Good afternoon everyone!
A week since the AWF Senior Championships and I am very much starting to miss the incredible environment which our Queensland Team created in Sydney.
I would like to thank you again all athletes and team coaches for your support and understanding across the course of the weekend. Despite our size, we overcame the obstacles we faced, bringing home medals, personal bests and a positive attitude befitting of the QLD Team once again 🙏😁
Now a quick wrap of our weekend – well as quick possible – is below ⬇️
Team Trophies, Personal Records and Best Lifters
F55 – 7th Place Dominika Makosova
F59 – 🥉Kayla Miller-Gorce
F64 – 🥈Briony Challis
F64 – 10th Place Hailinn Diola
F71 – 🥇Nya Hayman
F81 – 🥈Jessica Watzek
M73 – 🥇Brayden Williams
M81 – 🥇James Norman
M89 – 🥈Cameron Maher
M102 –🥉Fraser Harrison
M109+ 🥉Sotiri Karageorgiou
In addition to our placings, our athletes made the very best attempts at PB’s, National Records and more. Here’s a few of our Highlights ⬇️
Brayden Williams
A solid effort on the day for Brayden from our own Head Coach’s club Burleigh Barbell. He not only secured the gold but gave the audience an incredible performance with 3 personal bests across the Snatch, Clean and Jerk and Total!
Snatch – 120kg (4kg increase)
C & J – 141kg (4kg increase)
Total = 261kg (9kg increase)
James Norman
Current president of Cougars Weightlifting Club came out of the Snatch portion of the competition in the lead. Again, providing the audience and our state with a strong performance and 3 personal bests across the Snatch, Clean and Jerk and Total!
Snatch – 126kg (3kg increase)
C & J – 154kg (1kg increase)
Total = 280kg (6kg increase)
Nya Hayman
About to head over to Leon, Spain to compete in the IWF World Junior Championships, Nya although not having her greatest day through the Snatch portion of the contest, pulled out an incredible win for herself and our state. Posting not only a 1kg personal best in the Clean and Jerk, but a new AWF and QLD Junior Record in the F71 category of 111kg!
C & J – 111kg (1kg increase)
Runner-up – Best Female Lifter (Sinclair: 240.370)
Sotiri Karageorgiou
A current member of Cougars Weightlifting Club, Sotiri was competing at his first ever Senior Nationals having an incredible day out on the platform. Coached by Miles Wydall Sotiri had a solid performance completing 6/6 lifts on the day and accruing some new personal bests and AWF records in the 109+ Masters 30-34 category in the Snatch, Clean and Jerk and Total!
Snatch – 128kg
C & J – 165kg (5kg increase)
Total = 293kg (3kg increase)
Jessica Watzek
A special mention goes to Jessica Watzek. As the last session of our very busy weekend, Jess came in with a firm resolve to do whatever she needed to have a chance at winning Gold.
It was touch and go for moment, with only a kilo between her and 3rd place after the Snatch portion of the contest. However, Jess came out and did the near impossible, making a 11kg jump to go for gold – after her 1st Clean and Jerk – at what would have been a massive personal best.
Despite getting under the bar – twice – Jess was unfortunately unable to stand it up.
A standing ovation for her effort and resolve concluded the competition. And not only would Jess still come away with a 2nd place she would also come away with a smile and something incredible to remember. 🏋️♀️
Lastly, our team placements are tremendous testimony of our team and the hard work we have once again put into our training, organisation and efforts on the day.
Men’s Team Shield
2nd place 🏆
Women’s Team Shield
3rd place 🏆
Overall, it was brilliant weekend for everyone. Thank you to Callum Hannay and Miles Wydall for being an incredible Head Coach and Team Coach. Your support, guidance and mentoring are an extraordinary asset to our team and our state.
To the Athlete’s you are the bee’s knees and the cat’s whiskers. Your hard work and passion will never go unnoticed. As a state we are proud of the way you represent us, our mindset, attitude, and most importantly our Team Spirit.
Moreover, thank you to our QLD Weightlifting Association for supporting us as a team and to NSWWA for hosting a fantastic Senior Nationals at the legendary Quay Centre in Sydney Olympic Park.
Thank you all and I look forward to working with you all again soon!
Take care ✌
Chelsea Weston
QWA Appointed Technical Officials for the event John Hanlon and Rebecca Jakubovsky enjoyed front row seats for the whole event 😁
