| PRESS RELEASE | Richard C. Lansky, CSCS |
GULFCOAST LIFTERS HIT IT BIG AT THE
2008 USA WEIGHTLIFTING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Team Florida Gulfcoast, a not for profit sports and lifestyle education program serving the youth and young adults of the Florida Gulfcoast communities, was well represented. Pat Judge, a former football player at Cardinal Mooney High School in Sarasota, won his first national championship in BIG fashion, finishing the meet with the heaviest lifts of the weekend...he snatched 162 kg ( 356.4 lbs) and clean and jerked 205kg ( 451 lbs) to total 367 kg ( 807.4 lbs), personal bests in each category. He was a perfect six for six, making every lift.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, Shelton Gilyard of Tampa, won yet another national championship in the 56 kg class. Shelton, a social worker in Tampa, has now won over ten various national titles, making him one of the most decorated weightlifters in recent history. Weighing only 56 kg ( 123.2 lbs ), he snatched 85 kg ( 187 lbs) and clean and jerked 112kg ( 246.4 lbs) to total 197 kg ( 433.4 lbs). This was his first national meet since suffering a shoulder injury two years ago.
Also competing for Team Florida Gulfcoast was Jessica Fides, a former Sarasota resident attending school at UCF. Jessica finished fourth in the 53 kg ( 116.6 lbs) division. snatching 65 kg (143 lbs)and clean and jerking 85 kg (187 lbs) to total 150 kg ( 330 lbs). Jessica, a medalist at last year's World University Cup in Peru this past summer, was not at her best although she qualified for the upcoming Olympic Trials in May in Atlanta.
Another former Sarasota resident, Jason Aun, finished sixth in the 69 kg (151.8 lbs) division while registering his best performance in the past few years. Jason just missed a clean and jerk that would have given him the bronze medal in that contest. Jason is finishing up his Masters Degree and helping to coach girls weightlifting at his old high school.
Also in the 69 kg class was college student Ryan Milmoe, who will be graduating Purdue University this May. He also made a return to the platform, making all six attempts to finish with his best total since the 2005 Nationals.
Coach Rich Lansky was extremely pleased with the effort and performance of every one of his athletes, as they continue to achieve success both on and off the platform.
We wish Pat Judge and Jessica Fides good luck as they begin to prepare for the Olympic Trials in May.
For more information on Team Florida Gulfcoast Weightlifting, Inc, 501 3 c not-for-profit sports and lifestyle education club dedicated to using the drug free Olympic sport of Weightlifting to improve the physical , social and psychological well-being of Florida's Gulfcoast youth and young adults, please call (941) 342-0454 or log onto www.teamfloridaweightlifting.com.
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