TJHSST Spring 2023

A blistering 7.31-second winning average in the classic 3x3x3 Cube by Zavian Valedon punctuated an intense day of solving in Virginia. Solvers made their journeys from across the country and overseas to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, turning the Alexandria venue into an energetic crossroads of skill. Held on May 6, 2023, the event drew 111 competitors eager to test their capabilities against the clock across 5 distinct events and 10 rounds of play. The gathering proved that distance is no barrier for dedicated speedcubing enthusiasts looking for elite stage time.

The journey was particularly extensive for international entrants like Shalom Woldemicael of Ethiopia and Juwon Kim of Korea, who joined a packed field representing regions far beyond Alexandria, Virginia, USA. For every competitor travelling great distances to sit at the timing mats, the day offered an intense test of nerve across multiple disciplines. From the familiar turns of the standard Rubik's Cube to the complex geometries of side events, the atmosphere in Northern Virginia buzzed as 2023 season marks fell across the boards.

The premier 3x3 results delivered dramatic finishes across three full rounds of head-to-head pressure. Valedon took top honours with his 7.31 average, edging out Sam Popp who secured second with a 7.54 average and Samuel Garrett who claimed third on an 8.16 mark. Valedon also recorded a 6.64 single in the event, highlighting the speed cubing efficiency required to rise above 109 entrants in the discipline. With tight margins deciding every position, the three rounds tested endurance as much as raw mechanical pace.

In the 4x4x4 Cube, Ari Randers-Pehrson delivered a masterclass, securing the victory with a 26.47 average and the best single of the event at 22.35 across 73 competitors. Blake Thompson took the runner-up spot with a 34.23 average, followed closely by Charles Jerome in third at 35.64. Randers-Pehrson created significant separation through both rounds of the double-layer puzzle, demonstrating fluid inspection and swift edge pairing throughout the bracket.

Jerome was far from finished on the podium trail, however, capturing gold in the two-round 3x3x3 One-Handed event with a 14.72 average and a sharp 12.90 single. Valedon finished second at 16.26, while Thompson collected another podium with a 17.26 average for third place. Jerome proved his versatility across differing puzzle mechanics throughout the afternoon, maintaining strong consistency whether working with a single hand or adapting to non-standard puzzle geometries.

The fastest single turn styles belonged to Skewb, where William Klauer navigated 66 competitors across two rounds to claim first place with a 2.72 average and an eye-catching 1.70 best single. Brad Hoffman took second with a 3.74 average, while Jerome secured third at 4.00. In the dodecahedral Megaminx event, Declan Wilhelm captured top honours with a 52.70 average and a 49.96 single, leading Jerome in second at 57.66 and Thompson in third at 59.40.

Beyond the top podium spots, the heart of this cubing competition beat through extraordinary individual progressions down the standings. Matthew Tender trimmed his Skewb personal best down to 5.61 seconds, an improvement of 50.4 percent over his prior mark of 11.32, while also completing his first ever attempt at Megaminx in 1:52.59. Juwon Kim took on five events, logging a first ever attempt at Skewb in 6.25 seconds and dropping their 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best to 25.86, a 47.2 percent improvement. Inti Ruiz took 12th in 3x3x3 One-Handed and slashed their Skewb personal best to 6.67, which was 42.1 percent faster than their previous best.

First attempts at unfamiliar puzzles opened new territory for several dedicated participants. Lily McClelland posted a first ever attempt at Skewb with a swift 4.92 and improved her 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 7.89 seconds, a 22.3 percent leap. William Pyron recorded a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:29.17 and improved his 3x3x3 Cube mark by 31.1 percent to 18.70. Shalom Woldemicael took on five separate events, posting a first ever attempt at Skewb in 18.72 and finishing 33rd in Megaminx. Eric Cai completed a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 2:17.52, while Beckett Daigle registered a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube with a 1:32.36 single.

The single-day schedule of TJHSST Spring 2023 wrapped up with fifteen podium awards distributed across the five disciplines. For the 111 contenders who journeyed to the Northern Virginia venue, the official WCA competition delivered a full slate of milestones, personal records, and competitive tests. With puzzles packed away and times sealed in the ledger, solvers turned their sights toward the next chapter of the season.