‘American Ninja Warrior’ Season 8, Episode 9 Recap: Oklahoma City Finals

American Ninja Warrior’s Oklahoma City Finals aired Monday in order to determine who would qualify for the Las Vegas Finals. With 10 obstacles total, four more than qualifying, the top 15 had to complete astounding feats of physical and mental strength.

‘American Ninja Warrior’ Season 8, Episode 9

The obstacles were the Floating Steps, Ring Swing, Log Runner, Tire Swing, Bar Hop, the 24–foot wall, Salmon Ladder, the (New) Bungee Road, Window Hang, and last but not least the brutal Invisible Ladder.

Thomas Stillings, fastest in qualifying and borderline cocky, rocked his genie pants all the way to the Invisible Ladder. Performing a backflip before the Bar Hop and posing between obstacles for kicks, Thomas was one of the most entertaining ninjas of the night. If he had cleared the Invisible Ladder, he would have easily placed first, a minute above the two finishers, but placed an impressive 3^rd instead.

Grant Gilton, a bank manager who had a stroke six months ago, proved himself against the odds by being the first of the night to complete the entire course. Prior brain surgery couldn’t stop this ninja, ripping through the Window hang using only his arms.

Returning for the seventh straight year, Brent Stepherson gave the other competitors a run for their money. Falling to the Bungee Road at a time of 4:20.69, Brent placed a solid 10^th place. He also unexpectedly took his shirt off right before the salmon ladder. Spicy!

Daniel Gil, last year’s rookie of the year, is an opera singer, a dancer, and he’s very, very handsome. Not only this, but the rookie sensation completed the course with time to spare, shredding a minute off of Grant’s score

Jon Stewart, a 54 year old competitor, the oldest of all of the competitors, qualified for Vegas while simultaneously setting a new record for ninjas over 50 in the history of the competition.

Finally, Karsten Williams, the final contender of the night, beat his close friend, Remayne Dorshe, out for Vegas. After nearly failing to complete the Log Runner, Karsten made an extraordinary performance to place 8^th.

 

Top 15:

1st: Daniel Gil – 5:14.27 (Finished)

2nd: Grant Clinton – 5:57.43 (Finished)

3rd: Thomas Stillings – 3:52.91 (Failed on Invisible Ladder)

4th: Mitch Vedepo – 3:39.32 (Failed on Window Hang)

5th: Jon Stewart – 3:41.71 (Failed on Window Hang)

6th: An Ly – 3:45.99 (Failed on Window Hang)

7th: Thomas Doweidt – 3:46.73 (Failed on Window Hang)

8th: Karsten Williams – 4:27.40 (Failed on Window Hang)

9th: Andrew Lowes – 3:15.31 (Failed on Bungee Road)

10th: Brent Steffensen – 4:00.61 (Failed on Bungee Road)

11th: James Wyatt – 4:54.59 (Failed on Bungee Road)

12th: Reid Pletcher – 5:21.97 (Failed on Bungee Road)

13th: Jessell Boseman – 2:01.91 (Failed on Salmon Ladder)

14th: Clayton Wolf – 2:05.33 (Failed on Salmon Ladder)

15th: Nate Burkhalter – 2:30.43 (Failed on Salmon Ladder)