The 2025 Rogue Invitational Strongman & Strongwoman kicked off in emphatic fashion on Friday, October 31st, as the world’s strongest athletes descended on Aberdeen, Scotland, for the start of the seventh annual edition of the iconic competition.
With six brutal tests of power and endurance spread across two days, day one already delivered enough jaw-dropping lifts, near misses, and leaderboard shake-ups to set the tone for an unforgettable weekend.
Nine strongmen and ten strongwomen lined up ready to prove who’s best across three opening events — the Wagon Wheel Axle Deadlift, the Viking Press, and the Yoke Escalator. By the end of the night, both divisions had new frontrunners and more than a few surprises.
Current Standings
Day One Overall Standings — Strongman
- Trey Mitchell — 26.5 points
• Wagon Wheel Deadlift: 975 lb (7.5 pts)
• Viking Press: 22 reps (10 pts)
• Yoke Escalator: 1:58.85 (9 pts) - Mitchell Hooper — 24 points
• Wagon Wheel Deadlift: 1,050 lb (10 pts)
• Viking Press: 18 reps (9 pts)
• Yoke Escalator: CAP+2 — 1:18 (5 pts) - (TIED THIRD) Lucas Hatton — 18.5 points
• Wagon Wheel Deadlift: 975 lb (7.5 pts)
• Viking Press: 16 reps (8 pts)
• Yoke Escalator: CAP+3 — 2:27 (3 pts) - (TIED THIRD) Thomas Evans — 18.5 points
• Wagon Wheel Deadlift: 950 lb (4.5 pts)
• Viking Press: 14 reps (6 pts)
• Yoke Escalator: 2:01.24 (8 pts) - Bryce Johnson — 17.5 points
• Wagon Wheel Deadlift: 950 lb (4.5 pts)
• Viking Press: 16 reps (7 pts)
• Yoke Escalator: CAP+1 — 2:28 (6 pts) - Austin Andrade — 17 points
• Wagon Wheel Deadlift: 1,025 lb (9 pts)
• Viking Press: 11 reps (4 pts)
• Yoke Escalator: CAP+2 — 2:23 (4 pts) - Tom Stoltman — 16.5 points
• Wagon Wheel Deadlift: 950 lb (4.5 pts)
• Viking Press: 13 reps (5 pts)
• Yoke Escalator: 2:29.84 (7 pts) - Paddy Haynes — 14 points
• Wagon Wheel Deadlift: 900 lb (2 pts)
• Viking Press: 6 reps (2 pts)
• Yoke Escalator: 1:26.42 (10 pts) - Rayno Nel — 9.5 points
• Wagon Wheel Deadlift: 950 lb (4.5 pts)
• Viking Press: 8 reps (3 pts)
• Yoke Escalator: CAP+5 — 2:00 (2 pts)
Day One Overall Standings — Strongwoman
- Olga Liashchuk — 22.5 points
• Wagon Wheel Deadlift: 650 lb (5.5 pts)
• Viking Press: 13 reps (7 pts)
• Yoke Escalator: 45.48 seconds (10 pts) - Inez Carrasquillo — 22 points
• Wagon Wheel Deadlift: 600 lb (4 pts)
• Viking Press: 20 reps (10 pts)
• Yoke Escalator: 50.28 seconds (8 pts) - Lucy Underdown — 20 points
• Wagon Wheel Deadlift: 720 lb (10 pts)
• Viking Press: 9 reps (6 pts)
• Yoke Escalator: 1:02.87 (4 pts) - Hannah Linzay — 19.5 points
• Wagon Wheel Deadlift: 650 lb (5.5 pts)
• Viking Press: 7 reps (5 pts)
• Yoke Escalator: 50.26 seconds (9 pts) - Andrea Thompson — 18.5 points
• Wagon Wheel Deadlift: 700 lb (8.5 pts)
• Viking Press: 18 reps (8 pts)
• Yoke Escalator: 1:03.74 (2 pts) - Jennifer Lyle — 17.5 points
• Wagon Wheel Deadlift: 700 lb (8.5 pts)
• Viking Press: 6 reps (3 pts)
• Yoke Escalator: 58.68 seconds (6 pts) - Angelica Jardine — 17 points
• Wagon Wheel Deadlift: 675 lb (7 pts)
• Viking Press: 18 reps (9 pts)
• Yoke Escalator: 1:08.56 (1 pt) - Melissa Peacock — 11 points
• Wagon Wheel Deadlift: 575 lb (2 pts)
• Viking Press: 4 reps (2 pts)
• Yoke Escalator: 50.84 seconds (7 pts) - Rebecca Roberts — 9 points
• Wagon Wheel Deadlift: 575 lb (2 pts)
• Viking Press: 7 reps (4 pts)
• Yoke Escalator: 1:03.14 (3 pts) - Samantha Belliveau — 8 points
• Wagon Wheel Deadlift: 575 lb (2 pts)
• Viking Press: No Lift (1 pt)
• Yoke Escalator: 1:02.44 (5 pts)
Event One — Wagon Wheel Axle Deadlift
The Rogue Invitational opened with a classic test of raw strength: the Wagon Wheel Axle Deadlift. Each competitor had three attempts to hit their heaviest possible pull on an elevated axle barbell, setting the early benchmark for the rest of the competition.
