Our kids were in 5th place after the first round, then got an underperforming motor for their second flight and ended up at 32nd. The altimeter plot showed the second flight motor to not have the typical spike in velocity at liftoff as compared to the other 100+ or so flights that they had done previously.
Unfortunately, we think the motors that were delivered to them at the finals weren't the same batch that they were flying. Hard to tell when the vendor repackaged the motors from what CTI supplied, then rubber stamped their own date codes. Not a good practice to inspire confidence when the customer is looking for consistency.
Next year- different plans for the motors!