No one climbed Mt. Midoriyama for $1 million in Season 8 of American Ninja Warrior, which was expected but disappointing nonetheless. Veteran Drew Drechsel and wunderkind Daniel Gil were the only two competitors to survive the brutal test of Stage 2 in the season finale, which aired Monday. Their Stage 3 quests, however, came up short, and both of them ended up in the water.Geoff Britten and Isaac Caldiero both conquered the four-stage course last season, and Caldiero became the first million-dollar winner in the shows history.?This season was as compelling as it was historic. There were fresh faces and new challenges, but above all else, ANW Season 8 will be known for its ground-breaking accomplishments by women.While Jessie Graffs star shined brightest, all of the ANW women proved their athletic chops this season. Meagan Martin hit a city-qualifying buzzer for the third consecutive season, two women ran in the Los Angeles city finals, four women ran in the Philadelphia city finals, and three women punched their own tickets to Vegas. To top it off, a record 18 women competed in the national finals.I think this season was a game-changer for female competitors, Erica Cook said. Girls have been breaking through in the past few years but falling just short of competing on par with the men.When Kacy Catanzaro became the first woman to finish a qualifying course in Season 6, she opened the door for other firsts and helped the ninja community understand that female competitors should be taken seriously. Her triumph was soon followed by Martin and Michelle Warnky doing the same.Catanzaro went on to become the first woman to complete a city finals course. (Shes still the only one to do so.) Martin bested the Jumping Spider in Vegas, but for a few years, Stage 1 was left unconquered by a woman.That changed with Jessie Graff. The 5-foot-8 powerhouse athlete blazed through Stage 1, becoming the first woman to finish the course and placing fifth overall. No one was happier for her than Warnky, her competitor and friend.I loved seeing her run on Stage 2! I knew she had worked so hard for it, Warnky said.Last year, both were unable to beat what Warnky considered to be the easiest Stage 1 in the shows history. But this year, Graff hit the buzzer on what was arguably the hardest Stage 1 in the shows history. A record-low of 17 competitors finished the course to advance to Stage 2. Her completion, and this season as a whole, prove that women of ANW are capable of challenging the men.I think [this season] has given girls and women out there more confidence and that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible, said Rachael Goldstein, one of the four women to reach the Philadelphia city finals. Women can compete alongside some of the strongest men, and rank near the top.I know that this season has given me more confidence anyways. Before this season, I was unsure of myself and my ability to compete alongside the best ninjas in the country.For many of the women competing in Vegas, Graffs completing Stage 1 was just the beginning. Shes inspired them to chase their own dreams.This is what some of them had to say about Graff:She is truly an incredible athlete and inspiration for all the ninja ladies to get there, too. -- Tiana WebberleyShe isnt just an inspiration to kids and adults training to reach fitness goals, but to the men and women who compete on the show as well. -- Rachael GoldsteinShe has finally let the females see past the mental block weve all had about Stage 1, and now Stage 2 is the next to be conquered. Most of the females who make it to the Vegas rounds tend to all be thinking, I just want to beat Stage 1! and I personally love that the standard has risen and that it will forever change the mentality of the female competitors, plus the viewers at home. -- Cassie CraigJessie is leading the way for what many women are capable of accomplishing in Ninja Warrior. -- Kirsti PrattIn my opinion, she showed everyone that gender doesnt necessarily confine you. If you work hard enough, anything is possible. -- Erica CookWe always knew women have been fully capable of beating Stage 1, but now that Jessie has finally proved that, its set this awesome and inspiring bar for all other female ninjas. -- Allyssa BeirdIt was an amazing season of American Ninja Warrior. Hopefully next year, there will be even more women making history. Perhaps one of them will even beat Stage 2. Yeezy Boost Clearance . Team physician Dr. Steve Traina performed the surgery Friday. Robinson was injured in a spill underneath the Nuggets basket during the first quarter of Wednesday nights loss to the Charlotte Bobcats. Wholesale Air Max 90 Cheap . Haas said he "felt a lot of pain" in his right shoulder when he