Atlanta women competitors take a bath in American Ninja Warrior, Episode 2

          Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbajabiamila of 'American Ninja Warrior' will host 'College Madness' alongside Kacy Catanzaro. Photo by Joe Robbins/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

          If the Los Angeles season premiere showcased how far the women have come in "American Ninja Warrior," Atlanta reminded viewers just how big the gap between men and women still is.

          Unfortunately for this city, there wasn't a known, elite female ninja participating, so only a few of the women's runs were televised. Erica Cook, who had an excellent "Team Ninja Warrior" season, fell on the Spin Cycle. The woman who went the farthest, Brittany Reid, just missed qualifying for finals by falling on the new Pipefitter. Many competitors finished the course in this region, which spelled instant doom for anyone who didn't.

          Overall, the women are making gains this season, but one of the challenges is depth of the field. Jessie Graff, Kacy Catanzaro, Michelle Warnky and Meagan Martin have been the top female competitors over the past few seasons, yet we've yet to meet any new standouts.

          My hope is that group will expand to include many more women, but given how temperamental ANW obstacles are -- and the intensity of training it takes for many of the top ninjas to succeed -- it may be a few years before we see the giant expansion of successful women in ANW that I think is coming.

          Atlanta regional specs:

          Finishers: 27

          Women finishers: 0

          Women moving on: 0

          New or modified obstacles: 3 out of 6

          The course:

          Just as in Los Angeles for Episode 1, the first obstacle in Atlanta is the Floating Steps. This will likely be the case for most of the city courses. Competitors must jump up five separated steps before swinging on a rope to the next platform.

          Next is another returning obstacle: the Big Dipper. Ninjas clutch a bar and slide down a hilly rail before launching themselves toward a cargo net to make it to the next platform.

          In every city, the third obstacle historically tests competitors' balance. This new obstacle forces the ninjas to sprint over a series of blocks that turn under their feet.

          The Spin Cycle is back! Last seen in ANW Season 7, competitors must navigate three tilted circles. They jump to the first one and use momentum to grab onto the second, before swinging to the third and dismounting.

          Atlanta's fifth obstacle is new. It's called the Pipefitter. Ninjas climb up the first slanted pole. Then, they must jump to the first of two suspended horizontal poles that swing back and forth. From there, they must grab the second swinging pole and use their momentum to latch onto the descending pipe at the end.

          The Atlanta course ends with the taller version of the infamous Warped Wall, standing at 14 feet, 6 inches.

          Next week, ANW heads to Indianapolis, where Meagan Martin will attempt to make history as the first women to finish a qualifying course in three consecutive seasons.