American Ninja Warrior (season 8)


The eighth season of the obstacle course reality competition series American Ninja Warrior premiered on June 1, 2016, on NBC. Hosts Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbaja-Biamila returned for their respective seventh and fourth seasons, alongside sideline reporter Kristine Leahy who returned for her second season. The grand prize stayed even with season 7, at $1,000,000. In addition, 28 new obstacles were created for this season, and there were 40% more female applicants over last season.

Competition schedule

Qualifying airingFinals airingCityQualifying dateFinals dateVenue
June 1, 2016July 11, 2016Los Angeles, CaliforniaApril 5, 2016April 6, 2016Universal Studios Hollywood
June 8, 2016July 18, 2016Atlanta, GeorgiaMarch 18, 2016March 19, 2016Turner Field
June 13, 2016July 25, 2016Indianapolis, IndianaApril 27, 2016April 28, 2016Monument Circle
June 20, 2016August 1, 2016Oklahoma City, OklahomaMay 13, 2016May 14, 2016Oklahoma State Capitol
June 27, 2016August 22, 2016Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaMay 26, 2016May 27, 2016Richmond Power Plant

Obstacles

City Qualifiers & Finals

National Finals

City courses

Los Angeles

Los Angeles qualifying

The Los Angeles qualifying round featured four new or modified obstacles and concluded with 17 finishers. Both Jessie Graff and Natalie Duran made it through the qualifying round. In addition, the Facebook video showcasing Graff's qualifying run was viewed more than 50 million times leading up to the Finals round. Kevin Bull earned the "POM Wonderful Crazy Healthy Run of the Night" with the fastest time. Additionally, actor Brennan Mejia, the Red Power Ranger from Power Rangers Dino Super Charge, failed on the second obstacle again.

Los Angeles finals

The Los Angeles finals round featured one new obstacle, The Wedge, as well as three modified obstacles from city qualifying. The round concluded with one finisher, the lowest number of any final to date unless the chance of a non-completed course. Rock climber and engineering student Josh Levin, who was a rookie, earned the "POM Wonderful Run of the Night" and the only finish, with a time of 8:21.30. Jessie Graff came in second place, breaking her own record for the highest finish by a woman in a city competition.
Obstacles used during the Los Angeles Finals are listed below.
Indicates competitor completed course.

Indicates competitor was awarded the "POM Wonderful Run of the Night."
Competitors who advanced to the Vegas Finals are listed below.
RankFinalistOutcomeObstacle/Time
1Josh LevinCompleted8:21.30
2Jessie GraffFailedHelix Hang
3Kevin BullFailedThe Wedge
4Chris WorkmanFailedThe Wedge
5Nicholas CoolridgeFailedThe Wedge
6Adam RaylFailedThe Wedge
7Flip RodriguezFailedThe Wedge
8Gabe HurtadoFailedThe Wedge
9Liam BuellFailedThe Wedge
10Grant McCartneyFailedThe Wedge
11Ryan RobinsonFailedThe Wedge
12Justin HillstenFailedThe Wedge
13Jackson MeyerFailedThe Wedge
14Nick HansonFailedThe Wedge
15Ben MelickFailedThe Wedge

Atlanta

Atlanta qualifying

The Atlanta qualifying round featured three new or modified obstacles and concluded with 27 finishers. Gym owner Drew Drechsel earned the "POM Wonderful Run of the Night" with the fastest time.

Atlanta finals

The Atlanta finals round featured one new obstacle, The Clacker, as well as two modified obstacles from city qualifying. The round concluded with four finishers. Stock trader and ANW veteran Travis Rosen, earned the "POM Wonderful Run of the Night" with a time of 6:52.17, coming in third place. Roommates James "The Beast" McGrath and Drew Drechsel competed for the fastest time of the night when they came in first and second place, with times of 5:01.62 and 5:05.26. After competing since the premiere season in 2009, parkour trainer and original ANW veteran Brett Sims made it to his first Vegas final with a time of 7:36.45, ending up in 4th place. During Drew Drechsel's run, Lucas Gomes was "on the bubble" in 15th Place, meaning if Drew got past the 8th obstacle, he would be eliminated in 16th place. He ended up in 16th, behind Todd Bourgeois. Someone got injured before Las Vegas so he did get in the top 15.
Obstacles used during the Atlanta Finals are listed below.
Indicates competitor completed course.

