Hot Shots Earn Top Marks at Jump Rope National Championship

The Hot Shots of Tennessee competition jump rope team, based in Franklin, TN, earned six top-3 finishes during the American Jump Rope Federation (AMJRF) National Championship in Cincinnati from June 21 – 25. 

Olivia Byrd, Sara Smith, Delaney Talbert, and Jacob Weatherford joined athletes from around the country competing in age division championships for each event during the first four days of the competition.  The top six overall athletes/teams in every event and gender category, regardless of age, qualified for the Grand National Championship on June 25. 

For the third consecutive year, the Hot Shots brought home 2^nd place in Pairs Double Dutch, mixed division, at the Grand National Championship.  In Pairs Double Dutch, there are two jumpers in the ropes and two turners. 

The Hot Shots of Tennessee also took 3^rd place in the Single Rope Speed Relay, mixed division, at Grand Nationals after cinching 2^nd place in the mixed 19+ age division earlier in the week. In this event, each of the four athletes jumps for 30 seconds, one after the other in relay style, for a total of two minutes.

For the second consecutive year, Sara Smith and Jacob Weatherford earned 3^rd place in Pairs Wheel Freestyle, mixed division, at the Grand National Championship, after taking 2^nd place in the mixed 19+ age division earlier in the week.  Wheel is a style of jump rope that includes two people with two ropes.  Each jumper has one handle from their own rope, and one handle from their partner’s rope.

Jacob Weatherford took 2^nd place with his individual freestyle performance in the male 19+ division and qualified for Grand Nationals.

The Hot Shots competitors graduated from Franklin High School, and they attend college in four different states.  They all earned spots on the U.S. National Jump Rope Team.  Members of the Hot Shots have won gold medals at the World Jump Rope Championship, appeared in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and represented the sport of jump rope as AMJRF Ambassadors. 

For more information about the sport of jump rope, visit ijru.sport or amjrf.com.