Marc Sanchez claims the gold in California!
Last updated on June 30th, 2025
The inaugural Santa Monica Classic occurred in its namesake city in California on June 28-29, 2025. The show, promoted by 2019 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) Martins Licis, featured 11 athletes, representing four countries, competing in six events: Car Deadlift, Log Lift, Frame Carry, Dumbbell Press, Super Yoke, and Loading Race.
USA’s Marc Sanchez scored his first major contest victory, achieving 53.5 of a possible 66 points to run away with the overall gold.
2025 Santa Monica Classic Results
- Marc Sanchez (USA) — 53.5 points
- Cole Bolton (USA) — 46.5 points
- Jacob Finerty (USA) — 45.5 points
- Cim Johansson (SWE) — 44 points
- Ajuna Rwakatare (USA) — 41 points
- Kelly Howell (USA) — 39 points
- Nick Gentile (USA) — 30 points
- Konstantine Janashia (GEO) — 20.5 points (withdrew)
- Morgan Hill (USA) — 19.5 points
- Josh Lancaster (UK) — 16 points
- Josh Gregory (USA) — 14.5 points (withdrew)
[Related: How Strongman Mark Felix Is Rebuilding His Overhead Strength]
2025 Santa Monica Classic Event Results
Below are the results for each of the events contested in Santa Monica:
Car Deadlift
Athletes were allotted one minute to deadlift the 324-kilogram vehicle for reps.
- Marc Sanchez — Eight reps
- Josh Gregory — Seven reps
- Jacob Finerty — Six reps (T-third)
- Morgan Hill — Six reps (T-third)
- Cole Bolton — Four reps (T-fifth)
- Konstantine Janashia — Four reps (T-fifth)
- Cim Johansson — Two reps (T-seventh)
- Ajuna Rwakatare — Two reps (T-seventh)
- Nick Gentile — One rep (T-ninth)
- Josh Lancaster — One rep (T-ninth)
- Kelly Howell — no lift
Log Lift
Strongmen had one minute to lift 145 kilograms for reps.
- Marc Sanchez — Six reps (T-first)
- Jacob Finerty — Six reps (T-first)
- Cole Bolton — Five reps
- Cim Johansson — Four reps (T-fourth)
- Ajuna Rwakatare — Four reps (T-fourth)
- Konstantine Janashia — Four reps (T-fourth)
- Nick Gentile — Three reps (T-seventh)
- Josh Gregory — Three reps (T-seventh)
- Kelly Howell — Two reps
- Morgan Hill — no lift
- Josh Lancaster — no lift
Frame Carry
Athletes established their max distance with 340 kilograms within the one-minute time cap.
- Cim Johansson — 38.41 meters
- Cole Bolton — 32.92 meters
- Ajuna Rwakatare — 27.43 meters
- Kelly Howell — 21.95 meters
- Konstantine Janashia — 10.97 meters
- Jacob Finerty — 5.49 meters
- Marc Sanchez — 1.68 meters
- Nick Gentile — 1.32 meters
- Morgan Hill — no lift
- Josh Lancaster — no lift
- Josh Gregory — withdrew
Dumbbell Press
Each strongman established max reps with 91 kilograms within one minute.
- Nick Gentile — Three reps
- Ajuna Rwakatare — Two reps (T-second)
- Kelly Howell — Two reps (T-second)
- Marc Sanchez — One rep (T-fourth)
- Jacob Finerty — One rep (T-fourth)
- Cim Johansson — One rep (T-fourth)
- Josh Lancaster — One rep (T-fourth)
- Cole Bolton — no lift
- Konstantine Janashia — no lift
- Morgan Hill — no lift
- Josh Gregory — withdrew
Super Yoke
Athletes were tasked to traverse the 454-kilogram yoke 11 meters as fast as possible within one minute.
- Cole Bolton — 11.94 seconds
- Marc Sanchez — 12.81 seconds (T-second)
- Kelly Howell — 12.81 seconds (T-second)
- Cim Johansson — 14.16 seconds
- Ajuna Rwakatare — 14.94 seconds
- Jacob Finerty — 16.12 seconds
- Morgan Hill — 17.4 seconds
- Josh Lancaster — 21.78 seconds
- Nick Gentile — 53.13 seconds
- Konstantine Janashia — withdrew
- Josh Gregory — withdrew
Loading Race
Each strongman attempted to load three implements weighing 147, 159, and 170 kilograms as quickly as they could.
- Marc Sanchez — Three in 21.35 seconds
- Cole Bolton — Three in 22.09 seconds
- Kelly Howell — Three in 23.2 seconds
- Jacob Finerty — Three in 23.7 seconds
- Cim Johansson — Three in 25.9 seconds
- Morgan Hill — Three in 29.5 seconds
- Ajuna Rwakatare — Three in 31.69 seconds
- Nick Gentile — Three in 30.75 seconds
- Josh Lancaster — Three in 39.2 seconds
- Konstantine Janashia — withdrew
- Josh Gregory — withdrew
More Strongman Content
Featured image: @legendofmarc on Instagram