Indicates competitor was awarded the "POM Wonderful Run of the Night."
Competitors who advanced to the Vegas Finals are listed below.
RankFinalistOutcomeObstacle/Time
1James McGrathCompleted5:01.62
2Drew DreschelCompleted5:05.26
3Travis RosenCompleted6:52.17
4Brett SimsCompleted7:36.45
5Casey SuchockiFailedThe Clacker
6Shawn RichardsonFailedThe Clacker
7Jo Jo BynumFailedThe Clacker
8Neil CraverFailedFloating Monkey Bars
9Tyler MartinFailedFloating Monkey Bars
10Chris BoehmFailedFloating Monkey Bars
11Yuri ForceFailedFloating Monkey Bars
12Mike ChickFailedFloating Monkey Bars
13Alexio GomesFailedFloating Monkey Bars
14Mack RoeschFailedFloating Monkey Bars
15Todd BourgeoisFailedFloating Monkey Bars

Indianapolis qualifying

The Indianapolis qualifying round featured four new or modified obstacles and concluded with 25 finishers. Rock Climbing coach Meagan Martin was the only woman to advance to the city finals, earned the "POM Wonderful Run of the Night" with a time of 6:30.08. She became the first woman to scale the warped wall three years in a row. The Indianapolis round also featured IndyCar drivers Hélio Castroneves, Tony Kanaan, and Josef Newgarden as well as NASCAR driver and 2-time Xfinity Series champ Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and one-legged wrestler Zach Gowen. However, none ended up moving on to the Indianapolis city finals. This was the first time ever that the course was built in a curve.

Indianapolis finals

The Indianapolis finals round featured one new obstacle, Circuit Board, and three modified obstacles from the qualifying round. The round concluded with four finishers. Wedding photographer Jake Murray earned the "POM Wonderful Run of the Night" with a time of 6:34.68, coming in second place. The fastest time of the night went to Maintenance Technician Adam Arnold, with a first place time of 5:40.42. Even though she failed on the Circuit Board obstacle, rock climbing coach Meagan Martin became the second woman to make it to the Las Vegas finals with a time of 7:31.83, finishing in 8th place. This was Meagan's first time on a back half of a Finals course and first time qualifying for the National Finals in Las Vegas.
Obstacles used during the Indianapolis Finals are listed below.
Indicates competitor completed course.

Indicates competitor was awarded the "POM Wonderful Run of the Night."
Competitors who advanced to the Vegas Finals are listed below.
RankFinalistOutcomeObstacle/Time
1Adam ArnoldCompleted5:40.42
2Jake MurrayCompleted6:34.68
3Brian ArnoldCompleted6:37.87
4Ian DoryCompleted7:53.91
5Ethan SwansonFailedInvisible Ladder
6Dan PolizziFailedCircuit Board
7Ryan ElliottFailedCircuit Board
8Meagan MartinFailedCircuit Board
9Eric MiddletonFailedHourglass Drop
10Dan BanuraFailedHourglass Drop
11Tyler SmithFailedHourglass Drop
12Tyler YamauchiFailedHourglass Drop
13Ben JacksonFailedHourglass Drop
14Matt WilderFailedHourglass Drop
15Andrew “Roo” YoriFailedHourglass Drop

Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City qualifying

The Oklahoma City qualifying round featured three new or modified obstacles and concluded with 15 finishers. Even though personal trainer Artis Thompson III didn't advance to the city finals, he earned the "POM Wonderful Run of the Night" for making it to the end of the fourth obstacle, the Tire Swing with a prosthetic leg. The Oklahoma City qualifying round also featured Kacy Catanzaro, Brent Steffensen, Sam Sann, Daniel Gil and Lance Pekus. Two of them ended up moving on to the Oklahoma City finals. However, Kacy Catanzaro failed on only the third obstacle, the Log Runner. She may once again be wild-carded to the Las Vegas finals this year.
Pekus and Sann failed on the Log Runner and the Tire Swing, respectively. Additionally, basketball player, Flip White Jr. from the Harlem Globetrotters, made an appearance.

Oklahoma City finals

The Oklahoma City finals round featured one new obstacle, Window Hang, and two modified obstacles from the qualifying round. The round concluded with two finishers. Bank manager Grant Clinton who suffered a stroke just 6 months ago earned the "POM Wonderful Run of the Night" with a time of 5:57.43, coming in second place. The fastest time of the night went to ninja trainer Daniel Gil, with a first place time of 5:14.27. Also, 54-year-old construction manager Jon Stewart edged out veteran "The Godfather" David Campbell, who had advanced to Mount Midoryama in all seven previous seasons. Even though Stewart failed on the Window Hang, he earned a spot in the Las Vegas finals with a time of 3:41.71, ending up in 5th place.
Obstacles used during the Oklahoma City Finals are listed below.
Indicates competitor completed course.

Indicates competitor was awarded the "POM Wonderful Run of the Night."
Competitors who advanced to the Vegas Finals are listed below.
RankFinalistOutcomeObstacle/Time
1Daniel GilCompleted5:14.27
2Grant ClintonCompleted5:57.43
3Thomas StillingsFailedInvisible Ladder
4Mitch VeDepoFailedWindow Hang
5Jon StewartFailedWindow Hang
6An LyFailedWindow Hang
7Thomas DoweidtFailedWindow Hang
8Karsten WilliamsFailedWindow Hang
9Andrew LowesFailedBungee Road
10Brent SteffensenFailedBungee Road
11James WyattFailedBungee Road
12Reid PletcherFailedBungee Road
13Jessell BosemanFailedSalmon Ladder
14Clayton WolfFailedSalmon Ladder
15Nate BurkhalterFailedSalmon Ladder

Philadelphia

Philadelphia qualifying

The Philadelphia qualifying round featured two new or modified obstacles and concluded with 9 finishers. High school track coach and ANW rookie Anthony DeFranco earned the "POM Wonderful Run of the Night" with the fastest time. Michelle Warnky, Jesse Labreck, Rachael Goldstein and Allyssa Beird, who finished 17th, 28th, 29th and 30th respectively, all moved on to the city finals - the first time four women made it into the a city qualifier Top 30 in ANW history. Other competitors also included Geoff Britten, who continued his streak of hitting every course buzzer, as well as veterans Joe Moravsky, Ryan Stratis, and Jamie Rahn, who all moved on to the city finals.

