The ninth season of the reality competition series American Ninja Warrior premiered on June 12, 2017 on NBC. Hosts Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbaja-Biamila returned for their respective eighth and fifth seasons, alongside sideline reporter Kristine Leahy who returned for her third season. In addition prior to the ninth season premiere, NBC aired a special ANW Celebrity, Red Nose Day edition featuring nine celebrities, each coached by nine elite ninjas on May 25 before airing USA vs. The World III on June 4.
This year for the first time, the top five women in each city qualifying course qualified for the city finals course, and the top two women in each city finals qualify for national finals, regardless of their placement overall. Also, the show introduces ANW Obstacle Design Challenge, where from over 2500 fan-submitted obstacles, seven chosen obstacles are introduced in the show.
Video American Ninja Warrior (season 9)
Competition schedule
Maps American Ninja Warrior (season 9)
City courses
Los Angeles
Los Angeles qualifiers
The Los Angeles Qualifiers featured two new obstacles, Cannonball Drop and Battering Ram. The night concluded with 22 finishers. Grant McCartney earned the "POM Wonderful Crazy Healthy Run of the Night" with the fastest time (1:26.37). Other finishers include Adam Rayl and Kevin Bull.
- Floating Steps
- Cannonball Drop
- Fly Wheels
- Block Run
- Battering Ram
- Warped Wall
Los Angeles finals
The Los Angeles finals round featured two new obstacles, Swinging Peg Board and Elevator Climb. The round concluded with four finishers. The "Papal Ninja" Sean Bryan just edged out concrete worker Adam Rayl (5:07.92) to earn the fastest finish of the night with a time of 5:07.22. Grant McCartney was eliminated after failing the Salmon Ladder and David Campbell advanced.
Obstacles used, in addition to those during the qualifiers, for the Los Angeles Finals are listed below.
- Salmon Ladder
- Swinging Peg Board
- Stair Hopper
- Elevator Climb
San Antonio
San Antonio qualifiers
The San Antonio qualifying round featured two new or modified obstacles and concluded with 16 finishers. Both ANW veteran Brett Steffensen and former Olympic gymnast Jonathan Horton returned to full form by completing the course and moving onto the next round. ANW trainer Daniel Gil earned the "POM Wonderful Crazy Healthy Run of the Night" with the fastest time (1:43.24). Also, IndyCar racer Conor Daly competed, but failed on the first obstacle.
- Floating Steps
- Tic Toc
- Spinning Bridge
- Sky Hooks
- Pipe Fitter
- Warped Wall
San Antonio finals
The San Antonio City finals round featured two new obstacles, Spinball Wizard and Elevator Climb. The round concluded with only one finisher; Daniel Gil who completed the course with a time of 5:50.65, knocking out Nate Burkhalter off the top 15.
Obstacles used, in addition to those during the qualifiers, for the San Antonio Finals are listed below.
- Salmon Ladder
- Hourglass Drop
- Spinball Wizard
- Elevator Climb
Note: * This was the last time Catanzaro competed as she is retiring from all Ninja competitions to join the WWE.
Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach qualifiers
The Daytona Beach qualifiers had two new obstacles, one designed by tennis instructor and walk-on competitor Kevin Carbone. He won the ANW Obstacle Design Contest and made it through his own Wingnuts obstacle. Gym owner Drew Drechsel earned the "POM Wonderful Crazy Healthy Run of the Night" with the fastest time (1:10.49). Stuntwoman Jessie Graff finished 26th overall and 1st among the women competitors. Also, NASCAR driver Ben Kennedy competed, but failed on the second obstacle.
- Floating Steps
- Rolling Pin
- Wingnuts
- Broken Bridge
- Rolling Thunder
- Warped Wall
Daytona Beach finals
The Daytona Beach finals round had a new obstacle, the Giant Cubes. It concluded with only one finisher; Drew Drechsel, earning the "POM Wonderful Crazy Healthy Run of the Night", knocking out Eddy Stewart. Jessie Graff became the first woman to reach the Elevator Climb. Ricky Vu exited on the first obstacle due to leg cramps.
Obstacles used, in addition to those during the qualifiers, for the Daytona Beach Finals are listed below.
- Salmon Ladder
- Giant Cubes
- Circuit Board
- Elevator Climb
Kansas City
Kansas City qualifiers
In the Kansas City Qualifiers, there were three new obstacles, one which submitted by Kevin Brekke, the winner of Obstacle Design Challenge. Lance Pekus earned the "POM Wonderful Crazy Healthy Run of the Night" with the fastest time (2:10.16). Other finishers include Brandon Mears, Tyler Yamauchi, Tyler Smith, and Ethan Swanson.
- Floating Steps
- Hang Glider
- Broken Pipes
- Crank It Up
- Bar Hop
- Warped Wall
Kansas City Finals
The Kansas City finals round had a new obstacle, the Iron Maiden. The round concluded without any finishers, making it the second time in ANW history that a course has gone unfinished. Ethan Swanson and the Towers of Power all fell on the third obstacle. Maggi Thorne became the first woman to defeat Crank It Up.
