American Ninja Warrior, NBC’s obstacle course competition airs tonight with an all Monday, August 1 season 8 episode 9 called “Oklahoma City Finals,” and we’ve got your American Ninja Warrior recap down below! On tonight’s episode, the top 30 competitors from the Oklahoma City qualifier tackle a challenging course that includes the Salmon Ladder
On the last episode, American Ninja Warrior traveled back to Indianapolis, Indiana where the top 30 competitors from the City Qualifier tackled an even more challenging course that included ten obstacles in the City Finals. Did you watch last week’s episode? If you missed it we have a full and detailed American Ninja Warrior recap, right here for you.
On tonight’s episode per the NBC synopsis, “American Ninja Warrior returns to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma where the top 30 competitors from the City Qualifier tackle an even more challenging course that includes ten obstacles in the City Finals.
In addition to the six already difficult obstacles from the Oklahoma City Qualifier, contestants will face the Salmon Ladder, Bungee Road, Pinch Grab and Invisible Ladder. Top ninjas Daniel Gil, Lance Pekus and Brent Steffensen will take on the course. The competitors will vie for a chance to compete in the Las Vegas finals, to win a cash prize of $1 million and the title.”
Tonight’s episode looks like it is going to be great and you won’t want to miss it, so be sure to tune in for our coverage of NBC’s American Ninja Warrior recap at 8:00 PM EST! While you wait for our recap hit the comments and let us know how excited you are about the show so far.
Tonight’s episode begins now – Refresh Page often to get the most current updates!
#AmericanNinjaWarrior is in Oklahoma City tonight for the #CityFinals. Tonight there have been four obstacles added to the back of the course including the Salmon Ladder, Bungee Road, Window Hang (all new) and the Invisible Ladder.
First up is Geoff Lancaster who has been to Vegas the past two seasons. His sister is also a Ninja Warrior and he says she overshadows him and they ask if he’s “Jill’s brother.” He says he kills it and gets no respect because they’re all about her.
Jill is there to cheer her brother on. He takes off and hops the Floating Steps fast. His sister went out in the qualifier. Now it’s the Ring Swing and he misses it time and again. He’s in trouble but finally hooks in. He lands with a thud but makes it.
Log Runner strikes again
Now it’s the Log Run that took out many in the qualifying round. Geoff goes down on it like the 36 others who fell off this obstacle in the qualifiers. This obstacle has been a killer this year. Now it’s Nate Burkhalter. He’s down walk on three times trying to get on the course.
This is the first time he got selected with a phone call and he’s jubilant. He was the first finisher in the Oklahoma City qualifier. He starts and beats the Floating Steps with ease and moves to the Ring Swing which he handles and runs right over the Log Run.
Now he’s on the Tire Swing and works through it quickly. Now it’s the Bar Hop and he lands a one-foot dismount and then faces the 14.5 foot Warped Wall. He runs and nails it and stops to point at the back of his shirt. On the back of the course, the Salmon Ladder takes him out.
Log Runner continues to take out Ninja Warriors!
On the break, Brian Doom, an Air Force pilot was taken out by the Log Runner. Rookie Alex Morgan was also taken down by the uber tricky Log Runner. Rookie Reid Pletcher is next and he’s a Paralympic ski coach that works with visually impaired athletes.
He was a champion Nordic skier but a head injury ended his career and started a new one. He’s nursing a shoulder injury but is running anyway and gets past the Floating Steps but the Ring Swing will test the injury. He makes it past with a solid dismount.
Now the Log Runner and he does that too. He’s stoked. Now the Tire Swing and he beats it and moves past the next obstacle on to the Warped Wall. He makes it up and the crowd goes wild but is taken down by the Salmon Ladder.
Window Hang is a pain in the glass
Next up is Mitch Vedepo, the Science Ninja, who is a lab researcher who works on pediatric heart disease. The steps are no issue for him and he moves on to the rings then runs right past the Log Runner and onto the Tire Swing and past that too.
Now he’s on the Bar Hop that took him out in the qualifier when his foot barely touched the water. He moves past it and prepares to run the Warped Wall. He nails it on the first go and is up, over, and the Science Ninja heads to the back half of the course.
He’s hopping up the Salmon Ladder and moves on to Bungee Road. He is the first to pass that obstacle and moves on the new Window Hang. The ledges get progressively smaller and he makes it halfway then falls but he’s made it the farthest so far tonight.
Parkour dude passes all
On the break, Jared Bandy survived the Tire Swing but fell short on the Bar Hop. Veteran James Wyatt went out on the back half on Bungee Road. Then An Ly also made it to the back half but also went out on the Window Hang.
Next up is Thomas Stillings, a Parkour instructor, who was super-fast in the qualifiers. He just proposed to his girlfriend Zoe and hopes to be a star in ANW this year. He runs past the steps in speedy fashion and moves to the Rings and he’s flying.
The Log Runner is a cake walk and now he’s on the Tire Swing and then does a back flip before he goes to the Bar Hop. He lands that and runs right up the wall and hangs there for some applause. He’s up there and could be the first finisher.
So close but no finish…
Now Thomas speeds up the Salmon Ladder and heads to Bungee Road. Now it’s time for the Window Hang. Daniel Gil cheers him from the sidelines. He’s further than anyone else and lands it with a backwards roll. He’s the first to get this far.
Now it’s the Invisible Ladder and it’s a 30-foot climb. He’s kicking up with his legs to try and make it. He’s got 10 feet left and is struggling badly then falls. He’s gone farther than anyone tonight. So close and he just ran out of fuel in the tank.
Near death Ninja is first finisher
Grant Clinton is a rookie who was moments from death six months ago after a devastating stroke. His wife and kids are there to cheer on the survivor. He hops the steps and conquers the rings then runs the Log Runner but takes a hard hit coming off of it.
