American Ninja Warrior - Northeast regional qualifying rounds part 2

>> Male announcer: THIS IS JAPAN'S FAMED MOUNT MIDORIYAMA, THE WORLD'S MOST DIFFICULT OBSTACLE COURSE. OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS, THOUSANDS OF COMPETITORS HAVE TAKEN ON THIS BEAST. BUT ONLY THREE HAVE EVER CONQUERED IT. NO AMERICAN HAS EVER DEFEATED MOUNT MIDORIYAMA. >> Matt Iseman: MOUNT MIDORIYAMA SHOWING NO MERCY. >> Man: OH! >> AND THE DREAM IS OVER. >> Announcer: BUT THIS YEAR, THAT COULD ALL CHANGE. BECAUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, THIS MOTHER OF ALL OBSTACLE COURSES HAS COME TO AMERICA. AND MORE ATHLETES THAN EVER BEFORE ARE READY TO TAKE IT ON. COMPETITORS FROM SIX DIFFERENT REGIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WILL RUN QUALIFYING COURSES. BUT ONLY THE TOP 100 COMPETITORS WHO EMBODY ATHLETIC TALENT, MENTAL FORTITUDE, AND SINGLE-MINDED COMMITMENT WILL EARN THE RIGHT TO ADVANCE TO THE FINALS IN LAS VEGAS. THERE, THE FABLED COURSE HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTED, BRUTAL OBSTACLE BY BRUTAL OBSTACLE. THE FASTEST AMERICAN TO CONQUER MOUNT MIDORIYAMA WILL NOT ONLY MAKE HISTORY, BUT WILL WALK AWAY WITH A $500,000 PRIZE. TONIGHT IN MIAMI, FLORIDA, THE NORTHEAST QUALIFYING ROUND CONTINUES AS WE SEARCH FOR THE TOP 30 COMPETITORS WHO WILL MOVE ON TO THE NORTHEAST REGIONAL FINALS. NEARLY HALF OF OUR COMPETITORS HAVE ALREADY RUN. MANY FINDING DEFEAT AT THE JUMPING BARS, AS THE OBSTACLE TOOK OUT ATHLETE AFTER ATHLETE. SO FAR ONLY EIGHT HAVE COMPLETED THIS UNFORGIVING COURSE, INCLUDING INSPIRATIONAL CHRIS WILCZEWSKI, WHO CURRENTLY FINDS HIMSELF IN FIRST PLACE. MASKED MAINE FISHERMAN JESSE VILLARREAL, WHO HOOKED HIMSELF A PLACE IN SECOND POSITION. AND PARKOUR TEACHER TRAVIS GRAVES. AFTER A DISCOURAGING ELIMINATION IN LAST YEAR'S QUALIFYING ROUND, HIS STUDENTS WERE THERE ON THE SIDELINE TO WITNESS HIS TRIUMPHANT RETURN. STILL TO RUN, THE LITTLE BIG MAN MICHAEL NEEDHAM. AT 5'5", ONE OF OUR SMALLEST COMPETITORS. HIS RUN IS BEING DEDICATED TO HIS BROTHER, A MARINE CURRENTLY SERVING IN AFGHANISTAN. TIM SHIEFF, FORMER BREAK-DANCER AND CURRENT WORLD FREE-RUNNING CHAMPION, NOW LOOKING TO ADD A NINJA WARRIOR TITLE A STRING OF VICTORIES. AND STUNTMAN LUIS MOCO, WHO LIVES IN HIS VAN SO HE CAN TAKE JOBS ALL OVER THE EAST COAST. WHO WILL MAKE IT TO OUR TOP 30 AND MOVE ON TO THE NORTHEAST REGIONAL FINALS? FIND OUT RIGHT NOW ON AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR. >> [cheers and applause] >> WELCOME TO MIAMI, FLORIDA, WHERE HUNDREDS OF HARD-CORE ATHLETES AND EVERYDAY PEOPLE HAVE TRAVELED FROM ALL ACROSS THE NORTHEAST HERE TO THE PALM TREE LINED CAMPUS OF FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY. I'M MATT ISEMAN ALONGSIDE OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST JONNY MOSELEY. AND, JONNY, WE'RE ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH A FIELD OF HUNDREDS WHO ARE ALL TRYING TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THIS NORTHEAST REGIONAL QUALIFYING COURSE. AND SO FAR, ONLY EIGHT ELITE COMPETITORS HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THAT FEAT. THAT GROUP HEADED BY CHRIS WILCZEWSKI, A TWO-TIME RETURNING ATHLETE WHO'S TACKLED HIS OWN PERSONAL BATTLE WITH ALCOHOL. HE'S FOLLOWED BY THE MASKED FISHERMAN JESSE VILLARREAL AND THE VISUAL EFFECTS EDITOR DANNY JOHNSON. PARKOUR STANDOUT TRAVIS GRAVES FINISHED WITH A TIME OF 1:42:04, GOOD ENOUGH FOR FIFTH. BUT WE KNOW ONE ATHLETE WILL BE GUNNING FOR THE TOP SPOT TONIGHT. TIM "LIVEWIRE" SHIEFF, THE FREE-RUNNING WORLD CHAMPION FROM CONNECTICUT, BY WAY OF ENGLAND. AND OUR ANGELA SUN IS WITH HIM RIGHT NOW. >> TIM, YOU BLAMED YOUR EARLY EXIT LAST YEAR ON A LACK OF CONCENTRATION. HOW ARE YOU APPROACHING THIS YEAR'S COURSE? >> UM, YEAH, I'M GONNA TAKE A SECOND BEFORE EVERY OBSTACLE. YOU KNOW, RESET. LAST TIME, I WENT TOO FAST. I WAS TOO CONFIDENT OUT OF THE FIRST OBSTACLE, CRUISIN' TO THE SECOND. NOW I'M NOT SCARED OF THE SECOND OBSTACLE AT ALL. IT'S THE FIRST OBSTACLE IS MY-- THE QUAD STEPS IS THE SCARIEST ONE, EVEN THOUGH EVERY TIME I'VE DONE IN THE PAST I'VE BEEN FINE. YEP, JUST GONNA TAKE A SECOND BEFORE EACH THING. >> WELL, WE WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK TONIGHT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> BACK UP TO YOU GUYS. >> Matt: THANKS, ANGELA. LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING TIM'S RUN LATER ON. BUT WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THIS NORTHEAST FIELD PRODUCE SOME ELECTRIFYING PERFORMANCES. AND, JONNY, NOW IT'S TIME SEE WHAT THE REST OF THE RUNNERS CAN DO ON THIS BRUTAL QUALIFYING COURSE. LET'S GET THE ACTION STARTED. UP FIRST, 31-YEAR-OLD DAVE GLADISH FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. HE'S A FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENT AND PRIOR TO THAT, CAPTAIN IN THE ARMY RESERVES WHERE HE SERVED IN 13 COUNTRIES