T&T’s Powerlifting team, led by veteran Krystan Hosein, exceeded all expectations by claiming a whopping 52 medals that earned them the overall third-place finishes in the men’s and women’s categories respectively, at the recent North American Regional Powerlifting Championships (IPF/NAPF) at the Mariott Hotel in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands from August 7-12.
Lois Sprang, 74, who has been an inspiration to many for being a powerlifter at her age, was not only a gold-medal winner in the 57kg category but also shattered the International Powerlifting Federation’s (IPF) world record in the Women’s Masters 4-57kg weight class with a squat of 85kg.
Altogether, the team won 17 gold medals, 14 silver, and 21 bronze medals across a range of categories.
Sprang’s performance cleared the way for Reshon Superville in the 66kg bracket and Ruth Li (47kg), who was expected to win a gold, to follow in her footsteps. Li considered one of the most consistent powerlifters in the country, was a gold-medal winner in the squat (112.5), the bench press (57.5), and the deadlift (137.5) for a total of 307.5, which helped in guiding the women’s team to the bronze medal overall.
Superville, the junior 66kg powerlifter, also set an NAPF record in the Deadlift at 260kg for a total of 557.5kg, while Joseph Josiah Mc Donald delivered a bench press of 216kg to write his name into the record books.
Meanwhile, Rhonda Sanchez broke her Masters 1 National records in the squat at 137.5kg, the deadlift with a weight of 142.5kg and a total of 337.5kg, displaying her tremendous strength and determination.
Veteran Hosein and teammates Shay Grant, Caleb Thomas Alexis, and Mc Donald got overall silver medals from the three categories (bench press, deadlift, and squat), while Jerneil Nivet, Charissa Grant, and Makesi Leach claimed overall bronze medals to add to the country’s medal haul.
There were also bronze-medal performances for Deseray ‘Jay’ Alleyne and Quintell Smith in the 84kg open weight class (deadlift, bench press, and squat), while Johann Rodney powered to a bronze medal in the deadlift.
National coach Marlon Belfon hailed the achievement of his team as exceptional and expressed his immense pride in the powerlifters.