Miley Wade and Josh Felix dominate inaugural MODE Classic in Spokane Valley

The inaugural MODE Classic wrapped in Spokane Valley on January 12 with Miley Wade and Josh Felix claiming the elite titles after a two-day, six-event showdown. The event drew Elite and RX divisions, with 20 men and 20 women in the elite fields, and delivered clear performances that matter for athletes and coaches tracking the 2026 season.

Wade secured the women's title through steady excellence across every test. She won one event and did not place worse than fourth in any of the six workouts, a consistency that put her ahead of Trista Smith in second and Jessica Androsik in third. Wade’s performance carries extra weight because she is transitioning into the adult Open division in 2026 after success in teenage and RX divisions in 2025, making her a name to watch as she steps up against full adult fields.

On the men’s side, Josh Felix dominated, taking four event wins and finishing well clear of the rest of the field. His power output and event execution separated him from the chase pack, with Jace Peck placing second and Jordan Bailey rounding out the podium in third. Felix’s string of victories at MODE Classic sends a clear signal to affiliates and rivals: he is dialed for heavy, fast competition early in the year.

The MODE Classic paid prize money for the top three on each podium. Champions earned $3,000, second place took $2,000, and third place received $1,000. Beyond the cash, the results give coaches and programmers real data on athletes’ capacity under competition stress, and the event offered a useful preview of pacing, strategy, and equipment demands teams will see in the season ahead.

For coaches planning programming, the Classic underscored the value of well-rounded work capacity and smart event peaking. Wade’s top-four consistency rewarded balanced training across engines and skills, while Felix’s multiple wins emphasized the payoffs of prioritizing strength-speed cycles and heavy technical lifts. Affiliates in the region will want to follow these athletes into local competitions and the Open to see how they translate this early form into broader season outcomes.

Full leaderboards and heat results are available in Competition Corner for anyone tracking splits, event scores, and points. The MODE Classic delivered clear performances and a compact set of data for athletes and coaches to use when planning the next training block.

Our two cents? Start programming for both consistency and capacity: plan a few weeks that mirror MODE Classic pacing, keep an eye on Wade as she moves into the Open, and expect Felix to be contested in heavy barbell tests all season.