Iron weights were loaded, and bars were lifted, as Cayman’s powerlifters tested their strength at the first annual Powerlifting National Championships.
The event, put on by the Cayman Islands Powerlifting Organization at The Compass Vault, on Saturday, 23 March, featured 13 competitors powering across multiple divisions, in squats, bench-press and deadlift sets.
Tony McInerney, president of the powerlifting organisation, told the Compass that the inaugural event will open many overseas doors for Cayman athletes.
“This will set a precedent. This event is an opportunity for people to qualify to go and represent Cayman, whereas before it was just some guys that like to lift,” McInerney said.
Daniel Foley took home two national titles – one in the Men’s Raw Open 105 kilogramme division, and the other in the Men’s Raw Sub-Junior 105kg division – and finished with 665 points, the highest total of all the competitors.
Shania Espinoza-Britton edged out Shaielle Murray to win the Women’s Raw Open. In the Men’s Raw Open 120kg+ division, Elijah Ebanks won with 515 points over Daniel General.
Brendan Foley, 16, younger brother of Daniel, tallied 477.5 points to also earn two separate national titles in the Men’s Raw Sub-Junior 93kg division and the Men’s Raw Open 93kg division, ahead of Kerauny Tullock in second and Kersean Ewers in third.
In the Men’s Raw Open 83kg division, Andre Chevanne Morgan came out on top with 342.5 points. In the Men´s Equipped division, Anthony McInerney took both the 105kg Open title and the Master II 105kg title, while Zared McLaughlin finished first in the 83kg Open.
“We want to set a standard here in Cayman,” McInerney said. “We are at that stage now from having a huge turnout last year at the North American powerlifting competition and now we are obligated to follow suit and make sure that we, as a small island, we can hold our own and run meets.”
McInerney added that he will be trying to add powerlifting to the PE curriculum in high schools to enhance the Sub-Junior division for next year’s event.
Several of Cayman’s athletes will compete at this year’s North American Regional Powerlifting Championships, to be held in Scottsdale, Arizona, from 4-10 Aug. – an event at which McInerney said Cayman will make history.
“I 100% guarantee that we will take a sub junior record this year. Something would have to go drastically wrong for us not to take it.”
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