OVERSEAS. >> WELL TRAVELED AND PRETTY WELL CONDITIONED, HE ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH RIGOROUS MILITARY TRAINING BEFORE SERVING TWO TOURS OF DUTY IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN. >> WELL, MARCHES THROUGH THE QUAD STEPS QUICKLY. MAKING HIS ADVANCE ON THE LOG GRIP. >> WELL, I LIKE HOW HE MAKES SURE TO FIND A GOOD, SOLID GRIP BEFORE TAKING OFF. >> HE'S THROUGH NO PROBLEM. >> MAN, HE LOOKS FOCUSED OUT THERE. YOU KNOW, THAT'S A COMMON TRAIT IN COMPETITORS WITH MILITARY BACKGROUNDS. >> AND YOU CAN SEE HIM TESTING THE TRAMPOLINE. GLADISH SEEMS MORE INTERESTED IN COMPLETING THE COURSE INSTEAD OF WORRYING ABOUT TIME. >> WELL, HE MUST BE THINKING BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY. IT MIGHT BE A GOOD STRATEGY FOR A FIRST-TIME COMPETITOR. AND GETTING TO THE CARGO NET, PATIENCE PAYING OFF. >> NICE QUICK CLIMB OVER THE TOP. IN ADDITION TO HIS MILITARY TRAINING, DAVE GLADISH DOES ROCK-CLIMBING COMPETITIONS. I THINK WE JUST SAW EVIDENCE OF THAT COME INTO PLAY. >> WELL, HE'S KIND OF A COMPETITION JUNKIE, MATT. HE ALSO COMPETES IN MARATHONS, TRIATHLONS, AND ADVENTURE RACES. THIS GUY JUST LOVES ANY CHALLENGE. >> ONCE AGAIN BEING VERY DELIBERATE AT THE JUMPING BARS, TESTING OUT THE ***. >> WELL, TESTING THE TRAMPOLINE. YOU KNOW, HEIGHT IS CRITICAL HERE AND HE DOESN'T WANNA MAKE A MISTAKE. >> OH! AND HE IS DOWN. OUR FEDERAL AGENT COMES UP SHORT. I GUESS THIS IS ONE INSTANCE WHERE THE LONG ARM OF THE LAW WASN'T QUITE LONG ENOUGH. >> MATT, HE DIDN'T GET THE RIGHT BOUNCE OFF THE MINI-***. YOU NEED TO GET HIGH AND GRAB THAT BAR ON THE WAY UP. BUT GLADISH JUMPS STRAIGHT OUT, TOO FAR FORWARD, AND FLEW RIGHT PAST THE JUMPING BAR. >> WE HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR OUR NEXT ATHLETE, MELANIE HUNT FROM FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA. SHE TEACHES HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH IN THE D.C. AREA. BUT AFTER CLASS, IT'S TIME FOR RECESS ON THE JUNGLE GYM. >> MY HIGH SCHOOL KEEPS ASKING ME, "WHAT DO YOU EVERY DAY AFTER SCHOOL?" I TELL 'EM, "I'M PRETTY MUCH A NINJA EVERY NIGHT." >> Jonny: SHE'S ALSO COMPETED IN DIVISION I GYMNASTICS AND NOW SHE'S A PART-TIME COACH. >> Woman: YEAH, MELANIE! >> Jonny: AND GYMNASTS TEND TO DO WELL HERE, MATT. >> Matt: OH, AND SHE'S HUNG UP ON THE QUAD STEP THOUGH, JONNY. >> YEAH, YOU KNOW, THESE QUAD STEPS ARE THE ONLY THING THAT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER WHERE YOU CAME FROM. BUT SHE'S DOING A GOOD JOB. >> LOOKED LIKE SHE MIGHT HAVE TOUCHED THE WATER. >> AND SHE MADE IT THROUGH. >> SHE MADE IT THROUGH. >> NOW HERE GYMNASTICS ABILITY IS GONNA REALLY BENEFIT HER. HAVE GOOD GRIP STRENGTH HOPEFULLY ON THE LOG GRIP. REMEMBER, THIS GOES 25 FEET. AND IT HAS THIS JARRING-- >> OH! NO SOONER DO YOU SAY IT THEN THE GRIP STRENGTH GIVES OUT. >> YEAH, I'M JUST SO HOPEFUL TO GET A WOMAN THROUGH THE QUALIFYING COURSE, WHICH WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO. >> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY MELANIE IS NO LONGER IN THE HUNT. >> I HAVE NO IDEA. I LOST MY GRIP. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THAT HAPPENED. I WAS SO CONFIDENT ABOUT THAT ONE. >> Jonny: THAT'S A BUMMER. BUT DEFINITELY IN THE HUNT IS TOP COMPETITOR LUIS MOCO. THE TWO-TIME VET MADE IT TO THE TOP 30 LAST YEAR. >> Matt: WARMING UP, WORKING THAT UPPER BODY. LUIS LOOKS READY TO GO. I'M SURE HE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO HIS RUN LATER ON AND SO ARE WE. AND RIGHT NOW, STANDING AT THE STARTING LINE IS 23-YEAR-OLD JOHN SAPINOSO FROM ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA. JOHN'S A PARKOUR INSTRUCTOR OF FILIPINO HERITAGE WHO'S MANAGED TO GIVE BACK TO THE COUNTRY OF HIS ROOTS. >> MY PARENTS WERE LIVING IN THE PHILIPPINES AS DIPLOMATS AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS AN OPENING IN THE EMBASSY. SO I PACKED UP MY BAGS AND MOVED OUT THERE. INITIALLY I WAS A TOURIST, JUST CHECKING OUT THE COUNTRY, ALL THE COOL HISTORIC SPOTS, ALL THE CULTURAL THINGS. AND WITHIN THAT TIME, REALLY I GOT DOWN INTO MY ROOTS. I WAS ABLE TO MEET UP WITH NEW PEOPLE, START SOME VOLUNTEER WORKS. AND AFTER A WHILE, I SPENT THE MAJORITY OF MY TIME TEACHING OTHERS. WE HAD A LITTLE SEMINAR TEACHING THE STREET CHILDREN GYMNASTICS. NO FORM, NO JUDGES, NOTHING. IT'S JUST-- IT'S MORE OF AN ARTISTIC EXPRESSION OF WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. I LOOK AT NINJA WARRIOR AND I SEE ALL SORTS OF MANIFESTATIONS OF MOVEMENT. IT'S NOT JUST STRENGTH. IT'S NOT JUST AGILITY. IT'S NOT JUST FLEXIBILITY. IT'S A COMBINATION OF THINGS. AND TO ADD TO THAT, THERE'S THE FACTOR OF THE UNKNOWN. THERE'S THE FEAR. THERE'S THE COMPETITION. THERE'S ALL THESE THINGS THAT SPEAK TO ME. IT'S ALIGNING INTO SOME SORT OF, LIKE A-- [growls] I GOTTA DO IT. [chuckling] >> Jonny: WHAT A GREAT STORY. CLEARLY SAPINOSO'S A MAN WHO LEADS WITH HIS