In the men’s division, Mitchell Hooper wasted no time showing why he’s a reigning World’s Strongest Man contender. After opening with a massive 1,000-pound (453.5kg) lift, he added another 50 pounds to seal the win at 1,050 pounds (476.3kg) — a perfect start to his weekend.
Austin Andrade wasn’t far behind, nailing 1,025 pounds (464.9kg) to secure second, while Lucas Hatton and Trey Mitchell tied for third at 975 pounds (442.3kg). With so many athletes hitting 950 pounds, it was clear the standard of strength in Aberdeen was sky-high.
Over in the women’s competition, Lucy Underdown once again proved her dominance in the deadlift, locking out 720 pounds (326.5kg) with such ease she didn’t even need a third attempt. Jennifer Lyle and Andrea Thompson tied for second at 700 pounds (317.5kg) — a strong statement from both seasoned pros.
Angelica Jardine (675lb) and Hannah Linzay (650lb) rounded out the top five, while Olga Liashchuk matched Linzay’s 650lb effort to keep herself in early contention.
Event Two — Viking Press
The second event of the day shifted from lower-body power to shoulder-crushing upper-body endurance. The Viking Press, featuring 360 pounds (163kg) for men and 225 pounds (102kg) for women, demanded not just strength but also precision and pacing over a 60-second rep battle.
In the men’s lineup, Trey Mitchell stole the spotlight with a perfectly timed performance. He started controlled, ramped up late, and smashed through 22 reps to take the win. Mitchell Hooper came in second with 18 reps, keeping himself well in the title race, while Bryce Johnson and Lucas Hatton shared third on 16 reps apiece.
Among the women, Inez Carrasquillo put on a show that fans will be talking about long after Aberdeen. She pressed 20 reps in 60 seconds — one of the most impressive Viking Press displays ever seen at Rogue. Angelica Jardine and Andrea Thompson followed with 18 reps each, tying for second in a tense showdown that saw Jardine lose momentum only in the final few seconds.
Olga Liashchuk claimed fourth with 13 reps, while Lucy Underdown and Hannah Linzay added 9 and 7 respectively, both grinding through fatigue to keep themselves alive in the standings.
Event Three — Yoke Escalator
The night closed with chaos and adrenaline — the Yoke Escalator, a medley combining a 1,050-pound (476kg) Yoke Carry with the brutal Power Stairs (500lb, 550lb, and 600lb implements for men; 650lb and 325lb variations for women). The goal: climb faster than anyone else without gassing out.
For the men, it was Paddy Haynes who stole the show. Despite the Yoke not being his strength, his sheer fitness and pacing made the difference. Haynes stormed through the course in 1:26.42, more than 30 seconds faster than anyone else — an extraordinary performance that stunned the field.
Trey Mitchell backed up his Viking Press win with another elite showing, finishing second at 1:58.85 after dominating the Power Stairs. Thomas Evans came in just behind him on 2:01.24, while Tom Stoltman (2:29.84) and Bryce Johnson (CAP+1) filled out the top five.
Mitchell Hooper, who had led most of the run, hit a heartbreaking snag when he failed to lift the final 600-pound implement, registering a CAP+2 and losing valuable points in the process.
For the strongwomen, it was Olga Liashchuk who conquered the chaos. In what became a lightning-fast showdown, she found her rhythm early and maintained it all the way to the top. Her time of 45.48 seconds was comfortably the best of the night, sealing maximum points and catapulting her to the top of the overall standings.
Right behind her, Hannah Linzay powered through the course with incredible consistency. Her mix of balance and composure saw her finish in 50.26 seconds, narrowly edging out Inez Carrasquillo by just 0.02 seconds — a tiny margin that cost Inez a vital point after she slipped momentarily on the Power Stairs.
Further down, Melissa Peacock also impressed, finishing just behind the top three on 50.84 seconds, while Jennifer Lyle crossed the line in 58.68. The event was brutal and technical — and it shuffled the leaderboard completely heading into day two.
Day One Standings — Tight at the Top
After three grueling events, the standings couldn’t be much closer. Trey Mitchell’s consistency across all disciplines — third in the deadlift, first in the Viking Press, and second in the Yoke Escalator — pushed him into the overall lead heading into day two. Mitchell Hooper, despite his strong opening win, now trails narrowly after his stumble on the final stair. Paddy Haynes’ Escalator heroics rocketed him up the table, while Austin Andrade and Lucas Hatton remain well within striking distance.
On the women’s side, the leaderboard shuffled dramatically with every event. Olga Liashchuk emerged as the day-one leader, thanks to steady performances and consistency while others traded event wins. Inez Carrasquillo sits just behind after her dominant Viking Press, with Lucy Underdown and Andrea Thompson still in podium contention.
Day one of the 2025 Rogue Invitational was everything fans hoped for — and then some. From Hooper’s record-breaking start to Haynes’ Yoke Escalator sprint and Carrasquillo’s pressing masterclass, Aberdeen witnessed feats that redefine strength sports.
And with three more events still to come, including the dreaded Stone Over Bar and Bag Toss, the fight for the Rogue crown is only getting heavier.
Featured image credit: Instagram/@rogueinvitational (Screenshot)