Obstacles used, in addition to those during the qualifiers, for the Kansas City Finals are listed below.
- Salmon Ladder
- Floating Monkey Bars
- Iron Maiden
- Elevator Climb
Cleveland
Cleveland Qualifiers
The Cleveland qualifiers featured only one new obstacle. Allyssa Beird was the first woman to complete the course this season; she and Jesse LaBreck were the first two women to hit the buzzer during the same qualifier. It was also the first time that two couples (LaBreck and Chris DiGangi, and Beird and James McGrath) completed the course during the same qualifying run. Jesse LaBreck also earned the "Pom Wonderful Crazy Healthy Run of the Night."
- Floating Steps
- Rolling Log
- Razor's Edge
- Ring Jump
- I-Beam Gap
- Warped Wall
Cleveland Finals
The Cleveland City finals round introduced a new obstacle, the Nail Clipper, which defeated all but two competitors. "Captain NBC" Jamie Rahn was the first to hit the buzzer, earning the "POM Wonderful Run of the Night" with a time of 8:39.85. Weatherman Joe Moravsky finished the course even faster, at 7:24.10. James McGrath's streak of six Nationals appearances ended when he fell on the dismount from the Nail Clipper; he finished the Salmon Ladder with a time just outside the Top 15.
Obstacles used, in addition to those during the qualifiers, for the Cleveland City Finals are listed below.
- Salmon Ladder
- Nail Clipper
- The Clacker
- Elevator Climb
Denver
Denver Qualifiers
The Denver qualifiers featured two new obstacles. The competition concluded with a record low of only 8 finishers. The fastest run was awarded to gym owner Lorin Ball who earned the "Pom Wonderful Crazy Healthy Run of the Night" with a time of 1:42.89. Also, PBR bull rider Venn Johns competed, but failed on the third obstacle. Jake Murray also competed, but failed on the third obstacle as well.
- Floating Steps
- Ring Swing
- Bouncing Spider
- Paddle Boards
- Rail Runner
- Warped Wall
Denver Finals
Obstacles used, in addition to those during the qualifiers, for the Denver City Finals are listed below. Ian Dory earned the "POM Wonderful Crazy Healthy Run of the Night" with a finishing time of 6:56.33. There were no other finishers.
- Salmon Ladder
- The Wedge
- Ninjago Roll (designed by Josephine Starr-Stevenson as part of ANW Obstacle Design Challenge and to promote the upcoming The Lego Ninjago Movie.)
- Elevator Climb
Note: The competitors of Denver Finals were also given free tickets to the premiere of The Lego Ninjago Movie.
National Finals
The National Finals were held along the Las Vegas Strip, as has been the case since the series set up its own finals course instead of sending competitors to Japan.
Stage 1
All competitors must complete the eight obstacles on Stage 1 with a time limit of 2:35.00. Highlights included school teacher Allyssa Beird who made ANW history by becoming only the second woman (also the third worldwide, the first two being Chie Tanabe in Sasuke 2 and Jessie Graff) to complete Stage One, earning her the POM Wonderful "Crazy Healthy Run of the Night". Also, at only 5 foot, gymnastics coach Barclay Stockett, became the second woman to get past the Warped Wall on Stage One. Later, NBC sports announcer Mike Tirico joined ANW announcers Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbajabuamila for a few play-by-plays of the competitors. During the second half, "Real Life Ninja" Drew Drechsel earned the POM Wonderful "Crazy Healthy Run of the Night" with the fastest run on Stage One of the competition with a speedy time of 1:33.71. This season broke the previous record of most Stage 1 finishers with 41, beating the previous record of 38 from Season 7.
The obstacles featured in Stage One were:
- Snake Run
- Propeller Bar
- Double Dipper
- Jumping Spider
- Parkour Run
- Warped Wall
- Domino Pipes
- Flying Squirrel
Competitors who completed Stage 1 are listed below. ? denotes female competitors.
Stage 2
As always in the national finals, Stage 2 consists of six obstacles. In order to move on to Stage 3, competitors must finish the Stage 2 course in 4 minutes.
Stage 2 includes:
- Giant Ring Swing
- Criss Cross Salmon Ladder
- Wave Runner
- Swing Surfer
- Wingnut Alley
- Wall Flip
Results: Joe Moravsky (3:34.34), Najee Richardson (3:39:71) and Sean Bryan finished to go into Stage 3.
A total of 24 ninjas were taken out by Wingnut Alley, including Drew Dreschel and Daniel Gil. Alyssa Beird, the lone female to advance to Stage 2, was eliminated on the Criss Cross Salmon Ladder.
Stage 3
Stage 3 obstacles included:
- Keylock Hang
- Floating Boards
- Nail Clipper
- Ultimate Cliffhanger
- Curved Body Prop
- Peg Clouds
- Time Bomb
- Flying Bar
Results: Najee Richardson and Sean Bryan fell at the Ultimate Cliffhanger, and Joe Moravsky made it the farthest falling at Time Bomb.
Ratings
U.S. Nielsen ratings
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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