Yep, it was a pretty good day Friday at the American Powerlifting Committee (APC) National Championships in Norfolk, Va., for three Hall County weightlifters.
Rising East Hall senior Tyler Brown, lifting in the men's 16-17-year-old super heavyweight class, reset his state and national records in the squat and deadlift, while establishing World United Amateur Powerlifting (WUAP) world records in both those lifts as well as the bench press. Brown claimed the gold medals in both the full-power and bench-only divisions at the meet. He also came back late in the day in the bench-only category and claimed the gold medal in that division as well. He also earned the Best Lifter Award in the Teen Bench Press Category with a lift of over 314 pounds. He tried a much heavier weight for his second and third attempts, but failed to get those. This happened after he had already squatted 295 kilograms (650.357 pounds); benched 182.5 kilos (402.3395 pounds); and deadlifted 215 kilos (473.989 pounds) in the full power category.
"[I] looked pretty good," Brown told Hall County Sports Television. "[I'm] real proud of myself. Been a lot of hard work, and I think it paid off."
Brown, a lineman for the East Hall Vikings football team, says he's working on a 700-pound squat and a 500-pound bench in a competition environment.
Veteran Master's lifter George Bradley of Gainesville claimed the title in the Men's Master's 50-54 year old, 60 Kilogram (132.276 lbs.) class and set a new WUAP world record with his opening lift of 92.5 K (203.9255 lbs.). Bradley also attempted heavier weight on his next two attempts; but missed and was disappointed he couldn't set the bar higher.
"I felt like I should have done a lot better," he said. It was Bradley's second APC National Title and his first since 2004 when he also won a World Championship.
R. Garry Glenn of Oakwood won his third APC National Championship and his fourth overall in the men's 50-54 year old age class, but his first at a bodyweight of 82.5 kilos (181.8795 lbs.) after earlier claiming titles in 2004 and 2007 at 90 k (198.414 lbs.). He also won a UAPC National Title in 2005 in the 90K class. It was also Glenn's third championship in as many months after he won a Georgia State APC Title in Athens in April; the North Georgia Championships at Gainesville High in May; and the National Title in Norfolk on Friday. The dean of the Hall delegation at 54 years old, Glenn bench 155 kilos (341.713) which equaled his bodyweight personal record and state APC bench-only record; and also earned him the APC National Championship Best Lifter in the Master Men Bench Press Division. It was Glenn's first Best Lifter Award. He narrowly missed his 3rd attempt at 160 k (352.736 lbs.). The Best Lifter Awards are given out on the basis of bodyweight, weight lifted, and age.
"The Best Lifter award was a most pleasant surprise," Glenn said. "I'm obviously very pleased at that. But when I saw the (tape) replay of my third lift, I got mad at how close I was to getting that. That's how we are in this sport: never satisfied; but it gives me something to shoot for. We did have to wait until the end of the day Friday to lift in the bench-only division, so it was a long day, and that may have affected us benchers. I don't think anybody got their third lift in the bench-only; but still I'm very proud of how all of us from Hall County represented our county and our state on a national stage."
Glenn had won a world title in October of 2007 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada after undergoing prostate cancer surgery in June of 2006; and having a titanium heart stent implanted in July last year.
Also attending the meet was Mike Kidd of Gainesville, who served on Friday as one of the chief officials.
"Mike knows what he's doing, Glenn said. "I and a lot of other folks were glad he was there."
The next competition for the local lifters will likely be Saturday, July 19th at the Georgia Games at Marietta High School.
Highlights from the Hall County lifters will be featured this week on Hall County Sports Television at 9 pm Thursday and 10 am Saturday on Charter Communications Channel 23.
Glenn is host of HCS-TV as well as a former varsity wrestling and football coach at Johnson High; and a former junior high wrestling and football coach at Jefferson. An award-winning sports journalist, he got his start at the Jackson Herald in Jefferson, and served as Director of News and Sports for Radio Athens, Inc. for several years.
George Bradley, Tyler Brown, and Garry Glenn
George Bradley
Garry Glenn
http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/6/210634