Concordia Turning Fall 2024

Justin Barker set the tone for the entire weekend by delivering a blazing 7.64 winning average in the 3x3x3 Cube final, cementing his status as the standout competitor of the day. The gathering brought together 95 eager competitors at Concordia Turners in St. Louis, Missouri, USA on December 7, 2024. Across seven different events and 10 rounds of high-speed solving, the action never slowed down as participants tackled puzzles ranging from standard twisty puzzles to complex multi-layered challenges.

Barker proved nearly unstoppable throughout Concordia Turning Fall 2024, converting his blistering times into top-tier finishes across multiple formats. In the 3x3x3 Cube, he produced the single fastest solve of the tournament with a 6.79 on his way to gold, outpacing runner-up Sylvia Crouch who averaged 8.97 and third-place Edward Vakula who logged a 9.29. Those looking for standout 3x3 results found them at the top of the standings, where Barker displayed immaculate execution under time pressure.

His dominance extended cleanly into the 4x4x4 Cube, where Barker secured his second title of the meet. Navigating the additional inner layers with complete composure, he registered a winning average of 34.03 alongside a best single of 30.12. Braxton Lee Fowler followed in second place with an average of 37.96, while Zachary Johnson took third with 38.09. Barker added even more hardware to his tally by claiming second place in Clock with an average of 5.30 and third place in the 2x2x2 Cube with a 2.59 average.

Beyond Barker's mastery, other specialists carved out remarkable victories across the venue. In the fast-paced 2x2x2 Cube, Braxton Lee Fowler captured the championship with an outstanding 1.81 winning average and a single solve of 0.70, besting Joben Nelson who finished second with 2.45. Cyrus Gearhart proved untouchable in the Pyraminx, taking first place with a 3.24 average over Sylvia Crouch at 3.93 and Fowler at 4.07. Crouch rebounded brilliantly in Clock, winning the event with a crisp 4.25 average and a tournament-best 3.54 single.

The remaining events rounded out a showcase of supreme technical versatility. Edward Vakula claimed gold in Skewb with a 3.86 average, holding off Trenton Cuzick at 4.16 and Andrew Donald at 4.57. In the Megaminx, Katie Hinkley delivered a masterclass on the twelve-sided puzzle, topping the podium with a 51.33 average and a 47.28 single. Javier Gonzalez-Napoleoni secured the silver medal with a 55.99 average, while Garrett Hadaway locked up bronze at 56.37.

While top seeds battled for medals, the heart of this WCA competition belonged to competitors making immense personal strides. Jason Stumpe entered all seven events and recorded a massive 2x2x2 personal best single of 1.12, cutting his previous mark by 69.2 percent on his way to 10th place. Aiden Merchant also took on seven events, slicing his Skewb best down to 10.61 for a 61.1 percent improvement while logging his first ever tournament attempts in Clock at 28.70 and 4x4x4 Cube at 2:02.32. Brydan Hammer knocked 54.6 percent off his 2x2x2 single with a 4.36, and Asher Brizendine took on seven disciplines, setting a 3x3x3 personal best of 13.21 that improved his old record by 45 percent alongside first-ever official attempts in Clock and Megaminx.

The progress continued across every corner of Concordia Turning Fall 2024 as several more competitors tested their speed cubing abilities in unfamiliar territory. Lincoln Lyons dropped his 2x2x2 single by 43.3 percent to 6.68 and recorded his first official Clock solve at 27.13. Rory Williams improved his 3x3x3 mark by 42 percent down to 24.35 while trying Clock for the first time with a 26.51. Brendon Denninger made first-ever appearances in both 4x4x4 Cube and Megaminx while trimming his Clock personal best to 10.41, a 40.5 percent leap. Aiden Cole tackled seven events as well, debuting in Clock and 4x4x4 while cutting his Skewb mark by 38.8 percent down to 9.84.

Every round illustrated the growing enthusiasm for speedcubing in the region, bringing classic Rubik's Cube solvers together with enthusiasts of irregular polyhedra and timed dial puzzles. The smooth execution of 10 competitive rounds gave all 95 competitors ample opportunity to test their preparations against the timer. Across seven varied disciplines, every podium spot went to competitors representing the USA in a clean sweep.

When the final timers clicked off at Concordia Turning Fall 2024, the day had proven itself an absolute triumph of concentration and technical skill. Justin Barker emerged as the clear headliner of the 2024 gathering, setting standard-setting marks across both standard and big cube formats. With personal bests tumbling across all age brackets and disciplines, this memorable cubing competition concluded with the community already looking forward to the next season of fast turns and broken barriers.