2019 USSF Nationals by stef bradford, PhD, SSC | January 22, 2019 39 lifters arrived at Wichita Falls Athletic Club Saturday, January 19 ready to compete in the 2019 United States Strengthlifting Federation Championship Meet. After turning in their first attempt weights, lifters had time to greet fellow lifters, review their strategy with their coaches, and start settling in for the long day ahead.As soon as meet director Nick Delgadillo organized the lifters into flights and published the order of the rounds for all to see, those lifting earliest in the meet organized into groups, working in with each other as they warmed up their squats. As the start time approached, family, friends, and fellow lifters filled room around the platform waiting for the first call of “the bar is loaded” by meet announcer Mark Rippetoe. Game on. Just over 7 hours later, the last deadlift attempt hit the floor. Relive the meet here: Results and Prizes Complete meet results Weight class winners Weight class winners show off Hammer trophies created by Matthew Moore. Winners' numbers: WtCls (Kg) Name Age BWt (Kg) Best Squat Best Press Best Deadlift Total 48 Jenny Telles 69 44.4 59 21 84 164 60 Jamila Meccariello 28 56.3 107 40 132 279 67.5 Cali Cordova 13 64.3 111 32 113 256 75 Heather Cook 43 74.3 133 60 157 350 82.5 Niki Sims 33 75.1 119 51 180 350 90 Charity Hambrick 43 85.2 143 66 148 357 SHW Melissa Barry 35 129.8 152 63 157 372 67.5 Daniel Kraft 29 64.3 143 66 190 399 82.5 Frank Sanders 66 80.5 166 25 207 398 90 Robert Santana 42 87 185 92 227 504 100 Grant McCaulley 37 98.1 250 116 307 673 110 Michael Cordova 36 103.9 311 109 311 731 125 Chase Lindley 21 111.3 289 151 295 735 SHW Michael Wolf 36 132.1 260 143 318 721 Best lifters Michael Cordova won best open lifter with a total of 731 (311/109/311) in the 110 kg class and 75 kg-lifter Heather Cook took best lifter for women with a 350 total (133/60/157). The prize? 20 lbs of prime sirloin. Best Masters lifters 66-year-old Frank Sanders (398 total in the 82.5 class) and 69-year-old Jenny Telles (164 total in the 48s) with 2.5# aluminum Starting Strength commemorative plates from Kirkham Motor Sports. WFAC Strengthlifting Tommy Suggs Press Award Each open lifter pressing more than bodyweight and female lifter pressing more than 90% bodyweight won a certificate and a $100 bill. Winners: Chase Lindley (BW 111.3, press 151), Michael Wolf (BW 132.1, press 143), Clint Case (BW 127.6, press 138), Kelechi Onyebuchi (BW 106.5, press 127), Grant McCaulley (BW 98.1, press 116), John Massaro (BW 114.5, press 116), John Clymer (BW 102.3, press 112), Michael Cordova (BW 103.9, press 109), Brian Gaskell (BW 101.9, press 104), Geoffrey Bischoff (BW 101.3, press 103), Michael Montfort (BW 91, press 98), Kevin Pudil (BW 97, press 98), Robert Santana (BW 87, press 92), Daniel Kraft (BW 64.3, press 66). Staff awards These special awards are determined and awarded by meet staff (loaders, judges, expediter): Best cheerleader: Hero Soleyn, prize = HammerGrindiest squat: Charity Hambrick for staying with an attempt, prize = Starting Strength beltAdult male: Michael Montfort for weighing at 200.6 lb at the meet = Starting Strength belt Why Are You Really Here? We asked lifters to complete a brief survey to get an idea of their experience and motivations for competing. Despite being fresh off the platform – many sweating and still shaking from their final deadlift – nearly all of the lifters complied. 1. How many meets have you competed in? Median = 4. 2. Did you PR today? 3. Why do you compete? [51 separate answers(some lifters gave more than one), graphic shows them proportionally] 4. What is the best thing about competing? [41 separate answers (some lifters gave more than one), graphic shows them proportionally] 5. What is the worst thing about competing? [36 separate answers, graphic shows them proportionally] Barbell lifting sports are individual sports not team sports. Despite this, the overall pattern we found was an emphasis on Self-Improvement/Challenge not Beating the Other Guy, and more love for Community over the Competition itself. Winning (or losing) and prizes were among the least common motivators reported in the survey. Are you up to the challenge? Join the USSF and the Strengthlifting community today. There are 5 events already scheduled for 2019 and more will be added throughout the year. See you there. Discuss in Forums
