Morgan crowned overall champ for 3rd year at 5th IPF/NAPF CPC

Simply the Best!!! Overall Best Lifter and 82.5kg/83.0kg Men’s Open (Middleweight) gold medalist Randolph Morgan proudly displays the Golden Arrowhead. At right is silver medalist Laboy Isaacs of Puerto Rico and T&T’s Timothy Sookraj, left.

Double gold for Edwards; Mars (gold); Melville (gold & bronze); Guyana 6 gold 1 bronze

By Franklin Wilson

“Never underestimate a team that is out to prove they can win under any condition,” The words of Manager/Coach/Athlete ‘Big’ John Edwards who led by example.
But it is the unwavering confidence and belief that President of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation Peter Green has in his athletes that has been vindicated by the phenomenal returns they racked up in at the 5th International Powerlifting Federation/North American Powerlifting Federation/Caribbean Powerlifting Championships which ended in Georgetown, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, yesterday.
Guyana’s 6-member team rocked the Cayman Islands by powering their way to six gold medals and one bronze overall.
From the first day when back to back overall best lifter Randolph Morgan of Body Max Gym took to the stage the intentions of a determined and courageous team was known. Morgan won the 82.5kg/83.0kg Men’s Open (Middleweight) weight class powering past Laboy Isaacs of Puerto Rico (silver) and Trinidad and Tobago’s Timothy Sookraj who had to settle for bronze.
Morgan’s best squat was 297kgs / 655lbs; bench press 215kgs / 474lbs; deadlift 297.5kgs / 655.9lbs. The Guyana Police Force Rank attempted to become the first Guyanese to break the 700lbs deadlift barrier in any weight class but his effort of 320kgs / 705.6lbs failed. Morgan’s best in the deadlift remains 310kgs which he accomplished in Puerto Rico last year.
Morgan’s amazing dominance at the overall level continued for the 3rd successive year when he was named the best overall lifter.
Upper Demerara’s Dawn Barker the lone female on the team, who is a member of the Upper Demerara Barbell Club, like Morgan proved that her peers were not going to come close to her as she paraded to the top podium spot by the time she competed her third and final deadlift.
Competing in the heavyweight class (84kgs & 84+kgs classes combined) Barker barked her way to gold comfortably ahead of the Trinidad and Tobago pair of Yolande McIntyre (silver) and Cheryl Abraham (bronze).
Barker, who holds the distinction of being Guyana’s first female International as well as Caribbean champion set new national and Caribbean records in all her lifts and overall score. The quiet and unassuming athlete had a squat of 227.5kgs / 501.5lbs; benchpress 107.5kgs / 237lbs; deadlift 182.5kgs / 402.3lbs for an overall total of 517kgs. Barker is also the first Guyanese to break the 500lbs
squat barrier.
The performance of the athletes on day one set the scene for the scintillating performances that were to come on yesterday’s final day.Kenneth Melville of Essequibo competing in the Men’s junior division (105kg) showed his supremacy by snatching the gold medal and followed up with bronze in the open class. Melville is also the reigning National Novice and Intermediate champion; CAC Junior overall runner-up; North American & Regional Junior champ and overall runner-up, title he has won in 2010.
National Open (2010) Champion and overall King Karel Mars of Buddies Gym competing in the (105kg) proved his worth at this level by claiming gold.
Guyana’s most decorated athlete at this level ‘Big’ John Edwards of Kingsrow Barbell Club who tripled up as Manager/Coach/Athlete showed that he is not quite ready to call it a day with another unparalleled performance.
Edwards, battling in the 120kg open and 120kg Masters Open categories blew away the opposition in electrifying fashion by copping gold in both stanzas.
The other lifter on the team Colin ‘Mr. Clean’ Chesney (Total Fitness Gym – Grove EBD) was not successful in his bid to medal in the 120kg open category. More details to follow in tomorrow’s edition.