NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Kamerion Wimbley conquered the quad steps, bungee bridge, warped wall, salmon ladder and cargo climb, but the clock will keep him from being crowned as American Ninja Warrior this year.
Wimbley, a free agent who signed a five-year contact with the Titans this offseason, competed in March in the Southeast regionals of a timed, extreme obstacle course that is filmed and shown on episodes of American Ninja Warrior. He advanced through the preliminary round in an episode that aired on G4 Sunday, and completed the finals course that included additional obstacles in an episode that aired on NBC Monday.
The top 15 contestants from each of six regionals advanced to take on Mount Midoriyama, a specially built course in Las Vegas that will be the venue for future episodes.
Wimbley's 6-foot-4, 255-pound frame is much larger than most of the competitors. His wingspan appeared to help, but his weight added an extra challenge.
Wimbley navigated a series of slanted walls that were diagonally spaced two-and-a-half feet apart, held on to a giant fake log as it slid down a zip line, crossed a series of bungee cords, jumped 11 feet to a cargo net with help from a trampoline, swung back and forth to cross a series of giant rings, lifted three wall-like barriers, scaled a 14-foot warped wall, raised himself vertically on a ladder apparatus by generating momentum, crossed a water pit as he suspended from more rings and scaled a 30-foot cargo net before hitting the finishing buzzer with a time of four minutes, 25 seconds.
In the airing of the episode, Wimbley was the first person to complete the course, but subsequent competitors posted faster times. When the field concluded the competition, Wimbley placed 16th and missed making the next round by one spot.
Wimbley advanced to the finals by completing the quad walls, log grip, bungee bridge, jump hang, swing circle and warped wall in 1:30, which ranked ninth among competitors.
Wimbley has recorded 42.5 sacks in his first six seasons in the NFL. He and the Titans finished organized team activity practices last week and have a break until training camp opens next month.