HEART. >> Matt: AND HE DOESN'T DO TOO BADLY WITH HIS FEET EITHER. >> GOOD AGILITY THROUGH THE QUAD STEPS. JOHN SPENT THE PAST TEN YEARS STUDYING GYMNASTICS AND THOSE SKILLS ARE EVIDENT RIGHT NOW. >> WHOA, AN ACROBATIC DISMOUNT THERE. AND A STUMBLE ON THE BUNGEE BRIDGE, BUT QUICKLY RIGHTS HIMSELF. SIZING UP THE MINI-*** HERE. STRONG LEAP. >> WELL, WE SEE THAT FROM A LOT OF OUR CONTESTANTS WHO HAVE GYMNASTICS BACKGROUNDS. THEY DO A LOT OF THEIR TRAINING ON TRAMPOLINES. AND WHEN THEY FINALLY REACH OUR COURSE, THAT EXPERIENCE USUALLY PAYS OFF. >> NOW HE FACES THE JUMPING BARS, TAKEN OUT SO MANY COMPETITORS. AND SAPINOSO'S GOT IT. NICE JUMP. YOU KNOW, HE TOLD US IF HE WINS THE $500,000, HE WANTS TO DONATE THAT MONEY TO AN ORPHANAGE IN MANILA. >> WELL, NO PROBLEMS AS HE FLIES THROUGH THE BARS. >> NOW THE WALL LIFT. NOT ONE OF OUR MORE DIFFICULT OBSTACLES, BUT AFTER THE GRUELING FIRST HALF OF OUR COURSE, IT CAN REALLY WEAR YOU DOWN. >> AND JOHN DOES SEEM TO BE A LITTLE FATIGUED. HE'S STRUGGLING A BIT HEADING INTO THE WARPED WALL. >> SEE HIM TAKING A COUPLE OF DEEP BREATHS. OH, AND A WEAK EFFORT THERE. >> SAPINOSO LOOKS SPENT. JOHN TOLD US HE'S A BROWN BELT IN SHOTOKAN, A MARTIAL ART THAT ENCOURAGES DISCIPLINE AND PERSEVERANCE. >> OH! >> AND HE'S GONNA HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PERSEVERE. MISSES ON HIS SECOND ATTEMPT. >> PSYCHES HIMSELF UP FOR ONE LAST TRY. >> AAH! >> Matt: SOUNDS LIKE HE'S GOING INTO WARRIOR MODE, JONNY. >> Jonny: NO. NOT EVEN CLOSE. >> WOW, YOU KNOW, SAPINOSO JUST BREEZED THROUGH THIS COURSE TILL HE HIT THE WALL LIFT. DO YOU THINK THAT JUST TOOK TOO MUCH OUT OF HIM, JONNY? >> THAT TIRED LOOK ON HIS FACE SAYS IT ALL, MATT. THE WALL LIFT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR THIS WARRIOR. AND HE HAD NOTHING LEFT FOR THE WARPED WALL. >> COMPETITORS ARE BEING CHALLENGED TODAY. AND I'M NOT SURE WE'RE GONNA EVEN GET 30 TO FINISH THE COURSE. >> WELL, THE NEXT MAN TO TAKE HIS SHOT ON THIS BRUTAL COURSE IS A 24-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE RECRUITER OUT OF MANCHESTER, CONNECTICUT, KHALIL UQDAH. HE'S AN ATHLETE WITH A BACKGROUND WE DON'T OFTEN SEE. HE'S A POLE-VAULTER. >> WELL, IN FACT HE WAS A DIVISION I POLE-VAULTER WHILE ATTENDING TOWSON UNIVERSITY IN MARYLAND. AND HE'S BEEN DOING IT FOR SEVEN YEARS. HE'S THE COMPLETE PACKAGE-- STRENGTH, AGILITY, AND BALANCE. WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR OUR NEXT ATHLETE TO COMPLETE THE COURSE. THIS COULD BE THE GUY, MATT. >> WELL, VAULTING THROUGH THE QUAD STEPS. DIDN'T NEED A POLE THERE, JONNY. >> YEAH, HE'S A TALENTED ATHLETE, NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. GOOD GRIP ON THE LOG. >> RIGHT INTO THE BUNGEE BRIDGE. OH! WENT DOWN AND RIGHT BACK UP. BOUNCING TO HIS FEET, NO HESITATION AT ALL FOR KHALIL. AND HE'S GOT THE CARGO NET. >> OH, HE IS UP AND OVER IN NO TIME. HE IS ATTACKING THIS COURSE WITH SPEED, LIKE A GUY WHO WANTS TO MAKE A STATEMENT. >> ABSOLUTELY. THE JUMPING BARS NEXT. THEY HAVE TAKEN OUT A LOT OF ATHLETES TO THIS POINT. AND KHALIL IS UP. KHALIL UQDAH, THE POLE-VAULTER, FLYING THROUGH THE JUMPING BARS ONE-HANDED. >> INCREDIBLE! BUT NOW HE HAS TO FACE THE WALL LIFT. IT EATS UP A LOT OF ENERGY THAT YOU NEED TO GET UP THE LAST OBSTACLE, THE WARPED WALL. >> 55 POUND WALL UP. NOW ONTO THE 65 POUND WALL. >> WELL, HE'S BEEN FLYING THROUGH THE COURSE, BUT HE LOOKS A LITTLE WINDED RIGHT NOW. >> AND NOW IT'S THE WARPED WALL, JONNY. >> UGH. >> OH, AND HE'S DOWN. >> THAT'S THE SCARY PART ABOUT THE WARPED WALL. YOU COULD EASILY GET HURT ON THE EXIT, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE FATIGUED. >> TRYING TO GET THEM CHEER UP. I THINK HE'S ALSO BUYING A LITTLE TIME TO RECUPERATE. >> OH, HE'S CLOSE. WELL, AS A COLLEGIATE POLE-VAULTER, HIS SKILLS ARE NOT IN QUESTION. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER HE HAS ANY GAS LEFT IN THE TANK. >> HIS FINAL EFFORT ON THE WARPED WALL. NO, AND THE POLE-VAULTER COMES UP SHORT. AND FOR KHALIL UQDAH, HIS RUN IS OVER. >> WELL, MATT, HE SEEMED SO STRONG UNTIL HE HIT THE WALL LIFT. KHALIL CAME OUT OF THE OBSTACLE JUST WORN OUT. AND LIKE SO MANY ATHLETES WE'VE SEEN BEFORE HIM, HE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING LEFT TO GET UP THE WARPED WALL. >> I COULDN'T GET MY KNEES UP. MY FOOT KEPT GETTING CAUGHT. JUST GOTTA JUMP NEXT TIME. >> Matt: THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF GREAT COMPETITORS YET TO COME. IN FACT, HERE'S THE CHARISMATIC JAMIE RAHN. HE CALLS HIMSELF "CAPTAIN G4." YOU CAN SEE THE LOGO ON HIS CHEST. >> WELL, HIS APPEARANCE MAY INDICATE OTHERWISE, BUT JAMIE TELLS US HE'S A REAL ATHLETE. WE'LL FIND OUT A LITTLE LATER. >> AT THE STARTING BLOCK RIGHT NOW IS JEREMY PADILLA, A 26-YEAR-OLD PARKOUR INSTRUCTOR FROM CONNECTICUT WHO'S STILL REELING FROM A RECENT LOSS. >> I'VE BEEN TEACHING PARKOUR AND FREE RUNNING FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS NOW. I STARTED IN PARKOUR ABOUT 7 YEARS OLD, ACTUALLY. EVER SINCE THEN I'VE BEEN CLIMBING TREES, BACK-FLIPPING, JUMPING ROOF TO ROOF. EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE LOST MY NEPHEW JUSTIN THOMPSON. MY NEPHEW WAS SHOT IN THE HEAD, AND TRAGICALLY HE DIDN'T MAKE IT. HE WAS 14 YEARS OLD. IT WAS SUCH A TRAGEDY. [mutters] THAT WAS MY SON BEFORE I HAD A SON. WHEN I'M OUT ON THE COURSE, I'M RUNNING FOR MY NEPHEW. HE-- HE WAS A BIG FAN OF AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR. HE-- HE'S LIKE INSPIRED ME TO TRY MY BEST, MAN. AND I'M HERE. SO I'M GONNA GIVE IT MY ALL AND DO IT FOR HIM. >> Matt: YOU CAN HEAR THE CROWD REALLY GETTING BEHIND HIM. >> Jonny: YEAH. >> AN EASY MAN TO ROOT FOR. >> DEFINITELY. >> HERE WE GO. ONTO THE QUAD STEPS, CAUTIOUS TWO-FOOT APPROACH, VERY SMART. >> BUT IT WAS STILL QUICK. YOU KNOW, YOU COULD CALL IT CAUTIOUS, BUT HE WAS MOVING HIS FEET VERY QUICKLY. >> ABSOLUTELY, YOU DON'T GAIN THAT MUCH MORE TIME ONE-FOOTING IT. AS JEREMY TOLD US EARLIER, THIS RUN HAS SPECIAL MEANING FOR HIM. NO DOUBT THE MEMORY OF HIS LATE NEPHEW JUSTIN HAS SHARPENED HIS DRIVE AND DETERMINATION. >> LOW ONTO THE CARGO NET, BUT JEREMY TRAINS HIS UPPER BODY FIVE DAYS A WEEK AND IS NOW USING THAT STRENGTH TO GET OVER. >> NICE DISMOUNT ON THE CARGO NET. NOW THE JUMPING BARS. AGAIN, THAT FIRST JUMP SO CRITICAL TO GET TO THAT FIRST BAR. >> WELL, IT'S A LONG DISTANCE JUST TO GET OFF THIS ***. IT'S A FARTHER DISTANCE THAN THE CARGO NET-- OH! >> OH! AND YOU COULD SEE-- YOU TALK ABOUT THIS ALL TIME, IT LOOKED LIKE HE WENT OUT INSTEAD OF UP, JONNY. >> THAT'S TRUE AND, YOU KNOW, HE GOT HIS HANDS ON THE BAR, BUT THAT ISN'T ENOUGH WITH THE JUMPING BARS. YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO GET YOURSELF UP ABOVE IT. GET A GOOD GRIP AS YOUR BODY STARTS TO FALL. WELL, IT'S POSSIBLE HE JUST LET HIS MIND WANDER A SECOND AND THAT'S ALL IT TAKES TO COME UP SHORT. >> WELL, I KNOW JEREMY PADILLA HAD HIGH HOPES FOR THIS COMPETITION. BUT STILL, AN INSPIRATION JUST MAKING HERE. >> TOUGH TO SEE SUCH A GREAT GUY GO OUT. WISH HIM ALL THE BEST. >> TRIED MY BEST. JUMPED MY HIGHEST. MY FINGERTIPS JUST TOUCHED. >> Jonny: WE'RE GETTING DEEPER INTO THE NORTHEAST QUALIFIERS, AND TO THIS POINT, STILL ONLY EIGHT ATHLETES HAVE FINISHED THE COURSE. >> Matt: OUR SEARCH CONTINUES FOR MORE COMPETITORS WITH THE DRIVE AND FOCUS TO JOIN THE RANKS OF THE FINISHERS. WILL IT BE ELET HALL FROM CAVETOWN, MARYLAND? HE'S A 21-YEAR-OLD OUTDOOR WARRIOR WHO SAYS HE CAN SURVIVE FOR WEEKS ALONE IN THE WOODS. >> SINCE I WAS A KID, I'VE BEEN RAISED IN A RURAL PLACE AND SPENT THE MAJORITY OF MY TIME OUTDOORS. I'VE ALWAYS HAD, YOU KNOW, AN AFFINITY TOWARDS THE WOODS AND MOVING THROUGH 'EM. IT'S WHERE PARKOUR TRAINING COMES IN A LOT. IT IS JUST MY ABILITY TO HANDLE ANY SITUATION THAT ARISES IN THE WOODS. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, ON TOP OF THAT, IF I WANNA BE ABLE TO STAY THERE FOR WEEKS AT A TIME, DAYS AT A TIME, YOU GOTTA HAVE THE SKILLS TO BE ABLE TO DO IT. YOU KNOW, TRAINING PARKOUR OUT THERE, IF I FALL, I CAN REALLY GET HURT. ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I FELL TRAINING ON A TREE. AND I ACTUALLY GOT IMPALED ON A TREE BRANCH. RIGHT INTO MY ARMPIT HERE. SO THE AWARENESS BROUGHT FROM TRAINING MOST OF THE TIME IN THE WOODS AND THE SURVIVAL SKILLS AND THE AWARENESS THAT I HAVE, I THINK THAT'LL HELP OUT A LOT ON THE COURSE. JUST BEING AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON AND BEING ABLE TO ADAPT TO THE SITUATION. IT WOULD PROBABLY CHANGE MY LIFE TO WIN THE $500,000. THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD YOU COULD DO WITH THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY, TO HELP A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO NEED IT. AND SO, I MEAN, THAT'S ONE OF MY GOALS IN LIFE IS TO JUST PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED IT. >> Matt: NOW IT'S TIME FOR OUR SURVIVALIST TO SHOW US IF HE CAN SURVIVE THE WILDS OF THE AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR COURSE. LET'S SEE HIS MOM NANCY READY TO CHEER HIM ON. >> [timer counts down] >> Jonny: WHOA, BOUNDING OVER THOSE QUAD STEPS LIKE A GAZELLE. >> Matt: ONTO THE LOG GRIP. LOOKS LIKE HE'S TAKING A SECOND TO GET HIS GRIP RIGHT. >> OH, AND JUST PUSHES IT ASIDE LIKE SOME BRUSH IN THE FOREST. AND LOOK AT THAT FOCUS. KEEPING HIS KNEE SOFT, ABSORBING THE BOUNCE. HE IS LOOKING LIKE A SURVIVOR SO FAR. >> ABSOLUTELY, A GREAT RUN. WOW. THE BIG MAN CATCHES GREAT AIR INTO THE CARGO NET. >> A GOOD ROLL DOWN. GETTING A LITTLE TANGLED UP AT THE BOTTOM, BUT HE DOESN'T LET IT THROW HIM. >> COME ON, HON! >> Matt: ONTO THE JUMPING BARS. THESE HAVE PROVEN DEADLY FOR A LOT OF OUR ATHLETES, BUT ELET'S PROVING TO BE MADE OF SOME STRONG STUFF. GOOD JUMP TO THE FIRST BAR. YOU KNOW, SO FAR, THIS OUTDOORSMAN IS MAKING THIS COURSE LOOK MORE LIKE A WALK IN A PARK THAN