Friday, July 22, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | Velocity team continues to dominateThe past two weeks have been very busy for a group of astounding weightlifters in Peachtree City. In back-to-back weekends, Team Velocity Weightlifting lifted in the Kennesaw State Georgia Games in Peachtree City and in the USA Weightlifting Junior Pan American Qualifier in Colorado Springs. After a national victory in Merrillville, IN, Team Velocity dominated the platform again, this time, right in their own backyard. On July 9, Team Velocity hosted the Kennesaw State Georgia Games at Velocity Sports Performance. Teams of weightlifters from around Georgia as well as surrounding states showed up, including Union County Weightlifting, Team Savannah, Team Tennessee, Emory Weightlifting, and (of course) Team Velocity, to fight for the title as best lifters in the state. World Team members, Pan American team members, and respected lifters in USA Weightlifting were there, as well, including Henry Woodard and James Sansom from Chattanooga, TN, Anthony Martin and Robert Hall of Savannah, GA, Matt Mays of Blairsville, GA, and our very own Chandler Alford of Atlanta, GA, which made it one of the most competitive meets Georgia has seen since the American Open in 2003. Hope Stockel won the gold medal in the 39 kg (86 lbs.) weight class by nailing all six of her lifts. Her best snatch was 23.5 kg (52 lbs.), her best clean and jerk was 36 kg (79 lbs.), and her total was 59.5 kg (131 lbs.). All three numbers are new personal records for Stockel. Madison Stockel lifted in the 43 kg (96 lbs.) weight class and won the gold as well. She snatched her opener at 32.5 kg (71.5 lbs.) and nailed all three of her clean and jerks to best at 45 kg (99 lbs.) to total at 77.5 kg (170.5 lbs.). Emma Lee and Rachel Puleo both lifted in the 53 kg (117 lbs.) weight class and won gold in their respective age groups. Lee bested her second snatch and clean and jerk attempts at 20 kg (44 lbs.) and 27.5 kg (60.5 lbs.), respectively. She tied her personal record at a total of 47.5 kg (104.5 lbs.). Puleo had an amazing day by going six-for-six. With a snatch of 22.5 kg (49.5 lbs.) and a clean and jerk of 32.5 kg (71.5 lbs.), she totaled 55 kg (121 lbs.) and broke all three personal records. Brittany Williams won her gold medal in the 75 kg (165 lbs.) weight class. She snatched her opener at 37.5 kg (82.5 lbs.), clean and jerked her second attempt at 50 kg (110 lbs.), and totaled 87.5 kg (192.5 lbs.). Mike Melear received his gold medal by snatching his second attempt at 40 kg (88 lbs.), tying his personal best clean and jerk of 47.5 kg (104.5 lbs.), and totaling 87.5 kg (192.5 lbs.). Drew Gamel and B.J. North received gold in their respective weight classes. In addition to breaking all personal records, it was their first weightlifting competition. Gamel snatched 22.5 kg (49.5 lbs.), clean and jerked 26 kg (57 lbs.), and totaled 48.5 kg (107 lbs.) in the 47 kg (103.5 lbs.) weight class. North snatched 31 kg (68 lbs.), clean and jerked 35 kg (77 lbs.), and totaled 66 kg (145 lbs.) in the 62+ kg (136.5+ lbs.) weight class. Chandler Alford and Jamael Owens battled it out in the 77 kg (169.5 lbs.) weight class. Alford made all three snatches to best at 120 kg (264 lbs.) to tie his personal record. He clean and jerked his second attempt at 150 kg (330 lbs.), totaling 270 kg (594 lbs.) and placing him first in his weight class, first in the open division, and third best overall lifter in the meet. Owens totaled 182.5 kg (401.5 lbs.). He made his opening snatch, dropped his second attempt, and came back to nail his third of 82.5 kg (181.5 lbs.) to break his old personal record. He also broke his old clean and jerk record by lifting 100 kg (220 lbs.). He placed second in his weight class and third in the open division. Jeff Messer put on a show by shattering his old personal records by 10 kg (22 lbs.) in the 94 kg (207 lbs.) weight class. He nailed all three of his snatches to best a new personal record at 90 kg (198 lbs.), he broke his personal record in the clean and jerk with 115 kg (253 lbs.), and his new total became 205 kg (451 lbs.). The following Monday, five members showed up in the weight room