TT powerlifters star in St Croix

With a nine-member contingent (both male and female), the athletes were set to represent the red, white and black and that they did indeed with every single representative making their way onto the podium. In order to determine a winner, each athlete is judged individually on each of the three categories - Squats, Bench Press and Dead Lift, after which a total of the three scores is compiled.

The 21-year-old Yavniel Yatali, who weighs 225 pounds, only started powerlifting one year ago.

Competing for the first time internationally.

he placed second and fourth in the Junior 105kg and Open 105kg respectively.

Adrian Knox, who is one off the most experienced athletes on the team won gold in St Croix in the Men’s Open 74kg category.

The 29-year-old Knox, who has been competing professionally for over three years, attributed his success to proper execution both mentally and physically, as he went on to explain that powerlifting is “simplicity in purpose, complexity in form”.

The 24-year-old Anthony Keith, who just last year broke the national record in both the Open and Junior 93kg category, has also been involved in powerlifting for a little over a year. After placing third in the Open 93kg in St Croix, the 198-pound Keith admitted that he saw some room for improvement, because it was mere fractions of kilos difference between himself and the top two.

The TTPF and their athletes are currently in preparation for a full calendar of events in 2017 starting with Nationals in January, the world renowned Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic in Ohio, United States in March, the World Championships in August and the Commonwealth Championships in October.

Medals - WOMEN - Junior 57kg Class – Lutchmi Sookram (silver) Open 72kg Class – Syanna Andrews (bronze) MEN - Junior 105kg Class – Rondel Hunte (gold) Junior 105kg Class – Yavniel Yatali (silver) Open 74kg Class – Adrian Knox (gold) Open 74kg Class – Krystan Hosein (silver) 83kg Class – Stefan Coker (silver) 93kg Class – Anthony Keith (bronze) 105kg Class - Rondel Hunte (gold)