SOME TREK THROUGH THE WILD. >> Jonny: ELET'S REALLY USING HIS HEIGHT AND UPPER-ARM STRENGTH TO HIS ADVANTAGE, GETTING LOTS OF MOMENTUM. >> AND ONTO THE WALL LIFT. >> THE ISSUE HERE ISN'T GOING OUT, IT'S TIRING OUT. THE WALLS START TO GET HEAVY. IF HE'S NOT CAREFUL, IT WILL SAP ALL HIS STRENGTH FOR THE WARPED WALL. >> FOR OUR SURVIVALIST, THE END IS NEAR. AND THE QUESTION, WILL HE SURVIVE THE WARPED WALL. IT'S BEEN A MAJOR STICKING POINT ALL NIGHT. OH! COULDN'T MAKE THE GRAB AT THE LIP, SLIDING BACK DOWN. >> YOU GOT IT. YOU GOT IT. >> Jonny: THE CHALLENGE HERE IS TO REGROUP AND FIND YOUR FOCUS. THAT'S WHAT MAKES A CHAMPION. >> Matt: SECOND ATTEMPT. CLEAN RUN AND YES! HE'S DONE IT, A TWO-HANDED GRIP. >> AHH! >> Matt: ELET HALL IS IN THE HUNT FOR A TRIP TO THE FINALS. >> Jonny: HE'S A TRIPLE THREAT-- STRENGTH, FOCUS, AND ENDURANCE. >> I'M ALIVE, MAN. I'M ALIVE, HEART'S BEATING. >> Matt: THE COMPETITION IS HEATING UP IN MIAMI RIGHT NOW, AND ELET IS WITH ANGELA. >> ELET, CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> YOU WERE YELLING UP AT THE TOP OF THE WARPED WALL. WAS THAT A SIGH OF RELIEF OR OF EXCITEMENT? >> UM, IT WAS REALLY, YOU KNOW, JUST RELEASING ALL THAT TENSION THAT'S BEEN BUILDING UP ALL DAY. IT'S REALLY-- IT'S COOL TO BE HERE, YOU KNOW? >> SO SECOND TRY ON THE WARPED WALL. WHAT HAPPENED ON THE FIRST ONE? >> UM, YOU KNOW, THE SHOES AREN'T ALWAYS THE GREATEST. I SLIPPED A LITTLE BIT. IT GETS WET. IT'S DEWY OUT HERE. >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> HEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> AND WITH ONLY NINE MORE COMPETITORS TO GO, WE NOW HAVE 11 WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE COURSE WITH PHILLIP PIROLLO'S TIME GOOD ENOUGH FOR THIRD PLACE. GABE ARNOLD COMING IN AT EIGHT. RIGHT NOW IN ALL HIS PAINTED GLORY, IT'S JAMIE RAHN, THE SELF-PROCLAIMED "CAPTAIN G4." THE 24-YEAR-OLD ARTIST FROM BARRINGTON, NEW JERSEY, AND CLEARLY HIS BODY IS HIS LATEST WORK OF ART. HONESTLY, THIS IS ONE COMPETITOR I REALLY HOPE STAYS DRY, OR AT LEAST THAT THAT PAINT IS WATERPROOF. >> Jonny: WELL, HE WORKS AS AN ENTERTAINER FOR KIDS' BIRTHDAY PARTIES, SO WE KNOW HE CAN PUT ON A SHOW. BUT CAN HE BACK IT UP? I GUESS WE'LL SEE IF JAMIE HAS AS MUCH DASH AS FLASH. >> WELL, HE'LL NEED HIS SUPER-STRENGTH TO CONQUER THE LOG GRIP. AND HE'S ONTO THE PLATFORM. BUT CAN HE ESCAPE THE NEXT DIABOLICAL TRAP, THE BUNGEE BRIDGE? A LITTLE TRIP AT THE END, BUT ONCE AGAIN OUR HERO IS SAFE AND READY FOR THE NEXT EVIL CHALLENGE. WELL, NOT EXACTLY LEAPING TALL BUILDINGS-- A LOW JUMP TO THE CARGO NET, JONNY. >> BUT HE KIND OF LOOKS LIKE SPIDER-MAN CLIMBING HIS WEB. MAYBE HE CAN CHANNEL SOME OF THAT SUPERHERO SPIDEY SENSE. >> WELL, JAMIE MIGHT JUST NEED A LEAGUE OF HEROES TO CONQUER THE NEXT CHALLENGE. THE JUMPING BARS HAVE TAKEN OUT A LOT OF OUR EARLIER COMPETITORS. AND THE CROWD CHANTING HIS NAME. UP, UP, AND AWAY! HE REACHES THE JUMPING BARS! MAYBE THERE IS THE HEART OF A HERO UNDER THAT PAINTED LOGO, JONNY. >> WELL, HE MIGHT HAVE A COMICAL APPEARANCE, BUT JAMIE IS TAKING THIS EVENT SERIOUSLY. HE TOLD US HE'S TRAINED WITH TOP COMPETITORS LIKE BRIAN OROSCO, BRANDON DOUGLAS, AND JAMES McGRATH. IT LOOKS LIKE SOME OF THEIR TALENT HAS RUBBED OFF. >> WELL, I IMAGINE SOME OF HIS PAINT RUBBED OFF ON THEM. BUT THE WALL LIFTS DON'T SEEM TO BE AN ISSUE FOR OUR SUPERHERO WANNABE. WE'LL SEE IF THE WARPED WALL WILL PROVE TO BE HIS KRYPTONITE. >> GATHERING HIS THOUGHTS RIGHT HERE, HARNESSING HIS ENERGY, TAKES A BREATH. [groans] HE DOESN'T EVEN COME CLOSE ON THAT ONE. >> WELL, IT'S A CLASSIC TALE OF GOOD CONTESTANT VS. EVIL WALL. >> HO-HO! >> THAT'S A BIT OF A STRETCH, JONNY. BUT HE IS UP ON HIS SECOND ATTEMPT AND HE'S GOT IT! JAMIE RAHN VANQUISHES HIS ARCH-NEMESIS, THE WARPED WALL. >> WELL, YOU KNOW THE COMPETITORS ON THIS COURSE WILL ALWAYS SURPRISE YOU. I MEAN, TAKE JAMIE RAHN. HE LOOKED TO BE HERE FOR COMIC RELIEF BUT TURNED OUT TO BE ONE OF OUR TOP FINISHERS. >> AND HE'S WITH ANGELA RIGHT NOW. >> FEARLESS OUT THERE. UH, CONGRATULATIONS FIRST OFF. >> THANK YOU. >> AND HOW DID, UH, THE OUTFIT HELP YOU OUT ON YOUR RUN? >> WELL, UH, IT'S AERODYNAMIC. YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING, UH, GOT A LITTLE BLUE PAINT ON YOUR WALL PROBABLY BUT, UH, THE WALLS WERE HEAVIER THAN I EXPECTED. KICKED MY BUTT GETTING UP TO THAT WALL, BUT IT WAS NICE. >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU. >> GUYS? >> Matt: TAKING NOTE OF THE BIG FINISH IS FORMER FREE-RUNNING WORLD CHAMPION TIM "LIVEWIRE" SHIEFF, WHO SUFFERED A SHOCKING FALL AT THE LOG GRIP LAST YEAR DURING THE VENICE FINALS. >> Jonny: HE SAYS IT WAS DUE TO A LAPSE IN CONCENTRATION AND HE'S DETERMINED NOT TO LET THAT HAPPEN AGAIN. >> WELL, NEXT UP TO CHALLENGE OUR COURSE TONIGHT IS 32-YEAR-OLD LUIS MOCO FROM NEW BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS. HE'S A PROFESSIONAL STUNTMAN, BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY