Matthias Steiner had nothing on this battle. Well, OK, he had the drama and a gold medal, but we had a lot of fun. And, it still it came down to the last CJ. Funny how that works.
many thanks to Brian and Frank for acting as meet referees: great job!
Setting the stage, 6 lifters were left standing for the final day of the month long Battle for the Belt prototype for a weightlifting league (kind of like a beer league except a bit more work). Fern was holding first place down with what seemed like a commanding lead. Keith and Ron trailed.
With the Belt, money, and pride on the line, Kellene got the lifting started. She finished 3 for 3 in the snatch and a PR of 36. Fern threw it down with a 3 for 3 performance, too, and a PR of 38.
Pat, seeking to avenge his performance of earlier, debuted a new snatch technique he called "Pull hard, move fast" (!) and went 3 for 3 setting a PR in the process.
Zach started solidly nailing his first two snatches then missing his nemesis of 75.
Keith, who recently set the new Ohio record in snatch, started nicely with 70 and 75 then just missed 78.
Ron banged out a 3 for 3 performance and got a PR of 88 in the process.
Then CJ started. Kellene, using the boiling-the-frog technique went 3 for 3 and hit an easy PR of 45. Her total was 21 points and plenty left in the tank. Fern looked good on her first two CJ. The bar was about to be loaded to a PR 48 and she calls for one more kilo. She succumbs to the testosterone in the room and calls for an even 50. She makes it, she wins the belt; she misses, the barn door is wide open.
Nice clean. She spends an eternity deciding how she was going to jerk it and missed it. Either Ron or Keith can catch her now.
Pat comes back with an excellent series of CJ finishing with a very strong 78. He goes 6 for 6 and hits 3 PR for a total of 21 points, Nice!
Zach gets the most solid looking CJ of his career to date when he sticks a 97. He just could not seem to get the 102 to a solid jerk position. He goes 4 for 6 with a nice 169 total.
Ron calls for 98 on his opener and he hits it nicely. Then a 103. Paydirt. He needs to make the final attempt for a PR, 6 for 6, and maximum points possible. He cleans it. He jerks it and BOOM! Stuck. He has now become the leader in the battle, pending Keith's final attempt.
Keith bangs out an easy 91 then a nice 94. It all comes down to the final CJ: make it, he keeps the belt. Miss it: third place, at best. Will he be able to channel Matthias?
He calls for a PR 97. He hits the bottom position then stands up. It looks as if his eyes roll back in his head and he decides to go for the jerk before things get worse for him. It pops off, but he has nothing and misses it. He gets 4 for 6 and a 169 total.
Ron wins the belt, the money, and bragging rights til the next time!
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