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Young Savannah Athletes Qualify for Junior Olympic Nationals

February 3, 2010

SAVANNAH - Young Savannah athletes competed in the Host South Jr. National Qualifier event for Olympic weightlifting on Saturday, January 30th.  The standing room only event was held at Performance Initiatives, home of Coastal Empire weightlifting, located at 2021 Tennessee Avenue.

Performance Initiatives was just notified on Tuesday, February 2, 2010 they are now a qualified USA Olympic Weightlifting Regional Training Center.

At the Host South event, Erica Hall, 48kg, age 15,  took first place with a 51 kg total.  Erica is now qualified for the Junior Nationals and School age Nationals.  Nikki Hanebrink, 69kg division, age 13, took first place with personal records and Best Female Lifter in her age category - lifting a 35kg snatch and 44kg clean & jerk, which qualified her for School age nationals.

 


Morgan Martin, 39kg, age 10, snatched 16kg and Clean & Jerked 18kg, totaling 34kg for a gold medal.

First time competitor, Terry Roberson, weighed in at 26.2kg, snatching 15kg, clean and jerking 18kg for a silver medal finish of 33kg.  Alex LeFavi took gold in his first competition also. Alex lifted in he 39k division, snatching 22kg , clean & jerking  32kg, totaling 52kg and qualifying for school age nationals.  Zachary Harper, 56kg, won gold with a 33kg snatch, personal record 50kg clean and jerk, totaling 83kg to exceed school age nationals qualification standards.

Second time competitor, Javier Richards also lifted personal records and qualified for school age nationals in the 13 & under  69+kg division.  Snatching 34kg and clean and jerking 45kg to total 79kg for gold.

Junior National qualifier at the age of 14, Tayler Jakubsen won Best Male Junior Lifter and took the Gold in the 85kg division.  Wilson Cobb, age 15, took silver in the 85kg division.  First time competitor, Baruch Pilcher, 77kg  14-15 age group, won gold. Drew Swinson,  16yrs., lifted in the 69kg division,  also winning gold.

Josh Beckler, senior division, 85kg, snatched 100kg, clean & jerked 130kg, totaling 230kg for gold.
Patrick Boos, age 29, 94kg, went 6 for 6, snatching 116kg, clean & jerking 150kg, totaling 266kg for gold.
Master lifter, Shane Miller snatched 100kg, clean & jerked 122kg, totaling 222kg in the 85kg division for first place.

About Performance Initiatives
Performance Initiatives is a non-profit 501c3 organization based in Savannah, Georgia and the home of 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.  After-school tutoring is offered to area youth, along with Jiu-Jitsu classes.   The gymnasium is located at Aldersgate United Methodist Church Family Life Center, 2021 Tennessee Avenue.   www.PerformanceInitiatives.org