PART OF HIS LIFE THAT'S A LITTLE UNCONVENTIONAL. >> FUNNY STORY, I LIVE IN A VAN, ACTUALLY. I'M A PROFESSIONAL STUNT PERFORMER SO I DO MOST OF MY WORK IN NEW YORK OR IN BOSTON. BUT I WAS SICK OF LIVING IN NEW YORK AND PAYING RENT, SO I BOUGHT A GIANT SPRINTER VAN AND I'VE BEEN KIND OF COASTING AROUND IN THAT. SO I GET TO STAY IN CONNECTICUT AND TRAIN, AND THEN WHEN I HAVE TO WORK I DRIVE TO NEW YORK OR BOSTON. IT'S PERFECT FOR ME. PRETTY MUCH WHEREVER I PARK, I'M HOME. MOST OF THE DAY AND NIGHT, I'M TRAINING, I'M IN THE GYM. I MEAN, MY JOB REALLY IS DRESSING UP AND PLAYING ALL DAY ON SET, BUT IN MY DOWN TIME WHEN I'M TRAINING, I LIKE OBSTACLE COURSES. IT'S MUCH MORE FUN AT THE END OF THE DAY. IF I CAN WIN $500,000, IT DEFINITELY WOULD CHANGE MY LIFE. I'D DEFINITELY BE ABLE TO DO CERTAIN THINGS THAT I CAN'T AFFORD TO DO. POSSIBLY OPEN UP A GYM AND LIVE THERE INSTEAD OF PARKING OUTSIDE OF OTHER GYMS. I'LL JUST STAY AT MY GYM. [laughs] >> Jonny: LUIS'S PARENTS ARE BOTH CANCER SURVIVORS AND HIS BIGGEST SUPPORTERS. THIS IS HIS THIRD APPEARANCE ON AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR AND THAT EXPERIENCE IS ALREADY SHOWING. MATT, HE MOTORS THROUGH THE QUAD STEPS. EXPECTATIONS ARE HIGH FOR MOCO BECAUSE HE MADE IT IN THE TOP 30 LAST YEAR. >> Matt: LUIS COMES FROM A VERY TIGHT-KNIT PORTUGUESE FAMILY. HE SAYS MAKING THEM PROUD IS HIS MOTIVATION FOR GETTING THROUGH THE COURSE AND-- WHOA! A LITTLE TRIP THERE AT THE BUNGEE BRIDGE. BUT ONTO THE JUMP-HANG AND LOOKING STRONG. >> WELL, I'M NOT SURPRISED HE'S DOING WELL. STUNT PERFORMERS ARE TOP QUALITY ATHLETES AND LUIS'S WORK RUNS THE GAMUT FROM BIG-BUDGET FILMS TO TV SHOWS. >> BUT TAKING A CAUTIOUS APPROACH HERE, JONNY. GOING A LITTLE SLOW. >> WELL, THAT'S A VETERAN MOVE. THERE'S A CERTAIN PACE THAT IS JUST IDEAL TO MOVE THROUGH THESE COURSES. AND AS SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN HERE TWICE BEFORE, MOCO'S DEVELOPED A KEEN SENSE OF WHAT THE RIGHT PACE IS FOR HIM. >> WE REALLY HAVE SEEN SO MANY COMPETITORS TRY TO BLOW THROUGH THE COURSE TO SET A TIME AND MAKE A SIMPLE MISTAKE, AND LUIS DOES NOT WANT TO DO THAT HERE. BUT LAST YEAR TIME COST HIM, SO I'M SURPRISED THERE'S NOT A LITTLE MORE URGENCY. >> WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN MAKE UP FOR A LACK OF SPEED, BUT YOU CAN'T MAKE UP FOR A FALL. AT THIS RATE, MOCO IS ON TRACK FOR A DECENT TIME. >> LOOKING A LITTLE WINDED, SAID HE'D WORKED ON HIS STAMINA. >> WELL, STAMINA DEFINITELY A FACTOR AS WE'VE SEEN OVER AND OVER ALL NIGHT. THE WALL LIFT TAKES SO MUCH OUT OF OUR RUNNERS RIGHT BEFORE ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT CHALLENGES ON THE COURSE, THE WARPED WALL. >> AND THEN THE FIRST TIME HE EVER COMPETED IN THIS COMPETITION, COULDN'T GET UP THE WARPED WALL-- LET'S SEE WHAT HE DOES HERE. CAME UP SHORT. MOCO LOOKING SPENT. HAS GOT UP IT LAST YEAR, THOUGH, SO DEFINITELY KNOWS HOW TO DEFEAT THIS OBSTACLE. >> THERE HE GOES. >> AND HE'S DONE IT! LUIS MOCO WITH ONE OF THE BETTER PERFORMANCES WE'VE SEEN TONIGHT. TO THE TOP OF THE WARPED WALL WITH A TIME OF 1:47:38. >> IT MUST FEEL AMAZING TO GET TO THE TOP OF THE WARPED WALL AFTER A SOLID QUALIFYING RUN LIKE THAT. AND IT WAS A TIME THAT PUTS MOCO IN THE TOP TEN. >> AN IMPRESSIVE RUN, AND FOR MORE WITH LUIS MOCO, LET'S GO DOWN TO ANGELA. >> HOW WAS YOUR CONFIDENCE GOING INTO THIS? THIS WAS YOUR THIRD TIME. >> I WAS PRETTY CONFIDENT. I WAS CONFIDENT ENOUGH THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT AT ALL. I JUST WANTED TO WAIT UNTIL I GOT UP ON THE PLATFORM, SIT ON THE PLATFORM, AND GO FROM THERE. BUT I FELT REALLY GOOD. BUT I'LL TELL YOU, THAT SECOND QUAD STEP WHEN I SLIPPED, IT KIND OF ALL WENT AWAY REAL QUICK. BUT THANKFULLY, I MADE IT WORK. THE TRAMPOLINE AND JUMPING BARS WAS A LITTLE SCARY 'CAUSE I SAW A LOT OF GUYS FAILING IT. BUT WHEN I GRABBED THAT FIRST BAR I WAS LIKE, "I CAN'T STOP NOW" AND I GOT THROUGH. >> WELL, CONGRATULATIONS ON COMPLETING THE COURSE. >> THANK YOU. >> LUIS MOCO. GUYS? >> Matt: WE NOW HAVE 13 FINISHERS, INCLUDING LUIS MOCO AT NUMBER EIGHT. AND HOW ABOUT JAMIE RAHN? DESPITE HIS UNORTHODOX YET COLORFUL APPEARANCE, THE SUPERHERO IS CURRENTLY IN OUR TOP TEN FINISHERS AT NUMBER NINE. WELL, I DON'T THINK COMPLACENCY IS IN OUR NEXT COMPETITOR'S VOCABULARY. HE'S AN ARMY LIEUTENANT AND ROTC INSTRUCTOR FROM ROCHESTER, NEW YORK. IT'S 29-YEAR-OLD MYAN COLETAT. >> I'VE BEEN IN THE NATIONAL GUARD SINCE 2003. I LOVE A CHALLENGE. I MEAN, WHEN I JOINED THE MILITARY, I SAID, "GIVE ME THE HARDEST THING YOU GOT." "INFANTRY." "I'LL DO IT." SAME THING, I SAW THIS ON TV AND I WAS LIKE, "WELL, I THINK I COULD DO THAT." I STARTED MARTIAL ARTS WITH MUAY THAI. SINCE THEN, I'VE PICKED UP JUDO AND BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU. NOW I WOULD LIKE TO COMPETE HOPEFULLY ON A NATIONAL LEVEL. HIYAA! MY FATHER IS FROM THAILAND. HE PASSED AWAY WHEN I WAS ABOUT 