Local weightlifters secure big wins at SA Championships
A local duo from Movement Crew CrossFit gym in Brackenhurst, have done exceptionally well in weightlifting South African Championships.
Local top female weightlifters Kelly Kent and Shannon Bird have come back home champions after securing a well-deserved win in the South African Championships.
Bird from Brackenhurst and Kent from Brackendowns were recently selected to represent Gauteng in Mossel Bay.
At least 10 top female athletes from across the province were selected for the squad after qualifying for the Gauteng provincial weightlifting team.
Kent secured second place in the 71kg senior division, finishing 2kg behind first and bagged first place for the 71kg masters. Bird secured second place in her 76kg category.
Coach Matthew Hurn of Movement Crew congratulated the pair, along with other weightlifters who took part in the championships.
“The SA Championships went well for us. They represented Gauteng as a team. It was a good weekend and the guys put out some good numbers. They did what they needed to do and now they’re back home training all over again,” he explained.
He said the next season will be bigger and better with more records to be broken and achieved.
With these results, Kent said she managed to get the new SA masters total record of 153kg. Her next goal is to get the SA masters snatch and clean and jerk records.
“The SA championships were loads of fun and was such an awesome experience competing against athletes from other provinces. I was super happy with my performance on the day, ending with a 68kg snatch and 85kg clean and jerk. Both of these are platform PBs for me, but there is more in the tank,” she said.
Bird told the Alberton Record it was a privilege to represent her province at the SA Championships.
“The opportunity reminded me that perseverance, time, commitment and effort go a long way not only in sports but in all walks of life. I feel very blessed to have accomplished second place in my category and add a silver medal to our collection for Movement Crew. To all my fierce competitors, I say let’s dance again“, she said.
She reiterated that the weightlifting community is such an inclusive one and also invited anyone intrigued by the art of this sport to give it a try.
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