13 records fall on day 1 of 4th IPF/NAPF C/bean Islands BP & Powerlifting C/ships

Mar 20, 2010 Sports

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Morgan & Fernandez smash 4 each, Williams 3 & Wazeem Immamdeen 2

Story and photos by Franklin Wilson

Despite the unpredictable disqualification of Mervin ‘Spongy’ Moses and fellow countryman Kelvin Lewis after they failed to get any of their deadlift and squat after three attempts each, the opening day of the 4th IPF/NAPF Caribbean Islands Bench Press and Powerlifting Championships saw some sizzling performances with a total of 13 records falling at the Princess Hotel, Conference Room.
Of the 13 records, 9 went to three Guyanese lifters with defending overall Champion Randolph Morgan blowing away the opposition to successfully defend the 82.5kg class in style.

Like Morgan did at his first championship, last year in the United States Virgin Islands, Ryan ‘Juice’ Williams was very juicy in his performances in the men’s open 75kg division setting three new marks (squat, deadlift &total) in winning the division while Berbice based Wazeem Immamdeen, also on debut, established two new records (deadlift & total) on his way to winning the men’s open 60kg division. Immamdeen is also competing in the men’s junior class.
The female participants were not to be outdone and while only one turned in record breaking performances, the other three, Yolande McIntyre and Cheryl Abraham both of Trinidad and Tobago and Paula Smith of the United States Virgin Islands, all did excellent.
But separating herself as a powerhouse among the ladies was Puerto Rico’s Migdalla Fernandez (67.5kg class) who set new marks in the squat, bench press, deadlift and overall total. Fernandez’ records to beat are squat 180kg; bench press 105kg; deadlift 177.5 and overall total, 462.5, all breathtaking performances.

Fernandez’ performances are all the sweeter as this is the first time someone is competing in this division.
Nairanjan Singh (USA) copped the gold among the Masters M3 lifters to add to his bronze medal in the 82.5kg class to Morgan and Thomas Cencich (sliver) also of the USA. He achieved a best squat of 142.5; bench press 115; deadlift 182.5 for an overall total of 440.
Paula Smith (90+ kg) was the gold medalist in the Female Masters M1 division (squat 172.5; bench press 100 & deadlift 172.5) complimenting her silver medal performance in the female open category which went to Fernandez. McIntyre and Abraham copped bronze medals for placing 3rd and 4th respectively.
Morgan proved that the class he showed on debut last year was no bluff with equally breath taking performances one year later.

He smashed the old squat mark of 290 set by Luis Tapia of Puerto Rico in March 2008 setting a new standard of 295. Morgan erased his own bench press record of 190 he established last March with a new mark of 205. Again his own deadlift and overall marks of 285 and 760 all achieved last March were rewritten with new standards of 295 and 795, phenomenal achievements.
Wazeem Immamdeen shrugged off two failures with his second and third attempts at the squat to rebound in jaguar like fashion to set a new deadlift record of 210kg erasing Puerto Rico’s Jesés Ocasio 172.5 he set last March. Immamdeen’s new total of 477.5 also knocked off Ocasio’s 2009 achievement of 452.5kgs.
Williams urged on by a small but vociferous and appreciative crowd, set aside any butterfly’s associated with first time performances to establish himself at the Caribbean level with grit and determination.
He achieved a new squat record of 237.5 displacing Trinidad and Tobago’s Vassant Seith’s March 2009 effort of 222.5.
His deadlift record of 250 was also better than Seith’s old mark of 230 while the new overall total of 625 also replaced Seith’ 2009 mark of 590.0.
The other gold medalist on the opening day of competition was USVI’s Jonathan Joseph who won the 67.5kg class ahead of Jameal Welcome of the Cayman Islands and Guyana’s Kelvin Lewis who received a bronze medal of participation. Joseph had an overall total of 402.5 (squat 137.5; bench press 100; deadlift 165).
Also receiving a bronze medal of participation was Mervin ‘Spongy’ Moses. Secretary General of the North American Powerlifting Federation Robert Keller at the presentation ceremony disclosed that the Sub-Junior, Junior, Master M1 and M2 lifters will have to await the performances of the others athletes today before the medals are handed out.
Other local lifters competing on day one were Vijai Rahim, Bhojkumar Jagnarine, Winston Stoby and Anis Ade Thomas who recorded a squat of 275kg (606.3lbs).
Fans and spectators are encouraged to be out in their numbers for what is anticipated to be an explosive final day of competition involving the heavyweights, the likes of ‘Big’ John Edwards, Farouk Abdool, Karel Mars, Errol ‘Big Man’ Henry and Richard Mark Seymour from the local side.
Team Trinidad and Tobago is expected to be tough opponents but the locals have said they are ready for the battle.
Trinidad’s contingent features the Visually Impaired Carl Los Greene who has been in the sport for 7 years now.
Greene said he decided to get active in the sport after going blind as a result of glaucoma in 2000, he started lifting three years later and has been a force to reckon with ever since.
Starting time today is 11:00hrs at Princess Hotel, Providence, East Bank Demerara. Admission is $500.

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