6. FROM THEN ON, MY MOTHER RAISED ME. SHE OWNED LIKE A HAIR SALON. IN ORDER TO HELP OUT THE FAMILY BUSINESS, MY MOM HAD ME GET MY MANICURIST LICENSE. YOU KNOW, FAMILY FIRST. MY MOM NEEDS HELP, I'LL HELP HER OUT, YOU KNOW? SHE INSPIRED ME A LOT TO, UM, JUST CONTINUE EVERYTHING THAT I DO. AND SHE'S REALLY EXCITED I'M HERE, PUSHED ME TO COME. SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, "YOU GOT THE CALL. FLY DOWN THERE AND DO YOUR BEST," YOU KNOW. SORRY, I'M GETTING A LITTLE EMOTIONAL. BUT, UH, YEAH, I FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT THAT, SO... >> Matt: OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF HEART IN THIS YOUNG MAN FROM ROCHESTER. HIS FAMILY PULLING FOR HIM. MYAN MAKING HIS NINJA WARRIOR DEBUT-- OH! >> [air horn blows] >> WENT OUT TOO AGGRESSIVELY. OUT ON THE THIRD QUAD STEP. BUT THOSE FIRST TWO STEPS YOU COULD SEE HE HAD THE ATHLETIC ABILITY. JUST A MENTAL MISTAKE THERE. >> YEAH, IT LOOKS LIKE HE PUSHED OFF WITH THE WRONG FOOT. HE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO MAKE THE LANDING AND IT THREW HIM OFF BALANCE AND INTO THE WATER. >> WELL, OUR NEXT COMPETITOR IS 27-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL NEEDHAM FROM FLEMINGTON, NEW JERSEY. HE WORKS AS A GOLF COURSE LANDSCAPER, BUT HE'S GOT A VERY SPECIAL INTERIOR LANDSCAPING PROJECT AT HOME. >> I'VE ALWAYS BEEN INTO ACTION SPORTS-- SNOWBOARDING, SKATEBOARDING. AND I GOT INTO PARKOUR AND FREE-RUNNING RECENTLY. SINCE I ALREADY HAD A BUNCH OF ROCK CLIMBING HOLDS ON MY WALLS AT HOME, I FIGURED WHY NOT PUT A FEW MORE HOLES IN THE WALLS? UH, BEFORE I KNEW IT, I HAD A SALMON LADDER, UNSTABLE BRIDGE, CLIFFHANGER, JUMPING BARS, ROPE SWING. AND ALL THOSE OBSTACLES ARE INSIDE MY BEDROOM. [chuckles] MY ONE 20-YEAR-OLD BROTHER, HE'S ACTUALLY A MARINE IN AFGHANISTAN RIGHT NOW. AND HE'S BEEN MY TRAINING BUDDY FOR THE LONGEST TIME. HE TAUGHT ME EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT LEGITIMATE ROCK CLIMBING. HE ACTUALLY JUST GOT DEPLOYED TO AFGHANISTAN IN JANUARY, SO HE'S BEEN OUT THERE PRETTY RECENTLY, AND I'M PRETTY WORRIED ABOUT IT, BUT I REALLY WANT TO DO THE SHOW AND PROVE TO HIM THAT ALL THE TRAINING HAS PAID OFF. AND I REALLY HOPE TO MAKE HIM PROUD. >> [cheers and applause] >> Matt: MICHAEL'S GOTTA BE THINKING ABOUT HIS BROTHER BRANDON IN AFGHANISTAN. WE ALL SALUTE THOSE WHO SERVE. BRANDON REALLY WANTS TO HONOR HIM WITH HIS RUN TONIGHT. >> [timer beeping] >> Jonny: WELL, MICHAEL FLIES THROUGH THE QUAD STEPS. >> Matt: NICELY DONE. AND YOU CAN SEE MICHAEL STRUGGLE JUST TO GET UP TO THE LOG GRIP. AT 5'5", ONE OF OUR SHORTEST COMPETITORS. AND THAT COULD BE A FACTOR, JONNY. >> WELL, NOT SO FAR AND NOT ON THE BUNGEE BRIDGE. BUT WITH THE JUMP HANG, HEIGHT'S GONNA BE A CONCERN. >> HE DOESN'T HESITATE, RIGHT ONTO THE CARGO NET. AND HE'S UP AND OVER. >> MICHAEL IS MAKING GREAT TIME, BUT THE JUMPING BARS ARE GOING TO BE A REAL TEST. WILL HE BE ABLE TO GET ENOUGH HEIGHT OFF THE TRAMPOLINE TO PROPEL HIM TO THE FIRST BAR? >> LOOKING SO FOCUSED. AND HE'S UP AND GOT IT! A ONE-HANDED GRAB OF THE BAR. WOW, MICHAEL HAS SOME TREMENDOUS UPPER-BODY STRENGTH. >> WELL, A LONG TIME FAN OF THE SHOW, IT LOOKS LIKE TRAINING ON THOSE OBSTACLES HE BUILT IN HIS BEDROOM IS PAYING OFF. >> AND HE'S THROUGH THE JUMPING BARS AND ONTO THE WALL LIFT. THE WALLS WEIGHING 45, 55, AND 65 POUNDS. MICHAEL ONLY WEIGHS 118. I'M ALREADY WONDERING-- IF HE GETS THROUGH IT, HOW WILL HIS SHORT STATURE AFFECT HIS CHANCES AT THE WARPED WALL? >> WELL, WE'VE SEEN TALL COMPETITORS FLAME OUT THERE SO IT'S NOT AS MUCH ABOUT PHYSICAL SIZE AS IT IS ABOUT TECHNIQUE. WOW! >> AND HE IS UP ON HIS FIRST ATTEMPT. YOU KNOW, SOMEWHERE IN AFGHANISTAN, HIS BROTHER'S SMILING. >> HOW ABOUT THAT, MATT? THIS KID HAS COME FROM NOWHERE TO GIVE US ONE OF THE FASTEST TIMES OF THE NIGHT. ANGELA'S WITH HIM NOW. >> MIKE, YOU GOT A TIME OF 1:20:52. ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THAT? >> OH, I'M SO EXCITED WITH THAT. I'VE BEEN TRAINING FOR THIS FOR SO LONG. I KNEW I'D JUST SET A FAST TIME SO NOBODY SNEAKS UP BEHIND ME AND TAKES THIS AWAY FROM ME. >> YOU'VE BUILT YOUR OWN OBSTACLE COURSE TO TRAIN ON. HOW DID THAT HELP YOU TODAY? >> I PRACTICED THE JUMPING BARS, I PRACTICED THE WARPED WALL. AND JUST EVERYTHING TOGETHER HAS JUST HELPED ME SO MUCH TO FINALLY GET HERE AND LIVE OUT MY DREAMS. >> SO HAPPY. GUYS, BACK UP TO YOU. >> Matt: WELL, JONNY, WITH THAT DASH THROUGH THE COURSE, MICHAEL NEEDHAM VAULTS TO THE TOP OF THE LEADERBOARD, LESS THAN ONE SECOND AHEAD OF CHRIS WILCZEWSKI. STANDING WITH SOME OF THE BIG BOYS OF THE SPORT AND LOOKING DOWN ON THEM THIS TIME. AND FOR OUR LAST COMPETITOR, THIS ONE COULDN'T HAVE COME SOON ENOUGH. BORN IN HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, BUT RAISED IN LONDON, HE'S THE 24-YEAR-OLD WORLD FREE-RUNNING CHAMPION, TIM SHIEFF. >> I'M 24 YEARS OLD AND I'M THE CURRENT FREE-RUNNING WORLD