Philadelphia finals

The Philadelphia Finals featured one new obstacle, the Stair Hopper and one modified obstacle from the qualifying round. Though three competitors; weatherman Joe Moravsky, Geoff Britten and gym owner Chris Wilczewski made it the farthest by nearly completing the Invisible Ladder; for the first time in ANW history, this city final had no finishers, making it the hardest course in the series history. Caregiver Jesse "Flex" LaBreck earned the Pom Wonderful Run of the Night, becoming only the 3rd woman in season 8 to advance to the Las Vegas finals and the 5th woman ever to scale the Warped Wall in ANW regular competition.
Obstacles used during the Philadelphia finals are listed below.
Indicates competitor completed course.

Indicates competitor was awarded the "POM Wonderful Run of the Night."
Competitors who advanced to the Vegas Finals are listed below.
RankFinalistOutcomeObstacle/Time
1Chris WilczewskiFailedInvisible Ladder
2Joe MoravskyFailedInvisible Ladder
3Jon Alexis Jr.FailedStair Hopper
4Jamie RahnFailedStair Hopper
5Mike BernardoFailedStair Hopper
6Najee RichardsonFailedStair Hopper
7Michael TorresFailedStair Hopper
8Geoff BrittenFailedStair Hopper
9Ryan StratisFailedStair Hopper
10Jesse LaBreckFailedStair Hopper
11Anthony DeFrancoFailedFlying Shelf Grab
12Nick KostreskiFailedFlying Shelf Grab
13Brandon PannellFailedFlying Shelf Grab
14Richard ShoemakerFailedFlying Shelf Grab
15Carl FantauzzoFailedFlying Shelf Grab

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 Finishers

During the first episode of Stage 1, Jessie Graff became the first woman ever to successfully complete Stage 1 and advance to Stage 2. She placed 5th overall with a time of 2:07.61. She is the first woman in ANW history to make it to Stage 2. During the second episode of Stage 1, Jake Murray placed 1st overall with the fastest time of 1:45.25. Dan Polizzi and Nick Hanson cleared all the obstacles, but both ran out of time before they could hit the buzzer at the end of stage 1. Ian Dory, Brent Steffensen, Kevin Bull, Ryan Stratis, James McGrath and Geoff Britten surprisingly went out early on stage 1 this season.
Stage 1 featured four new obstacles, Snake Run, the Giant Log Grip, the Broken Bridge and the Flying Squirrel.
Competitors who completed Stage One are listed below.
OrderFinalistOutcomeResult
1Completed1:45.25
2Completed1:52.44
3Completed2:04.97
4Completed2:05.90
5Completed2:07.61
6Completed2:08.97
7Completed2:11.22
8Completed2:11.64
9Completed2:11.78
10Completed2:11.99
11Completed2:12.24
12Completed2:15.19
13Completed2:15.22
14Completed2:15.26
15Joe MoravskyCompleted2:15.90
16Completed2:17.90
17Completed2:19.92

Stage 2

Stage 2 featured five new obstacles, the Giant Ring Swing, the Down Up Salmon Ladder, the Wave Runner, the Double Wedge and the Wall Flip.
OrderFinalistOutcomeNotes
11. Giant Ring SwingFailed to grab transition bar.
22. Down Up Salmon LadderFailed ascent.
32. Down Up Salmon LadderDigest. Failed ascent.
43. Wave RunnerSecond board.
55. Double WedgeTransition to second panel.
62. Down Up Salmon LadderTransition to second side.
73. Wave RunnerFirst board.
83. Wave RunnerDigest. Disqualified for skipping second board.
95. Double WedgeSecond panel.
103. Wave RunnerFirst board.
11 *FINISH First to Clear Stage 2
125. Double WedgeFirst panel.
132. Down Up Salmon LadderTransition to second side.
142. Double WedgeTransition to second panel.
153. Wave RunnerDigest. Bounced off landing platform.
16FINISH Fastest Stage 2 Clear
173. Wave RunnerFirst board.

Stage 3 featured two new obstacles, the Keylock Hang and the Curved Body Prop
OrderFinalistOutcomeNotes
15. Hang ClimbLost grip after accidentally grabbing a foothold.
23. Ultimate CliffhangerTransition to second floating ledge.

U.S. Nielsen ratings