Peformance Initiatives

Jacksonville, FL  -  Coastal Empire Weightlifters Zack Harper, Chandler Harper, Theresa Maldonado, Robert Cassiday and Bhalil Butler competed in the Joe Dube Classic, honoring America's 1969 World Champion, Joe Dube. 

Joe Dube (born February 15, 1944 in Altha, Florida) is an American weightlifter and Olympic medalist. He received a bronze medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. He is the last male American weightlifter to win the World Championships in Olympic Weightlifting, accomplishing this feat at the World Championships in 1969 in Warsaw, Poland.

Coastal Empire Weightlifters Results: Zack Harper, age 9, competed in the 39kg weight division, winning a gold medal for snatching 22kg and clean and jerking 32kg, a 54kg total.    Zack's older brother, Chandler Harper, age 12, who currently plays football for West Chatham school, competed in the 69kg school-age division.  Chandler lifted a personal best in the clean and jerk with 70kg , snatched 50kg, totaling 120kg.  Chandler took gold in his school-age division. 

Robert Cassiday, age 17, lifted in the men's 77kg division, snatched a personal record of 81kg, followed by 105kg clean and jerk, totaling 186kg placing 3rd in the open division.  Alice Kohler, 18, and  Theresa Maldonado, age 48, represented the women in the masters division in the 63kg weight class, snatching 51kg, clean and jerked 56kg.  Theresa placed third overall in the open division. 

Bhalil Butler, age 15, competed in his first competition on Sunday.  Bhalil was the only lifter in the competition Sunday to make ALL 6 lifts!  He lifted personal records-snatching 53kg and clean and jerking 70kg, for a 123kg total.  Bhalil's 123kg won him a gold medal in the school-age 105kg division.

About Performance Initiatives, Inc. Performance Initiatives is a not for profit 501 c3 organization based in Savannah who works hand in hand with Coastal Empire Weightlifting. The purpose of the organization is to educate and mentor youth and adults by using athletics and fitness, with olympic-style weight lifting as the base. Positive character traits are nurtured in participants in the youth programs - aiming for those who have possibly never have seen hope or encouragement in their life.