Puccio, Coleman Win 2017 Bouldering Nationals

Reigning champion Nathaniel Coleman claimed his second Bouldering Nationals title at the Salt Palace Convention Center Saturday, while long-time competition climber Alex Puccio earned her tenth.

While Coleman’s performance early in the comp put him in ninth after semi-finals, the last place to advance, he dominated finals. Coleman flashed all four problems. Only one other competitor, Kai Lightner, topped all four problems. His seven attempts landed him a second place finish. Lightner and Aleksei Rubtsov, who placed third overall, were ranked first and second going into finals.

Puccio entered finals tied for second with last year’s champion Megan Mascarenas. She earned her tenth championship title in 12 years by flashing problems one and two, and topping problem three on her second try. Her victory capped a remarkable comeback following spine surgery in June of 2016. She’s now won nine competitions in a row since returning from injury. No one topped problem four in women’s finals. 15-year-old Ashima Shiraishi took a close second, also flashing two problems. Brooke Raboutou, also 15, placed third. This was Shiraishi and Raboutou’s first adult Bouldering Nationals competition.

“This was probably the hardest Nationals I have ever competed in,” Puccio wrote on Instagram. “The new generation is here, and they are strong, but they motivate me to keep pushing myself to get stronger too.”

Women’s Results:

1. Alex Puccio
2. Ashima Shiraishi
3. Brooke Raboutou
4. Michaela Kiersch
5. Kyra Condie
6. Megan Mascarenas
7. Margo Hayes
8. Grace McKeehan
9. Lily Danavan

Men’s Results:

1. Nathaniel Coleman
2. Kai Lightner
3. Aleksei Rubtsov
4. Sean Bailey
5. Shawn Raboutou
6. Nicholas Milburn
7. Andy Lamb
8. Tyler Landman
9. Alex Waterhouse

Visit the USA Climbing website for an in-depth breakdown of the scoring.

Watch 2017 Bouldering Nationals Finals:

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