Michigan Mini 26A 2024

Nine out of nine podium positions went straight to United States competitors at Michigan Mini 26A 2024, sealing an absolute sweep across all three contested events. The one-day gathering drew a focused field of 16 competitors to the Plymouth Arts and Recreation Center on December 30, 2024. Across seven total rounds of intense speedcubing action, local speed cubing enthusiasts gathered in Plymouth, Michigan, USA to close out the year with rapid solves and memorable milestones. With three distinct disciplines on the schedule, the top tier of American talent asserted total control over the awards table from morning until the final round.

The sweep was anchored by an identical podium order across every single event. Luke Garrett led the American charge with three gold medals, followed each time by silver medalist Blake Thompson and bronze finisher Quinn Lawson. Together, the trio locked down all top-three placements in the traditional 3x3x3 Cube, the demanding 3x3x3 One-Handed event, and the dynamic Skewb. For spectators tracking the official 3x3 results, the consistency at the summit proved exceptional, leaving no room on any podium step for international challengers at this memorable WCA competition in late 2024.

The flagship Rubik's Cube division delivered top-tier quality through three progressive rounds of competition. Garrett took top honours in the final round of the classic 3x3x3 Cube with a winning average of 5.77 seconds, complemented by a blisteringly fast best single of 5.45 seconds. Thompson secured second place with an average of 7.98 seconds, while Lawson earned third place by logging a steady average of 9.09 seconds. The depth of the 16-person roster ensured that every solve mattered, but the medal trio maintained separation through each stage of the bracket.

Single-handed solving brought additional drama to the tables, where competitors solved the classic puzzle using only one hand. Garrett once again set the pace, topping the 11-competitor field with a winning average of 9.94 seconds alongside the best single of the event at 8.99 seconds. Thompson took his second silver medal of the day by recording an average of 17.75 seconds. Lawson followed close behind to claim another bronze medal with an average of 18.23 seconds, completing another dominant podium lockout for the host nation across two demanding rounds.

In the Skewb event, the distinctive corner-turning puzzle offered a sharp test of dexterity and mechanical precision across two full rounds. Garrett finalized his triple-gold performance by claiming victory with a winning average of 3.90 seconds and an event-best single solve of 2.79 seconds. Thompson locked down second place with an average of 4.91 seconds, while Lawson wrapped up a flawless medal set by posting an average of 6.08 seconds for third place among the eight Skewb entrants. The result cemented Garrett's unblemished tournament record across all three disciplines.

Away from the top of the standings, Michigan Mini 26A 2024 offered plenty of personal breakthroughs for participants advancing their official skill sets. Jackson French delivered a remarkable jump in the 3x3x3 Cube, setting a personal best single of 30.41 seconds, which improved upon his previous mark of 46.00 seconds by 33.9 percent, while also taking on his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed with a time of 1:21.60. Marc Santeiu took on three events, posting a personal best single of 13.11 seconds in the 3x3x3 Cube to beat his prior mark by 13.2 percent, in addition to logging his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 47.91 seconds and a debut Skewb solve of 13.59 seconds. Radiath Kamal Patwary achieved a personal best single of 7.22 seconds in the 3x3x3 Cube, an 8.4 percent drop, while securing a best finish of 4th place. Preston Shaffer trimmed his Skewb personal best single to 9.14 seconds, improving 7.7 percent on his way to a 5th-place finish.

The spirit of growth continued through the rest of the roster as solvers took on fresh challenges. Conor Mays tackled two events and achieved a 3x3x3 Cube personal best single of 11.90 seconds, improving by 7.4 percent, alongside a 4th-place best finish in 3x3x3 One-Handed. Ian Carlisle entered three events, lowering his 3x3x3 Cube personal best single to 16.65 seconds for a 4.5 percent improvement and earning 6th place in 3x3x3 One-Handed. Victor Santeiu contested three events and registered his first ever attempt at Skewb in 9.27 seconds, his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 38.88 seconds, and a 6th-place best finish in the main event. In his first official tournament appearance, Jonathan Clarke entered two events, logging his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Cube in 40.46 seconds and a debut one-handed solve of 1:09.52.

The smooth execution of seven rounds across three events provided a compact yet comprehensive showcase of modern speedcubing excellence. By securing all nine podium places, the United States contingent established complete authority over the weekend tables in Plymouth. Michigan Mini 26A 2024 delivered an exceptional close to the competitive calendar, giving seasoned champions triple-podium success while offering emerging competitors valuable official marks to build upon as the community looks ahead toward the next season.