American Ninja Warrior Junior Season 3 2021, Episode 5 – Qualifying #5

ANW Jr. Season 3 moves forward with another week of qualifying.

Let’s review the format:

Ninjas will compete in three divisions: 9-10 years old, 11-12 years old, and 13-14 years old. They will compete in head to head races.

The qualifying rounds feature four ninjas per division. They will start in a seeding round, with the two fastest ninjas from that round taking on the two slowest ninjas in the knockout round.

The winners of the two knockout rounds move on to the final showdown, where the winner will move on to the quarterfinals.

Ninja Mentors: Jesse Labreck and Najee Richardson

9–10-Year-Old Division

The course: Hopskotch, Lunatic Ledges, Liquid Pipe, Broken Bridge, Flying Saucers, 13 Foot Warped Wall (with two hand holds)

Seeding Round: Harry Chubb vs Porter Fagnant

“Harry Thumbs” wants to be a doctor because of the doctor who saved his life when he was born premature, while Porter found a safe place training ninja.

Porter had a slight lead early (with the emphasis on slight).

Porter’s lead grew as Harry stumbled and fell on Broken Bridge.

Porter went ahead and completed the course, hitting her first buzzer.

Seeding Round: Jaden Van Heel vs Molly McGovern

Jaden rides his dirt bike in the mountains, while Molly is a contortionist.

Molly sprinted out to the early lead.

A little stumble nearly slowed the contortionist down a little bit, but she kept her run alive.

Jaden made up some ground after the stumble, but it wasn’t enough as the Contortionist Ninja finished the course first.

Knockout Round: Molly McGovern vs Harry Chubb

Molly hit her second buzzer on the way to the Final Showdown.

Knockout Round: Porter Fagnant vs Jaden Van Heel

The race was tight until Jaden fell on Flying Saucers.

Porter hit another buzzer and advanced to the Final Showdown.

11–12-Year-old Division

The course: Hopscotch, Lunatic Ledges, Spike Crossing, Broken Bridge, Spring Forward, 13-foot Warped Wall (one hand hold)

Seeding Round: Taryn Schilz vs Bella Palmer

Taryn’s game is softball while Bella’s game is ice hockey.

Taryn was fast at the start, but Bella caught up quickly.

Bella had the lead halfway through the course.

And Bella would keep that lead all the way to victory.

Seeding Round: Anna Muntean vs Olivia Lopez

Anna makes sure her nails are done just right (she runs a nail saloon out of her basement) before running the course while Olivia shares her dad’s passion for engineering.

Anna fell on Spike Crossing and the “Ninjaneer” hit her first buzzer.

Knockout Round: Bella Palmer vs Anna Muntean

Bella led this one from start to finish setting an even faster pace than she did in her first race.

Both ninjas hit a buzzer, but it is Bella who moves onto the Final Showdown.

Knockout Round: Olivia Lopez vs Taryn Schilz

Oliva pulled away on Spike Crossing.

Her momentum nearly carried her off the course on Spring Forward.

But she hung on and advanced to the Final Showdown.

13–14-year-old Division

The course: Hopscotch, Lunatic Ledges, Sideways, Broken Bridge, Spinball Wizard, 13-foot Warped Wall (no hand holds)

Seeding Round: Collin Cella vs Luke Milman

Collin was a season one champion but withdrew after two races last season due to anxiety. He’s been going to therapy to deal with his anxiety. Meanwhile, Luke has grown seven inches and a massive appetite since he last competed on ANW Jr.

Collin looked very comfortable on the course as he took the early lead.

He kept that lead all the way to Spinball Wizard with Luke not far behind.

But the “Course Crusher” crushed his anxiety in race one as he hit the buzzer and took the win.

Seeding Round: Emerson Muise vs Fern Hambrick

Emerson is a high-level swimmer while Fern is a high-level rock climber.

Emerson was ahead when she fell on Sideways.

Fern held on and completed the third obstacle, securing the win.

Knockout Round: Collin Cella vs Emerson Muise

The “Course Crusher” led from start to finish again on his way to the Final Showdown.

Knockout Round: Luke Milman vs Fern Hambrick

Fern fell on the first obstacle as Luke hit his second buzzer and advanced to the Final Showdown.

9–10-year-old Final Showdown: Molly McGovern vs Porter Fagnant

Molly’s fastest time was 12 seconds ahead of Porter’s.

And that fast pace showed as Molly raced out to the early lead.

Molly kept the lead to the Flying Saucers, but Porter fought back hard.

Molly held off “the Pacesetter” on her way to the quarterfinals!!!

11–12-year-old Final Showdown: Bella Palmer vs Olivia Lopez

Bella enters the race with a slightly better fastest time.

But it was Olivia who got off to a good start.

Then, Bella went for broke and Lunatic Ledges, and it paid off as she passed by Olivia.

Olivia nearly caught up on Spring Forward.

But Bella just did hold her off to advance to the quarterfinals!!!

13–14-year-old Final Showdown: Collin Cella vs Luke Milman

This pair stayed even throughout the entire course.

Luke stumbled a bit off Broken Bridge.

But the pair, after setting blazing pace, headed up the Warped Wall with a photo finish needed to determine the winner.

And it was Luke who hit the buzzer first and advanced to the quarterfinals!!!

Your Quarterfinalists:

9–10-year-old division: Molly McGovern

11–12-year-old division: Bella Palmer

13–14-year-old division: Luke Milman