelin and I was already ranked among the top javelin throwers in the SEC. At the TCU meet, on my last throw, I lost my form and tried to muscle the throw anyway. Mistake! I heard five "pops" in my elbow and didn't realize it at the time, but my UCL had completely separated from my ulna. I had a decision to make: 1. Get an MRI, confirm damage, and have surgery immediately or 2. Get a cortizone blend injection in my elbow and try to see if I can throw. Obviously, I chose the latter. My elbow hurt like hell but I somehow (I still to this day do not know how) PR'ed and placed 7th at the conference meet and earned All-SEC honors. I had "Tommy John" surgery in early June to repair the elbow and tried out for
the softball team in late August of the same year. Full rehabilitation takes six months with that procedure, but I didn't have that long. I made it happen in three months so that I could follow my dream to play softball for an SEC school.