|
|
|
|
2000 SOUTHEAST OPEN/POWERLIFTING & BENCH PRESS
RESULTS: SQUAT: 292lbs. BENCH: 275lbs. DEADLIFT:336lbs. TOTAL: 903.5lbs. 1ST PLACE 132lb WEIGHT CLASS, POWERLIFTING 1ST PLACE 132lb WEIGHT CLASS, BENCH PRESS BEST FEMALE LIFTER, BENCH PRESS NORTH CAROLINA STATE BENCH PRESS RECORD UNOFFICIAL WORLD BENCH PRESS RECORD UNOFFICIAL AMERICAN BENCH PRESS RECORD MEET DESCRIPTION: November 11,was the Southeastern power lifting regional. Jen competed well, and the competition nerves finally seem to be under control. A lot of the problems in the past seem to have been associated with weight loss and the dreaded thinking to much. Instead of dieting to loss the 5-6 pounds to get to her weight class of 132 lbs, she sat in the sauna the night before and again the next morning before weigh-in to lose the weight. This seemed to be much easier (1 day of pain instead of a month). The second problem has not been as easy to correct, but finally with a lot of coaching she is competing instead of thinking about the lifts or the outcome. Now to the meet. This was a full power lifting meet, which consists of all 3 lifts squat, bench press, and dead lift. You get 3 lifts in each event and your heaviest lift counts toward your total score. The meet started with squats, which has been Jen's weakest event (most bench pressers are not good squatters). She started with 253.5 lbs for her opening attempt and made it look easy. Her second attempt was a personal record of 275.5 lbs. and still looked pretty easy. For her final attempt she decided to go for 292 lbs. 20 lbs better then any other squat she had done before. This was by far the hardest lift of the competition and about half way up did not look like it was going to make it. However, with a giant yell heard throughout the gym (see attached), she was able to get through the sticking point for a good lift. This is where I think the nerves and the thinking went away and the competing started. Next, was the bench press. She decided to start with a personal best 255 which is when I knew the game was on, because this also ties the existing American record. It looked like a warm-up. In addition, this was after a 45 minute delay because the girl lifting before her dropped 175 lbs. on her face shattering all her front teeth and tearing her bottom lip off. Good thing there was a doctor in the house. The second lift was just as easy, a 265 lb bench press and the American record by 10 pounds. Now came the drama. Jen decided to try and top the World Bench Press record of 270 pounds and asked for 275. This was more then all the other women in the competition, of any weight, and all the men up to 148 lbs. Don't forget she is just 132 pounds herself. I said it was dramatic, but that was just until she started to lift because it went up easy and I will quote the unofficial world record holder, "I had more". It is an unofficial record because world records can only be set at world competitions, but it is better then the American record by 22 pounds. Finally, it was time for the dead lift. This was a bit of a struggle but her final lift was another personal best of 336 pounds. Her final total was 903 pounds which would have tied her for the National Power lifting title this year. I guess the Bench Press specialist is now a power lifter too. The Bench Press World Championships are in Prague, Czech on December 8 and Power lifting Nationals are in Fort Wayne, Indiana on January 20. Maybe the official World record is only a month away but it will take some luck, nerves of steel and a lot of well wishes. You can follow the competition on the internet, remember there is about a 7 hour time change. Jen lifts at around 4:00 on Dec. 8 there time.
|
|
Special Thanks to Richard Weed and Carol Latta Chromosome Donors
|