The Tire Swing took him out in the qualifier but he beats that, the Bar Hop and runs up the Wall on the second try and moves to the back half of the course. He beats the Salmon Ladder and Bungee Road and now faces Window Hang and he’s just hopping along the windows without using his legs at all.
He’s 30 feet away from a guaranteed slot in Vegas and gets onto the Invisible Ladder. The rookie starts his climb. He’s halfway and feeling the burn. He hits 20 and keeps going. The crowd is electrified. The rookie slaps the buzzer at just under six minutes and is the first finisher!
Log Runner takes out another Ninja
Next is former Army Ranger Andrew Potter who was a veteran of two tours in Afghanistan. Now he works with Warrior’s Ascent, a program that helps vets with PTSD. He starts his run with a good show on the Steps and then moves to the rings.
Now the Log Runner and he goes down, does a 360 and then is taken out when a leg strikes it even though he managed to hang on. That’s another Ninja taken out by this obstacle. Next is David Campbell, the veteran known as The Godfather.
He’s competed every season and has made it to Vegas every time. He was bummed to not be the first person to win ANW – that went to Isaac Caldiero – but is ready to make a big showing this year. He bounds across the steps like nothing.
Can the Godfather deliver?
Now the Rings and he’s moving fast but struggles on the ring dismount. He goes over the Log Runner with no problem and moves onto the Tire Swing. He surpasses that and also the Bar Hop and he dips one foot into the water on a small slip and stuns the crowd – he’s out of it.
Steffensen runs, Kacy cheers
On the break, Kyle Mendoza fell short on the Bar Hop. Sudul Diahkah was eliminated on the Bar Hop as well and then Clayton Wolf ran up the Warped Wall and to the back of the course. But the Salmon Ladder made the wolf howl with frustration.
Now it’s Brent Steffensen on the course and his ex Kacy Catanzaro, his ex-GF, is there to cheer him on. Brent makes it past the Bar Hop that took him out in the qualifier. He runs up the taller Warped Wall and scrambles up it to face the back of the course.
He makes short work of the Salmon Ladder and moves to Bungee Road but falls because his elbow was giving him trouble. He falls at 4:20 halfway through and may not be moving to Vegas this year which would be a shame.
Dortch gets scorched
Tremayne Dortch is up next and he competed with his wife on Team Ninja Warrior but then they found out she’s pregnant with a little girl and he’s thrilled and ready for tea parties. He gets hung up on the rings but finally lands it. He also beats the Log Runner.
He’s moving along but his technique is not as elegant as usual and he’s moving slow on the Bar Hop. He beats it and also beats the Warped Wall but on the back half of the course, he is taken out by the Salmon Ladder which is usually one of his strengths.
Tremayne hopes he’ll still place in the top 15 and his pregnant wife watching on the phone of his sister is stunned that he went out on that obstacle. We’ll find out soon if he went far enough fast enough to move on to Vegas.
Daniel Gil finishes with fastest time
On the break, student Diron Jones also fell prey to the Log Runner. Hamidullah Khazi crawled across the logs for an amazing safe but fell on the Bar Hop. Rookie Thomas Doweidt made it past Bungee Road but got hung up on the Window Hang.
Now it’s Daniel Gil’s turn. Gil had an amazing rookie year in 2015. He speeds through the first two obstacles and boogies right across the Log Runner. Now he’s on the Tire Swing and then the Bar Hop and hustles right up the Warped Wall like it’s nothing.
He’s up the Salmon Ladder and across Bungee Road then he’s on the Window Hang and moves along with just his upper body relying on grip strength. He dismounts and boogie sup the Invisible Ladder to take the fastest time of the night from Grant Clinton!
Grandpa Ninja makes it to Vegas!
Jon Stewart is up next and he’s looking to break the record for the oldest athlete to qualify for Vegas. The granddad hops the steps, takes the rings and runs right past the Log Runner. He takes the Tire Swing and Bar Hop and that knocks The Godfather, David Campbell out of it.
Jon is up the Warped Wall and now faces the back of the course. He rocks the ladder and Bungee Road. He’s hanging on by his fingertips and saves himself from a tumble on the Window Hang but then can’t recover and does take a tumble but he wowed the crowd.
He’s the oldest athlete to ever qualify for Vegas! He’s thrilled to hear the he qualified for Vegas and the crowd goes wild for him. Now Tremayne Dortch is on the bubble and could be knocked out depending on how the last run of the night goes.
Last run of Oklahoma City finals!
Personal trainer Karsten Williams is the last run of the night. His mom is cheering from the sidelines. Karsten has to get up the Warped Wall in three minutes or past the Salmon Ladder to move on. Karsten speeds but gets hung up a bit on the rings.
He recovers and is at the Log Runner and surpasses that. He’s past the Tire Swing and now on the Bar Hop and Tremayne watches and worries. He lands at 2:18 and runs up the Wall as Tremayne smiles as he’s knocked out. Now he faces the back of the course.
He makes it past Bungee Road and then tumbles off the Window Hang but Karsten will be going to Vegas anyway. Karsten did tell Kristine he felt bad about knocking his pal Tremayne Dortch out of Vegas and jokes he can’t look him in the eye.
Here’s who made it to Vegas from the Oklahoma City finals:
#1 Daniel Gil (finisher)
#2 Grant Clinton (finisher)
#3 Thomas Stillings
#4 Mitch Vedepo
#5 Jon Stewart
#6 An Ly
#7 Thomas Doweidt
#8 Karsten Williams
#9 Andrew Lowes
#10 Brent Steffensen
#11 James Wyatt
#12 Reid Pletcher
#13 Jessell Boseman
#14 Clayton Wolf
#15 Nate Burkhalter
THE END!