Gem State Sprint 2026

Inside the event space at the Courtyard by Marriott Boise West, the sharp snapping of puzzle mechanisms set a rapid tempo as Evan Beck logged a tournament-defining 2.00 winning average in the 2x2x2 Cube final, capped by an electric 1.21 single. The venue in Meridian, Idaho, USA provided a focused arena for a dense day of action on February 28, 2026, where a field of 44 competitors engaged across 12 scheduled rounds. The energetic hall hosted five distinct disciplines, setting the stage for decisive turns and personal milestones across the full program.

The 3x3x3 Cube contest stood at the center of the cubing competition, drawing all 44 participants into a three-round test of speed and consistency. Evan Beck carried his momentum through to secure his second gold of the day, sealing top honors with a final 3x3 results average of 7.73 and the best single of the weekend at 6.66. Rustin Haderlie finished as runner-up with an average of 10.42, while Grady Wright rounded out the podium positions in third place with an average of 10.71, completing a clean sweep of the hardware for the host nation.

Beck delivered another dominant sequence in the 2x2x2 Cube event, navigating three full rounds against 40 contenders to lock down his 2.00 gold-medal mark. Grady Wright secured second place with a final average of 2.41, while Rustin Haderlie collected the bronze position on an average of 2.69. The brief, high-intensity rounds on the smaller puzzle left virtually no margin for error at the top of the standings, demanding absolute perfection through each inspection and execution cycle under the table timers.

In the Clock event, Lowen Shattuck demonstrated poise and control through two rounds of competition featuring 22 entrants. Shattuck posted a winning average of 7.31 alongside a round-best single of 6.10 to take first place. Emily Thurston took the second step on the podium with an average of 9.04, followed closely by Conlin Alzheimer in third place with an average of 9.35. The event tested technical dial adjustments and balance, giving the Idaho hall a distinct test of dexterity.

Lowen Shattuck expanded his title count on the Skewb, pacing a 26-competitor field across two rounds with an event-winning average of 4.61 and the fastest single solve at 3.00. Joshua Cannon took second place on an average of 5.74, while Benjamin Espinoza locked in third place with a 6.40 average. In the Pyraminx division, Rustin Haderlie topped a 28-player contest across two rounds, earning the victory with a 5.91 average and a single of 5.01 to edge out Damian Wilding in second with 6.29 and Andrew Terpening in third with 7.11.

Away from the top of the podiums, the official scorecards recorded substantial breakthroughs for several dedicated competitors. Oliver Wichmann entered five events and showed extraordinary progress, chopping his Skewb personal best down to 10.31, which was 65.1 percent faster than his prior standard, while trimming his 3x3x3 Cube best by 8.9 percent to 18.22. Jiraiya Ezra James Bishop cut his 2x2x2 Cube mark by 48.7 percent to 4.64 and improved his classic Rubik's Cube standard by 36.3 percent to 15.87 across three events. Jacob Rodewald competed in five events, taking 11th place in 2x2x2 Cube while bettering his mark by 36.6 percent to 2.68, and dropping his Clock time by 27.1 percent to 22.16. Beau Jeffery Davies handled three events, making a first ever attempt at Pyraminx with a mark of 17.69 and improving his 2x2x2 Cube personal record by 34.1 percent to 5.10.

New puzzle formats and maiden appearances also highlighted the depth of the weekend field. Levi Reimann took on three events, completing a first ever attempt at Clock in 38.05 while improving his 3x3x3 Cube personal standard by 16 percent to 23.32. Teagen Grover took on five separate events, slicing 36 percent off their Clock personal best to reach 25.92 and improving their 2x2x2 Cube mark by 34.1 percent down to 4.62. Eli Jameson reached a best finish of 6th place in Skewb while improving their Clock personal best by 32.8 percent to 12.32, and first-time participant Kalen Ottley took on four events at their very first WCA competition, recording a best finish of 12th in Pyraminx alongside a first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube in 16.22.

Across the five official disciplines, all 15 available podium positions went to competitors representing the USA, reflecting strong regional mastery throughout the bracket. The smooth flow of 12 complete rounds kept the judging tables and solving stations active throughout the entire program. From seasoned veterans managing high-stakes finals to newcomers learning tournament procedures, the gathering underlined the steady growth of speed cubing in the region.

The one-day showcase at Gem State Sprint 2026 concluded with Evan Beck and Lowen Shattuck standing tall with two victories apiece, while Rustin Haderlie secured a gold of his own in Pyraminx. With official records entered into the database and dozens of personal marks rewritten, the Meridian competition concluded a successful day of speedcubing, leaving competitors equipped with fresh times to build upon as the 2026 circuit moves forward.