The 2024 U105KG America’s Strongest Man took place on July 27th in Round Rock, Texas. Furthermore, the event gathered 13 of the nation’s top strongmen, each weighing under 105 kilograms (231.5 pounds). Moreover, they competed to determine the strongest among them.

Additionally, after five grueling events, Zack McCarley claimed his fourth U105KG America’s Strongest Man title. Also, McCarley had a challenging start and faltered in the first two events.

However, he made a remarkable comeback with three consecutive top-three finishes. Lastly, this consistency allowed him to accumulate 48.5 points.

McCarley’s final score was 4.5 points higher than that of the second-place finisher. His perseverance and strategy secured his victory and showcased his dominance in the sport.

2024 U105KG America’s Strongest Man Official Results

1. Zack McCarley — 48.5 points
2. John Alimo — 44 points
3. Justin Loy — 42 points
4. James Deffinbaugh — 39 points
5. Kevin Candito — 37.5 points
6. Aidan Howell — 35 points
7. Garrett Payne — 33 points
8. Philip Brinkman — 32.5 points
9. Mike O’Connor — 32.5 points
10. Christopher Otero — 32 points
11. Edwin Young — 29 points
12. Shane Darrow — 25.5 points
13. Damon Curtis — 24.5 points

 

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Event Highlights

Event 1 — Max Log Lift

The first event of the 2024 U105KG America’s Strongest Man was the Max Log Lift. As the name indicates, the athletes had multiple attempts to establish their one-rep max.

In addition, Aidan Howell impressed everyone with the most outstanding overhead press of the lineup. Moreover, he locked out a 175-kilogram (386-pound) log, which was over 1.6 times his body weight of under 105 kilograms (231.5 pounds).

Furthermore, Edwin Young secured second place, lifting just 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds) less than Howell. Lastly, Garrett Payne closely followed, taking third place with a successful 168-kilogram (370.5-pound) log lift.

1. Aidan Howell — 175 kilograms
2. Edwin Young — 172 kilograms
3. Garrett Payne — 168 kilograms
4. John Alimo — 163 kilograms
5. Justin Loy — 159 kilograms
6. Zack McCarley — 154 kilograms
7. Kevin Candito — 150 kilograms 
8. Mike O’Connor — 150 kilograms 
9. Shane Darrow — 150 kilograms 
10. Christopher Otero — 141 kilograms
11. Philip Brinkman — 136 kilograms 
12. Damon Curtis — 136 kilograms
13. James Deffinbaugh — 127 kilograms

Event 2 — Deadlift

The second event of the 2024 U105KG America’s Strongest Man competition was the Deadlift for Reps. Furthermore, athletes first had to lock out 279 kg (615 lbs) and 293 kg (646 lbs), then perform a 306 kg (674.5 lbs) deadlift for as many repetitions as possible.

Additionally, Cristopher Otero excelled in this event, showcasing his strength in deadlifting. Moreover, he topped the leaderboards with 10 reps, the only competitor to reach double digits.

However, James Deffinbaugh also delivered an impressive performance, securing second place with nine reps. Lastly, Kevin Candito and Shane Darrow tied for third, each completing eight reps.

1. Christopher Otero — 10 reps
2. James Deffinbaugh — 9 reps
3. Kevin Candito — 8 reps 
4. Shane Darrow — 8 reps 
5. John Alimo — 7 reps
6. Damon Curtis — 7 reps 
7. Garrett Payne — 7 reps 
8. Justin Loy — 6 reps
9. Zack McCarley — 5 reps
10. Mike O’Connor — 5 reps 
11. Aidan Howell — 4 reps
12. Edwin Young — 3 reps
13. Philip Brinkman — 2 reps

Event 3 — Medley

The competition intensified during the third event, a Medley that tested the athletes’ versatility. Furthermore, they first performed a 147-kilogram (324-pound) Farmer’s Walk for 15 meters. Next, they carried a 147-kilogram (324-pound) Sandbag for another 15 meters. Moreover, the goal was to complete the event in the shortest time possible.

Additionally, the strength and speed of the field were on full display in this event. The battle for first place was incredibly close, decided by just 0.6 seconds. However, James Deffinbaugh emerged victorious, finishing in 22.25 seconds, narrowly edging out Zack McCarley. Lastly, Kevin Candito claimed third place with a time of 23.37 seconds.

