Clayton State Cubing 2024

Caleb Chen unleashed an exceptional 6.16-second winning average in the 3x3x3 Cube final, setting the benchmark for a weekend rich in seasoned skill. Held across two days from March 23 to March 24, 2024, Clayton State Cubing 2024 welcomed 94 competitors to Morrow, Georgia, USA. Utilizing both the Clayton State University Student Activities Center and the James M. Baker University Center, the gathering showcased experienced hands asserting their command across six diverse events and eight rounds of intense Rubik's Cube action.

The 3x3 results confirmed the authority of the front-runners over three hard-fought rounds among 92 competitors. Chen claimed the gold with his 6.16 mark, bolstered by an electric 4.31 best single in the event. Zeke Mackay secured second place on the podium with a 6.59 average, while Nicolás Sánchez earned third place with a 7.43 mark. The precision on display from these established solvers underscored the depth of talent throughout the main speedcubing bracket.

Big cubes belonged firmly to Vishwa Sankar, who assembled a commanding triple-crown sweep across the larger puzzles. Sankar took top honors in the 5x5x5 Cube with a 52.65 average and a 50.44 single, besting Jared Stinson who recorded 54.01, and Katie Hull who took third with 57.42. Moving upward in size, Sankar captured the 6x6x6 Cube title with a 1:33.36 mean, finishing ahead of Mackay at 1:40.70 and Stinson at 1:43.17 across a 40-player field.

Sankar completed his dominant run in the 7x7x7 Cube, posting an extraordinary 2:16.00 average alongside an event-best 1:58.82 single among 36 entrants. Noah Swor followed in second place with a 2:46.30 average, while Hull took her second big-cube bronze with 2:46.89. The masterclass in handling high-order hardware demonstrated how steady practice and technical endurance prevail in demanding multi-minute solves at a premier WCA competition.

In the 4x4x4 Cube, Katie Hull demonstrated razor-sharp efficiency to claim the title in a field of 64 competitors. Hull topped the podium with a 30.33 average and a 24.76 single, narrowly edging Mackay who finished second at 30.48. Sankar rounded out the podium positions with a 30.90 mark in third. Meanwhile, the specialized discipline of 3x3x3 Fewest Moves saw Noah Swor dominate with a 25.67 winning average and a single of 23 moves, ahead of Jacob Ambrose at 30.00 and Daniel Mullen at 32.00.

Away from the top steps of the podium, Clayton State Cubing 2024 served as a launchpad for remarkable individual milestones across the community. Andrew Choi authored the steepest progression of the weekend, slashing his 3x3x3 Cube mark to 17.51 seconds, an improvement of 49 percent over his previous best, while also logging a first ever attempt in the 4x4x4 Cube at 1:31.27. Clayton Joshua Simpson trimmed his 3x3x3 personal best by 39.3 percent down to 13.62, while taking on maiden attempts in both the 4x4x4 Cube with 1:16.47 and the 5x5x5 Cube with 3:24.54. William Schlegel improved his 3x3x3 standard by 29.8 percent to 11.79 and tackled his first 6x6x6 Cube with 3:52.33. Logan Keodara cut his 4x4x4 Cube personal best by 28.1 percent to 1:36.23 alongside an initial 6x6x6 attempt of 6:34.42.

The drive to tackle new horizons continued through several multi-event campaigns across the weekend. Durham Lee Wells took on six events, securing a 9th-place finish in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with an initial attempt of 51, while carving 25.3 percent off his 7x7x7 Cube mark to reach 5:10.57. Gabriel Valenzuela also tackled six events, achieving an 11th-place finish in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with an opening attempt of 53 and a 15.9 percent personal best reduction in the 5x5x5 Cube at 2:22.15. Ethan Seifried Jr. took on five events, producing a 20th-place finish in the 7x7x7 Cube with a debut 5:35.87, while George Whittington completed his first official attempts in the 5x5x5 Cube at 2:27.91 and the 6x6x6 Cube at 5:39.61.

The total haul of 18 podium placements by United States competitors capped a thrilling schedule of speed cubing in Morrow. Solvers across all skill levels and backgrounds found their rhythm on the campus stages, establishing personal benchmarks and setting an inspiring tone for upcoming fixtures on the competitive calendar.