slammed his racket to the ground in frustration after losing his serve at 3-3 in the first set. http://www.outletsneakersclearance.com/fake-vans.html . -- Arizona knocked off some quality opponents, rolled over a few overmatched ones and grinded out victories even when things didnt go so well. Air Force 1 Outlet Clearance . Gerald Green and Miles Plumlee? Green had bounced around the NBA when he wasnt playing overseas. The Pacers gave up on Plumlee after just one season. Now Green and Plumlee are key cogs in the Suns surprising breakout season. Cheap Balenciaga Shoes . Cuban testified Thursday that he was upset when the companys CEO told him news that would reduce the value of his shares, for which hed paid $7.5 million. But he said he did nothing improper when he sold those shares over the next two days. Richie McCaw was in unchartered territory on Tuesday.The man regarded as one of rugbys greatest ever players -- if not the greatest -- a winner of two Rugby World Cups, seemingly endless Bledisloe triumphs and a handful of Super Rugby titles, was in unfamiliar surroundings.McCaw, in Sydney ahead of the premiere of the documentary Chasing Great, which charts his journey from talented rugby teenager to global superstar, experienced a foreign feeling: Australian admiration.Oh, yeah I probably am to be honest, when asked whether he was feeling the local love.I think youre right, a lot of the times you come over here [Australia], its leading up to the game on Saturday which has its, I guess, different feel about it.Given the fact this is in fact a Bledisloe Cup week, McCaw may have expected a more frosty or at least banter-heavy crowd at the Star Casino. But for the large show of corporates on hand, of which there was more than just a smattering of Kiwis, they were glued to his every word spliced between clips of a film which goes deep within the Test greats mind and the inner sanctum of the All Blacks.From his humble beginnings as an Otago schoolboy, the rapid ascension to the All Blacks and promotion to captain, the heartache of the shock quarterfinal loss to France in 2007 and then the ultimate double redemption of two consecutive World Cup triumphs, Chasing Great travels the highs and lows of McCaws astonishing career.And given he was there for the first eight victories of the current All Blacks record-equalling run, he will be as much a part of the new mark should New Zealand defeat Australia on Saturday to notch an 18th straight win.I think they have got better, theres no doubt, McCaw said when asked about how the All Blacks had performed since his retirement.Well Steve Hansen for a start was going to set the tone that that [a drop-off in form] wasnt acceptable if we did. But if you look at the guys that are still there, you know like Kieran Read whos captain, hes played 90-something Tests now; Owen Frranks has played about that as well; so theres a lot of experience there.dddddddddddd.So having that as an excuse, you know I havent been too close to them, but just listening to the way they talk, theyve pretty much eliminated that as an excuse to drive them. And I think from my point of view and I think the same for the guys that are left, if they had dipped well that probably shows that we havent left it in the right shape that it should be.That was a big thing we talked about over the last four years, its got to be able to be whoever fills that jersey, whether youve been around for a while or not, you make sure its better. And I think thats what happened, which I guess from my point of view sitting back with a bit of pride, you know that the guys have got that drive to be better which is awesome.Chasing Great is in cinemas across Australia this weekend while McCaw will no doubt be looking forward to a spell away from the publicity trail.He will return to flying gliders and helicopters in New Zealands South Island, but given his amazing career and New Zealands rugby-mad public, he will always retain celebrity status.Asked to answer one final question on Tuesday, how he defined greatness -- an appropriate query given the films title -- McCaw responded: I think the one thing is: be consistent. Theres players that youd say had the most talent, could do the most special things; but they only did it for a small amount of time.I think people that can perform at a level thats right up there for a long period of time; that takes a lot of energy and effort. And thats what I think is a good criteria if youre going to talk about something like that.McCaws greatness few would dare question and now that we have his definition on that topic -- prolonged consistency -- a win on Saturday for the All Blacks team he left in such great shape will ensure they too ascend to the same category. ' ' '