Local Meets and Weightlifting Careers

A fun Sunday afternoon meet inside a sweltering gym. What better place to start a lifting career?

With the outside temp around 80 degrees and the inside temperature about 110, the lifting began for 15 competitors. 5 lifters competing in a first meet with one lifter 10 years old. All sorts of skill and experience levels at the meet.

Many thanks to the spectators for suffering through the heat as well as our volunteers:

Stephanie (scorer), Jeb, Frank, and Jordan for officiating, and Nic and Tony for helping with the loading.

The ladies, all new lifters, started the competition with Samantha going first. She nailed all three snatches perfectly: 15, 18, 20. Her CJ were equally as solid going 3 for 3 and hitting 23, 26, 28. Hopefully, she comes back for more lifting!

Kat from Bluegrass Barbell hit 35 and 41 easy then seemed unable to decide between squatting or splitting her last one and missed the 45. Her CJ were caught just a speck low on her shoulders causing some extra adjustment for the jerk, but she got them all! 50/57/61, credited with a 102 total.

Ryan from Central Kentucky hit solid lifts of 47, 48, 49. She got 4 attempts on the CJ. Her first lift had no collar on one side so, she was able to shake that off, come back and nail her opener. She nailed the next two, also. Credited with 49/66/115; she was best lifter and earning the gift basket and cash.

The guys went next with Ralph starting.

Ralph started with a misloaded bar (by 5 kg, pesky collars) and nearly got it. He came back to get his next two lifts with ease. His CJ started off well and ended better: PR! Ralph was credited with a 60/85/145 for a post surgery PR.

Shae went 2 for 3 hitting 55 and 58. Then he comes into the CJ strongly with a good opener and ending with a nice looking 80. Plenty of talent in this slim youngster: 58/80/138.

John, from Columbus and with plenty of experience under his belt, hit 3 good lifts of 62, 67, and somewhat shaky 72. His CJ were equally as good. He had solid 82, 88, and 93 lifts. 72/93/165 total.

Zach, from the host club, hit nice lifts of 62, 68, and 72. He opened with a solid 86 and closed with a PR of 96. 72/96/168 for the day.

Kyle,moving up a weight class, hit a smooth opener of 70 then jumped to 75. A miss behind and then he comes back to hit it. The CJ went much better for him: 83, 87, 90, no misses. 75/90/165 and PR all around.

Keith, chasing state records in both lifts, hit easy 70 and 75. Then the 81 proved just a bit out in front: no lift. He hits a very solid controlled 90 for his CJ opener then a PR of 96. He calls for 101. Just not enough there, but soon. He gets a 75/96/171 and is the leader in the Best Male Lifter competition with 251.91 Sinclair.

Matt, in his first meet, hits a solid opening snatch then misses his second. It stayed glued to the ground for just a bit too long. He comes back to make the 82, though. No problem with his opening CJ, but not so good with his next two. He is credited with his opener of 100 for a nice 182 total.

Anthony, from Team Spartacus, hits his opening snatch of 80 and cannot seem to get the next two where he wants them. He hits a good 105 for his CJ then 110. He calls for a PR of 115. He cleans it, stands up, jerks it, but just not enough finish gets him two red flags and no lift. He is credited with 80/110/190.

Jordan, also in his first meet, misses his first two snatch attempts. With everything on the line, he comes back to hit the 82 opener. He is a bit more solid in CJ where he gets his first two lifts of 107 and 111, but cannot get the final lift of 116. He is credited with a 82/111/193.

John, from Central Kentucky, had great snatch lifts of 90 and 92 to start. His third, 95, went up, he went down, but not locked out. He nails 102 and 108, calling for a final attempt of 115. He cleans it, stands up with it, and just puts it a bit to the front. He is credited with a 92/108/200 and posts a 250.99 Sinclair.

The three 94 now start the lifting in earnest.

Ben, from Cincinnati Weightlifting, hits his 90 opener nicely. He is not able to complete the snatch attempts at 95. He recently set a PR in the CJ and is focused on that. He puts himself behind the 8 ball by missing his first attempt. He gets the 122 on the second try. He cannot clean his third attempt. He is credited with 90/122/212, PR at this new, lighter weight class.

Ben, from Bluegrass Barbell, hits an easy 100 then gets his second snatch. His final attempt is not good. His 104 stands. If he gets his opener in the CJ, he will be leader in best lifter. He misses. Gathering himself, he comes back to get the 120 and take over best lifter with 254.88 Sinclair. He finishes with a 104/120/224, PR at his new, lighter bodyweight.

Zach, from East Coast Gold via Louisville, misses his opening snatch of 120, but comes back to make it. His third attempt is no lift. If he makes his opener of 150 in CJ, he wins the Best Lifter Award. He does. Now, what will he go for? He calls for 155. Miss. He hears that 163 would hit the national championship qualifying total for 94. He cowboys up and calls for the increase to 163. After a valiant effort, he cannot stand up with it and is credited with 120/150/270.

Next meet at Cincinnati Weightlifting Club is set for Saturday July 14; many records, personal and otherwise, should fall!