after a long weekend to prepare for even a longer week. The upcoming Saturday would provide a test of not only their technique, but also their conditioning, nutrition, and rest. On July 16, USA Weightlifting hosted the Junior Pan American Qualifier on-campus at the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. This meet provided a chance for lifters under the age of 20 to qualify for the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Junior Pan American Games in October. In a high-altitude atmosphere with fierce competition, Team Velocity still yielded amazing results with all lifters medaling and four out of five of them receiving the gold. As one of the youngest lifters there, Madison Stockel still managed to pull through and won the gold medal in the 43 kg (94.5 lbs.) weight class. After missing her first two attempts at the snatch, she held on to nail her third at 35 kg (77 lbs.). In the clean and jerk, she got her first attempt at 45 kg (99 lbs.), nailed her second at 47.5 kg (104.5 lbs.), but didnt quite get her third with 50 kg (110 lbs.). She total 82.5 kg (181.5 lbs.). Brittany Williams went five-for-six and won the gold medal in the 75 kg (165 lbs.) weight class in the 16-17 age division. Although she missed her opening snatch at 40 kg (88 lbs.), she returned to make it on her second attempt and then made 45 kg (99 lbs.) on her third to tie her personal best. She then made all three of her clean and jerks at 50 kg (110 lbs.), 52.5 kg (115.5 lbs.), and 55 kg (121 lbs.) to tie her personal best. She totaled 100 kg (220 lbs.). Mike Melear broke some of his personal records, as well. His lifting earned him gold in the 39 kg (86 lbs.) weight class in the 13 and Under age division. Melear opened his snatch with 37.5 kg (82.5 lbs.), missed his second at 42.5 kg (93.5 lbs.), but came back to make it on his third. He opened his clean and jerk with 47.5 kg (104.5 lbs.) and made it. Then, he beat a personal record on his second with 50 kg (110 lbs.), but he missed his last at 52.5 kg (115.5 lbs.). He totaled 92.5 kg (203.5 lbs.), a new personal best. Already at the Olympic Training Center for a weightlifting camp, Travis Cooper won his gold medal in the 16-17 age division in the 77 kg (169.5 lbs.) weight class. Cooper missed his opening snatch at 97.5 kg (214.5 lbs.), came back and got it on his second attempt, and nailed 105 kg (231 lbs.) on his third. In the clean and jerk, he made all three lifts at 125 kg (275 lbs.), 132.5 kg (291.5 lbs.), and broke a new personal best at 137.5 kg (302.5 lbs.). His new personal record total is 242.5 kg (533.5 lbs.) Chandler Alford had an outstanding day as he secured his spot on the Junior Pan American team with the gold medal in the Junior division 77 kg (169.5 lbs.) weight class. Alford made his first two snatches at 115 kg (253 lbs.) and 120 kg (264 lbs.), respectively. At his last attempt at 122.5 kg (269.5 lbs.), Alford snatched it with ease but did not receive a good lift due to press out. In the clean and jerk, Alford made his first attempt at 152.5 kg (335.5 lbs.). His second attempt at 157.5 kg (346.5 lbs.) did not go so well after he lifted it off the floor, fell backwards, and tumbled off the platform. Despite the miss, Alford decided to go up to 160 kg (352 lbs.) for a new personal record and the gold medal. He made that last lift, making his new personal best in-competition total 280 kg (616 lbs.). Alford is now ranked second on the team that will compete in Puerto Rico in October for the Junior Pan America Games. To be able to compete where the best athletes in the world live and train, at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Coach C.J. Stockel says, is a privilege that most athletes dream of. Having all of our team members that competed medal is a coachs dream. For Team Velocity, these two competitions were the final chapters of their story. A new team has arisen that will be composed of the same athletes, same coaches, and same traditions. After this past weekend, Team Velocity Weightlifting became Team Georgia Weightlifting. For more information on the team, visit www.teamgaweightlifting.org/ or call Coach Stockel at 770-222-8970. |
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