1. James Deffinbaugh — 22.25 seconds
2. Zack McCarley — 22.87 seconds
3. Kevin Candito — 23.37 seconds
4. Christopher Otero — 24.03 seconds
5. Justin Loy — 24.69 seconds
6. Damon Curtis — 26.93 seconds
7. Philip Brinkman — 27.00 seconds
8. Mike O’Connor — 27.63 seconds
9. John Alimo — 15.77 meters
10. Edwin Young — 15.24 meters
11. Shane Darrow — 10.83 meters
12. Aidan Howell — 9.35 meters
13. Garrett Payne — 7.24 meters

Event 4 — Arm-Over-Arm Truck Pull

The penultimate event of the 2024 U105KG America’s Strongest Man was the Arm-Over-Arm Truck Pull. Furthermore, while the truck’s exact weight was not disclosed, athletes had to pull it for 15 meters in the shortest time possible.

Additionally, the competition was fierce, with the top two finishers separated by a fraction of a second. Moreover, Justin Loy took first place with a time of 15.29 seconds. Furthermore, Philip Brinkman finished second, just behind, with a time of 15.75 seconds.

In addition, the race for third place was also extremely close. Lastly, Zack McCarley secured third by a narrow margin, finishing in 17.22 seconds, just 0.03 seconds ahead of his competitors.

1. Justin Loy — 15.29 seconds
2. Philip Brinkman — 15.75 seconds
3. Zack McCarley — 17.19 seconds
4. John Alimo — 17.22 seconds
5. Kevin Candito — 17.25 seconds
6. Mike O’Connor — 18.25 seconds
7. James Deffinbaugh — 18.44 seconds
8. Garrett Payne — 18.62 seconds
9. Aidan Howell — 18.69 seconds
10. Shane Darrow — 19.25 seconds
11. Damon Curtis — 20.50 seconds
12. Edwin Young — 25.56 seconds
13. Christopher Otero — 40.44 seconds

Event 5 — Sandbag Toss

The Sandbag Toss concluded the 2024 U105KG America’s Strongest Man. Although commonly featured in Strongman competitions, it is unusual to see it as the final event, making for a compelling conclusion. Furthermore, the event required tossing four sandbags, weighing from 18 kg (40 lbs) to 25 kg (55 lbs).

Ultimately, Zack McCarley excelled in the final event, securing the overall win. Furthermore, he completed all four sandbags in just 12.08 seconds, outperforming several rivals. Lastly, Aidan Howell finished just half a second behind McCarley, while John Alimo took third place with a time of 13.02 seconds.

1. Zack McCarley — 4 in 12.08 s
2. Aidan Howell — 4 in 12.52 s
3. John Alimo — 4 in 13.02 s
4. Philip Brinkman — 4 in 15.36 s
5. Edwin Young — 4 in 15.84 s
6. Mike O’Connor — 4 in 16.27 s
7. Garrett Payne — 4 in 16.93 s
8. James Deffinbaugh — 4 in 18.02 s
9. Justin Loy — 4 in 18.18 s
10. Christopher Otero — 3 in 12.93 s
11. Damon Curtis — 3 in 20.20 s
12. Kevin Candito — 3 in 35.83 s
13. Shane Darrow — 3 in 37.56 s

Furthermore, Zack McCarley, a seasoned athlete, clinched his fourth U105KG America’s Strongest Man title with this win. Moreover, his previous victories came in 2011, 2012, and 2013, marking a decade-long gap before reclaiming the top spot. Lastly, McCarley’s return to the podium underscores his enduring strength and experience in the sport.

Overview

On July 27th, 2024, Zack McCarley won the U105KG America’s Strongest Man title in Round Rock, Texas, marking his fourth victory in the event. However, despite a rough start, McCarley rebounded with strong finishes in the remaining events, accumulating 48.5 points, 4.5 points ahead of the second-place finisher. Furthermore, his performance highlighted his resilience and experience, securing his place as the top strongman once again after a decade.

Featured Image – 2024 U105kg America’s Strongest Man – credit: @strongmancorporation (Instagram)