PWA Championships
Anthony, Robert, Jon, and Caleb all competed. No one really peaked other than training a bit lighter than normal on Thursday, and taking Friday off. In fact everyone did 5 sets of 5 on the squat on Monday.
Anthony needed to hit 185 to qualify for Junior Nationals, in the 69kg class. His best training snatch was 81, best training clean and jerk was 103. We opened at 75kg in the snatch, then took 80 for a second attempt, and it was again a success. I felt that 80 was the LEAST we could snatch and still have a shot at a 185 total. We took 82 for a third attempt to make the task in the clean and jerk a little easier, but it wasnt there. In the clean and jerk we opened at 97 to get one on the board, then jumped straight to the 105 needed to qualify, and he nailed it. I thought it was a very impressive lift. We tried 108 on a third, and made the clean, but couldnt hold the jerk. But, a very successful day with PR lifts and PR total and make it to Junior nationals.
Robert needed 217kg to qualify for Juniors in the 85kg class. He had best training lifts of 100kg snatch and 125kg clean and jerk. We opened with 92kg in the snatch, and he dropped it forward, then followed with successes at 92 and 95kg. I would have liked to have the chance to try something above 95, but wanted him to get that for sure, to make the clean and jerk doable without a heroic effort to make his qualifying total. He opened clean and jerks at 115 to get on the board, then jumped straight to the 122kg he needed to qualify for juniors, and made a very nice lift. We then went to 127kg and he was a little shaky on the jerk but made the lift for 3 white lights. In his very first meet, I thought this was a very good performance, Robert will raise these numbers significantly before Juniors. This kid has only been training a couple of months, and, he is a very light 85kg lifter, weighing in at only around 81kg or so. He will be doing 120/150 in the very, very near future.
Jon didnt need to qualify for anything, but wanted to put up something big to mentally prepare him for the pan am qualifyers in Ohio in about 5 weeks. His biggest total in the 94kg weight class was 314, he will need around 323-325 to make the pan am team. He made snatches of 138 and 143 very easily… any sane person would have called for maybe 146 or 147 as a third as his PR in competition was 145 and his PR in the gym was 147, but Jon wanted a shot at 150 and he had a certain attitude that told me it would be a good idea to let him take a shot at it, he took the weight and made a beautiful snatch, for a huge PR. Clean and jerks didnt go quite as good, he succeeded at 170 on his opener, then missed the jerk on his 176 second attempt. But he did come back and make 176kg on his third. This PR total of 326 would put him I believe in 6th spot on the Pan Am team if he repeats it in March at the qualifyer and no one else moves up. Someone will probably move up, but, I think Jon can to. I can see 152/182 at the qualifyer if he has a good meet.
Caleb has had a few injuries that have hampered training lately, so I was not sure what he was capable of at this meet. His best competition lifts are 157 and 195, done when he was in pretty darn good condition at the American Open in December. Caleb will need to improve at the March pan am qualifyer if he wants a spot on the pan am team. at this meet he made 151 and 156 in the snatch easily, then came so very, very close with 160. I was more concerned with his clean and jerk, as his injuries have hampered clean and jerk training lately more than snatch training. He did 185 and 192 extremely easily, but was feeling some pain on the 192, and opted not to take 200 which we had planned as his third. Caleb did not make a PR total, but, this performance in his present condition tells me that a healthy and pain free Caleb with about 2-3 solid weeks of training behind him is capable of about 163/203… that is my prediction if he is healthy at the pan am qualifyers.
I was pretty proud of all our guys who competed at the PWA Championships. Caleb won best Junior male lifter, and Jon won best Senior male lifter, and both Anthony and Robert made the qualifying totals they came to make. Everyone lifted well considering their experience level and health status, everyone did what they came to do. And at Texas Road House after the meet, Jon once again showed his true colors, failing to finish the modestly sized steak he ordered. Its a good thing his girlfriend eats leftovers… I would also like to personally thank Anthony for helping so much with the loading after you were done lifting, and for helping to entertain William, and thank you Robert, for also helping load and for keeping me company on the ride to and from Sacramento when I am sure it would have been more enjoyable to ride with Jon and Caleb and Jess than to ride with me and William, and thanks Jon, for providing one of the more exciting moments in my coaching career by making that beautiful 150kg snatch, and finally thanks Caleb, for, as usual being the best one person cheering section that any team has ever had… you truly do cheer and support everyone on the team like no one else does, and I very much appreciate you for that. And last but not least Jessica… you loaded when I was busy and asked you to put a weight on the bar, you took William to the truck when I was busy and he needed something, as usual, you are just an asset to have around whether you are lifting or not, and, I do appreciate it. There truly is no team like this team, and I am glad and lucky to be here with you.
glenn
