Round 1, Battle for the Belt goes to...

Great meet hosted by Central Kentucky Weightlifting on a late Sunday morning had lifters chasing personal goals.  A few PR were set and lifters were close to getting into upper level, national meets.  Then, this meet started the next Battle for the Belt competition.

Abby and Fern started the event off.  Fern is chasing state records and has tied one in practice. Abby is chasing qualifying totals for junior nationals and university championships. 

Corrections follow:
Fern hit a 40 in snatch, tying a meet PR and headed into the CJ.  Her opener proved to be the only one she got.  She gave 48 an easy ride to hit the lift and post a PR tying total of 88.  A two sticker performance! 

Abby looked sharp in warm ups and went to the platform for her opening snatch.  No problem with the 48.  Her next two lifts of 51 and 52 were overhead, but not tight enough to complete them; she was credited with the 48.  Her opening CJ was easy and she said, "...should have started higher..".  Jumping to 57 for her second attempt, she gets it.  The third attempt:  way too far in front from the first pull so, no lift.  She is credited with 48/57/105 which should get her university qualification and did get her 3 stickers and the first reward level!

Dave, one weight class lower than previously, nails his opening snatch.  The next two were smooth and fast with plenty in the tank.  The CJ was the same way.  Finishing with a strong 80 on his final attempt, he was credited with a 58/80/138 in his first competition in a looong time.  Nice work.

Keith was looking to tune up for the American Open in a few months.  Goals were fairly modest (72/92/164) and he was able to hit them nicely.  Opening snatch of 70 was routine and then 72 flew up there.   The third attempt of 76 was just glued to floor a bit too long and he left it out in front.  Same story in CJ:  88 up nicely, second attempt of 93 in the groove.  The 96 was cleaned, jerked, but just not straight up enough so, a miss.    He was credited with a 72/93/165.  

Zach was well rested and moving nicely in warm up.  The opening snatch was smoked as was the second.  The third was a PR attempt.  It came off the ground nicely, swept in, and pop.  It was locked out and he was credited with a new PR of 80.  CJ had a modest opener.  The clean was fine, but the jerk was wobbly and he got three red flags for that.  No matter, he was going up.  102 to tie his current gym PR.  Clean:  good.  Jerk:  a bit of an arm bend!  Can he hold it without pressing out?  He did and only the center judge gave him the thumbs down.  On to a PR attempt.  105 cleaned and witnesses say his hips actually went down so that he could receive the bar.  Good enough for me.  The jerk was missed.  80/102/182 for 2 PR.

Ron was ready to begin the defense of the Belt.  Warm ups smooth and he comes out to smoke the opener.  he goes up, following himself.  No problem with the 86.  Calling for a new PR of 90, he just cannot get that timing right to get himself fully under it.  In the CJ, if he can clean it, he can jerk it.  102 was easy for him today.  The next two attempts at 107 and a PR total were not made.  He is credited with the 86/102/188.

In this first event in the three event Battle for the Belt, Abby has the lead with Zach in second, and Dave in third.  It is still very close with the next event set for October 6 there should be some shuffling of positions...Fern is close in the 4th position