CHAMPION. I'VE WON RED BULL AUTOMOTION. I WON ONE IN LONDON, ONE IN KUWAIT, CAME SECOND IN DETROIT AND THIRD IN BRAZIL. BEFORE I GOT INTO PARKOUR, I WAS A BREAK-DANCER AND THAT GAVE ME A LOT OF MY UPPER-BODY STRENGTH AND I REALLY ADAPTED THAT ACROSS TO FREE-RUNNING. IT IS QUITE DIFFERENT, BECAUSE IN BREAK DANCING YOU CAN'T CLIMB ON ANYTHING. THERE'S NO PULLING THE FLOOR. SO THERE'S A LOT OF PUSHING, UM, WHEREAS THIS IS MORE CLIMBING. BUT, UH, PARKOUR REALLY TOOK MY HEART AND THAT TOOK EVERYTHING FOR ME AND THAT WAS MY PASSION. >> Matt: LAST YEAR, TIM MADE IT THROUGH TO THE VENICE FINALS BUT SUFFERED A SHOCKING EARLY EXIT ON THE LOG GRIP. >> I'M NOT HERE JUST TO WIN. I'M HERE TO HAVE FUN ON THE COURSE AND I'M HERE TO BRING THAT LONDON STYLE, 'CAUSE I WANT TO SHOW PEOPLE THAT MY TRAINING IS A REALLY GOOD, EFFECTIVE TRAINING FOR ANYTHING. >> Jonny: TIM SEEMS FOCUSED AND READY TO GO AND, YOU KNOW, AFTER LAST YEAR'S EARLY EXIT, THAT FOCUS IS ON ONE THING-- REDEMPTION. >> Matt: AND HE'S GOING THROUGH THE QUAD STEPS. >> WHOA, DICES UP THE QUAD STEPS. >> TIME TO FACE THE LOG GRIP. >> YES, HE SEEMS TO HAVE FIXED HIS LAPSE OF CONCENTRATION FROM LAST YEAR. >> A LITTLE STUMBLE THERE ON THE BUNGEE BRIDGE, NOW ONTO THE JUMP HANG. AND RIGHT TO THE TOP. >> RIGHT TO THE TOP, NICE AND EASY. >> AND SHIEFF COMING IN WITH A NEW FOCUS. WE'RE NOT SEEING ANY EXTRANEOUS MOVEMENTS. NOT A LOT OF SHOWMANSHIP HERE. HE LOOKS FOCUSED. >> NOW, THIS HAS BEEN EATING PEOPLE UP ALL DAY. OH! AND A NICE MOUNT ONTO THE JUMPING BARS. WHOO! >> LOOK AT THAT, WOW. GREAT TECHNIQUE, TWO-HANDED TECHNIQUE. BAR TO BAR. OH! >> OH! AND HE DOES THE, UH-- >> SKIPPED THAT FINAL BAR! >> NICE EXIT. >> AND THIS IS BY FAR THE FASTEST TIME WE'VE SEEN THROUGH THE COURSE. SHIEFF IS BACK, AND BACK WITH A VENGEANCE, BUT THE WARPED WALL STILL REMAINS. DOESN'T EVEN LOOK WINDED-- HERE IT IS! >> OH! >> AND HE COMES UP SHORT! THE WORLD CHAMPION FREE-RUNNER COMES UP SHORT ON THE WARPED WALL. AND HE'S UP! TIM SHIEFF WAS LOOKING FOR REDEMPTION AFTER LAST YEAR'S EARLY EXIT, AND HE HAS IT WITH THE FASTEST TIME IN THE NORTHEAST QUALIFYING ROUND. THROWING HIS SHOES OUT! >> [laughs] >> THE FANS GOING NUTS FOR LIVEWIRE. JONNY, WHAT CAN YOU SAY AFTER THAT RUN? >> WELL, NO LAPSES IN JUDGMENT ON THAT RUN. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. I LOVED HOW HE DISMOUNTED OFF THE JUMPING BARS, MAKING GREAT TIME ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE WARPED WALL. >> AND A GOOD JOB HOLDING OFF ON THE SHOWMANSHIP UNTIL HE GOT TO THE TOP OF THE WARPED WALL. LET'S GO TO ANGELA, WHO'S STANDING BY WITH LIVEWIRE RIGHT NOW. >> TIM, CONGRATULATIONS. YOU DID EVERYTHING THAT YOU WANTED TO DO. YOU FOCUSED IN ON EACH OBSTACLE. HOW DID YOU FEEL GOING INTO THIS? >> MY LEGS FELT A BIT TIRED ON THE WALL, AND I MESSED UP THE FIRST TIME. BUT IT'S COOL, YOU KNOW? ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS MAKE THE SECOND ROUND AS USUAL AND I'VE DONE THAT. >> AND WHERE ARE YOUR SHOES? >> I THREW THEM INTO THE CROWD, YOU KNOW? THEY CHEERED ME ON SO I GAVE THEM SOMETHING BACK. >> OH, GIVING BACK AS ALWAYS. TIM, CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANKS VERY MUCH. >> Matt: AFTER AN IMPRESSIVE NIGHT OF QUALIFYING, WE FINALLY HAVE THE 30 ATHLETES MOVING ON TO THE NORTHEAST REGIONAL FINALS. STANDING AT THE TOP OF THE LEADERBOARD AFTER A DOMINATING RUN, TIMOTHY "LIVEWIRE" SHIEFF. THE BRITISH-AMERICAN WITH A PROPER FIRST-PLACE FINISH. 5'5" MICHAEL NEEDHAM'S AT NUMBER TWO, HONORING HIS BROTHER SERVING IN AFGHANISTAN. AND CHRIS WILCZEWSKI WHO IN THE PAST YEAR TURNED HIS LIFE AROUND LANDS AT NUMBER THREE. MAINE FISHERMAN JESSE VILLARREAL FINISHES SIXTH WHILE STUNTMAN LUIS MOCO ROUNDS OUT OUR TOP TEN. ALL IN ALL 19 ATHLETES COMPLETED THE NORTHEAST QUALIFYING COURSE SO WE FILL OUT OUR TOP 30 WITH THE 11 ATHLETES WHO MADE IT THROUGH THE WALL LIFT IN THE FASTEST TIMES. THAT INCLUDES JOHN SAPINOSO, THE FILIPINO PARKOUR INSTRUCTOR WHO ENDS UP IN THE 22nd SPOT. JONNY, OF THOSE 30, WHO MADE THE BIGGEST IMPRESSION ON YOU? >> THE BIGGEST SURPRISE CAME FROM ONE OF THE SMALLEST COMPETITORS, 5'5" MICHAEL NEEDHAM, WHOSE STUNNING ONE-ARM SAVE ON THE JUMPING BARS KEEPS ALIVE HIS DREAMS OF CHALLENGING MOUNT MIDORIYAMA. AND I ALSO REALLY LIKED JESSE VILLARREAL. THE MASKED FISHERMAN HAS FLAIR AND CONFIDENCE THAT MAKES HIM EXCITING TO WATCH. >> WELL, THE BEST OF THE NORTHEAST HAS CERTAINLY BEEN ON DISPLAY TONIGHT, AND OUR TOP 30 QUALIFYING ATHLETES WILL NOW FACE AN EVEN MORE CHALLENGING COURSE FOR THE REGIONAL FINALS, WITH THREE ADDITIONAL OBSTACLES-- THE SALMON LADDER, CYCLE ROAD, AND THE CARGO CLIMB. AND ONLY 15 WILL MOVE ON TO LAS VEGAS FOR A CHANCE TO TAKE ON THE WORLD'S TOUGHEST OBSTACLE COURSE, MOUNT MIDORIYAMA, WITH A GRAND PRIZE OF $500,000 HANGING IN THE BALANCE. FOR JONNY MOSELEY AND ANGELA SUN, I'M MATT ISEMAN. WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR! >> [cheers and applause]