Cayman’s powerlifters delivered podium finishes across multiple weight classes at the 21st Annual IPF/NAPF North American Regional Powerlifting Championships, held in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Cayman won three overall medals and set a regional record during the competition, earlier this month, that featured 362 lifters, with the brothers Daniel and Brendan Foley earning bronze in their respective groups and veteran Tony Mc Inerney taking gold.
Contributing to his winning score of 83.810 in the 105 kilogramme Master II, Mc Inerney, 52, powered his way to a regional record in the deadlift event with a mega lift of 646 pounds – the first time Cayman has ever secured a North American record.
“I got nine out of nine lifts, which I have never done from the time I started lifting in 2005,” Mc Inerney told the Compass. “Personally, I exceeded anything I could possibly have done in the past.”
Mc Inerney elaborated that breaking the previous record, which was set in 2008 in Aruba, was a testament to prayer before stepping out into the lights.
“I was doing rounds in the back, and I prayed,” he said. “I was just, like, ‘God, give me the strength,’ and I went out there and I got it.
In the sub junior category, Brendan Foley secured personal bests on all his lifts across squat, bench and deadlift, finishing third in the 93 kg division with 76.461 points.
His brother Daniel showed grit and determination throughout his performances, and despite being inconsistent with training two months before the championships due to his school exams, he earned a bronze in the 105 kg division with 82.402 points.
“I would say we met our expectations, and, of course, we had a great team behind us; a small team … but we worked together as a unit,” Mc Inerney added.
In addition to these athletes taking home medals and a record, another Caymanian was making history at the same event. Shamal Williams became the first Caymanian to referee at the powerlifting championships, something he noted he takes great pride in.
“It was a matter of doing the best you can,” Williams told the Compass.
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