EASTERN Cape powerlifters made a comeback at the bench press competition on October 17, after months of inactivity as gyms were closed due to COVID-19.
Lockdown did not prevent these lifters from keeping their focus on their strength goals, and they managed to set several new records.
Mbasa Qilingele, a learner at Cape Recife School, broke the record in the 86kg junior women’s category with an impressive 80kg bench press.
Marshall Marsh lifted 140kg in the senior 88kg division, while, in the able-bodied competition, Heike Groenewald broke the record with a bench press of 55kg in the sub-junior 69kg women’s division. Mieke Stander, lifting in the 69kg senior division, posted a record 62.5kg bench press.
The master 3 category also saw the comeback of Miriam Sinclair, setting a new 45kg bench press record in the 57kg category.
In the men’s competition, Jacques Fourie set a record in the senior category bench press of 110kg in the 59kg division, claiming the best overall lifter for the day, while in the sub-junior 83kg division David Weyer-Henderson, a learner at Grey High School, broke the record with a 125kg bench press.
Disabled powerlifters competed for a spot on the EC disabled bench press team to compete in the SA Disabled Championships, which are scheduled to take place in Port Elizabeth in April 2021.
