Local weightlifting team part of world champions

Athens - It was a good day at the Classic Center in Athens Wednesday . Members of Kidd's Crew, a local powerlifting team coached by Mike Kidd of Gainesville , were part of Team USA which won the 2004 World Powerlifting Committee (WPC) World Bench Press Championship in Athens. Team France was second.

Records also fell Wednesday as East Hall grad Steven Faulkner set another world record, this time in the 18-19 year old 90 kilo (198.2 pound) class with a bench of 205 K (451.7 lbs.) to take the World Title.

Gainesville's Yan Howah added to his collection of records with a Championship and World Record in the Master's 50-54 year old 100 K (220.2 lb.) with a lift of 225 K (496 lbs.) Gainesville's George Bradley took the World Title with a 107.5 K (236.7 lb.) press in the Master's 45-49 60 K (132.2 lb.) class, and set a new National Record in the process.

Oakwood's R. Garry Glenn raised his own APC National Record with a personal best lift of 160 K (352.5 lbs.) in the Master's 50-54, 90 K (198.2 lb.) class at a bodyweight of 88.4 K (194.5 lbs.), and took second in the world behind three-time World Champion Klaus Gerhard-Kruger in the class. Kruger took the gold and the World Title with an amazing lift of 215 K (473.7 lbs.) Glenn is the Head Wrestling Coach and a JV assistant football coach at Johnson High.

Other World Titles and medals went to teammates Chris Scott of Cleveland and Jody Freeman of Gainesville, who finished 1-2 in the Men's Open 10 K (220.2 lb.) with lifts of 217.5 K (479.5 lbs.) and 207.5 K (457.2 lbs.); as well as Heath Powers of Mt. Airy and Robert Paden of Lula in the Open 125 K (275.5 lb.) class with presses of 227.5 K (501.5 lbs.) and 217.5 K (479.5 lbs.).

Al Hunter of Athens earned the bronze in the Master's 125 K (275 lb.) class, while fellow Athenian Paul Scogin wound up fifth in a very tough 110 K (242.5 lb.) class, despite an excellent bench of 207.5 K (457.2 lbs.)

The Meet's most Outstanding Male Lifter went to Jason Jackson of team USA who in that tough 110 K class had the best bench of the meet at 320 K (705,2 lbs.). The Outstanding Female Lifter was Virpi Pukkila of Finland.

The Meet continues at The Classic Center through Sunday with full power (squat bench press, and deadlift) competitions over the next four days.