Powerlifters excel in individual categories- but surrender team title

By Avenash Ramzan

A five-member Guyana unit surrendered the team title, but the lifters performed with distinction in the individual categories of the North American Powerlifting Federation (NAPF)/ International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) Caribbean championships, which concluded on Sunday in the Cayman Islands.

The Guyanese, who had a tough time securing enough sponsorship to send a full eight-member team to defend the title they won here last year, finished with 44 points, four less than Trinidad and Tobago, who took the top podium spot with a seven-member team.

Hosts Cayman Islands finished in third spot with 43 points, followed by the U.S. Virgin Islands in fourth position on 41 points. Both Cayman Islands and USVI had eight-member teams in the championships.

In the Women’s team championship, Trinidad and Tobago, with a three-member unit, chalked up an unassailable 30 points; followed by Guyana and Puerto Rico, who ended on 12 points each. However, Guyana placed second due to a higher wilkes.

The junior team championship was won by the USVI; followed by Puerto Rico, Guyana, and the Cayman Islands in that order.

In the individual categories, the Guyanese were outstanding, with all six lifters (five males and one female) winning medals. On the opening day of the championship, Saturday, March 26, Guyana’s lone female lifter Dawn Barker won the Women’s Open Heavyweight in the 84kg class, and Randolph Morgan copped gold in the 83kg (Middleweight) category.

Barker, who became Guyana’s first Caribbean and International champion, had a squat of 227.5kg/501.5lbs, bench press of 107.5kg/237lbs, and deadlift of 182.5kg/402.3lbs for a total of 517.5kg/1,138lbs. She also became the first Guyanese woman to squat over 500lbs.

Yolande McIntyre and Cheryl Abraham, both of Trinidad and Tobago, finished in second and third spots respectively.

Morgan had a squat of 297.5kg/655.9lbs, bench press of 215kg/474lbs, and deadlift of 297-5kg/655.9lbs to beat off the challenge of Laboy Isaacs of Puerto Rico and Timothy Sookraj of Trinidad and Tobago.

‘Big’ John Edwards, who competed in the 120kg class, won both the Men’s Open and the Men’s Masters M1. Anthony Farnum of Trinidad and Raymond Victorine of USVI were second and third respectively in the Men’s Open; while Carlos Greene, of Trinidad, and Farnum finished in second and third spots respectively in the Men’s Masters M1.

Kenneth Melville, competing in the 105kg class — Men’s Juniors B — copped gold in his division; while Martin Sheah of Trinidad won silver, and fellow countryman Nigel Bally won bronze.

The Men’s Open 105kg class was won by Guyanese Karel Mars, who exacted revenge on Trinidad’s Adrian Browne, who won the event last year when Mars finished second. Third spot was taken by Guyanese Kenneth Melville.