32nd FESUPO/16th NAPF & FESUPO Pan American C/ships – Equipped Day 2… Andrea Smith maintains Guyana’s gold medal form, Erwyn Smith bags silver

Jul 08, 2017 Sports, http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....n-smith-bags-silver/

– More records achieved

By Franklin Wilson in Orlando, USA compliments of Crown Mining Supplies, Fitness Express, Secure Innovations & Concepts, Industrial Safety Supplies, Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club.

Andrea Smith (72kg Class) displayed grit and determination in powering her way to a new Caribbean and Open Equipped National Deadlift record of 182.5kg as she grabbed a gold and silver medal yesterday, day two of the 16th North American Powerlifting Federation (NAPF) and 32nd South American Powerlifting Federation (FESUPO) Equipped Championships at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Orlando International Airport, Florida.
Andrea Smith also set a new National Benchpress record of 77.5kg and Squat record of 160.0kg on a day when Guyana continued its rich medal form at the championships that has attracted 20 countries.
Her gold was achieved in theFemale FESUPO (South American) Open 3-Lift 72kg Class with a total of 420.0kg, while she battled her way up from lagging in the third place after the squat and bench to end with the silver medal in the Female Open 3-Lift Pan American competition.
Puerto Rico’s Kristzia Nieves took the gold medal with a total of 445.0kg, while the bronze medal went to Nora Montillia (272.5kg) of Costa Rica.
Guyana’s other lifter yesterday, Erwyn Smith, managed the silver medal in the Male FESUPO (South American) Open 93kg Class with a Wilks total of 433.01 behind gold medalist, Jaime Castro of Ecuador who totaled, 494.94.
Smith, who did not have the best start to the competition, got is first squat of 235.0kg but missed the next two at 250.0kg. He was flawless on the bench with lifts of 125.0kg, 140.0kg and 145.0kg.
Recognising that he had lots of ground to make up in his quest for a Pan American medal given the fact that the competition was more stiff in this segment, Smith called on all his strength in the deadlift and ended with the heaviest weights of his flight, 282.5kg, a new National record and Personal Best.
Despite this achievement, Smith ended just outside the podium positions, fourth, overall. Prior to the record lift, Smith had lifts of 240.0kg and 265.0kg.
Andrea Smith, the Secretary of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) who also performed duties as Team Manager, commented on her performance which she said she was happy about as many of the lifts were personal bests.
“I am happy about the fact that I still am working out some technicalities behind my lifts so there’s room to grow which I appreciate. I didn’t feel as exhausted as I taught I would have so I know I had more in the tank, especially on the deadlifts which is my strongest lift. I am really pleased about my bench has progressed in the last couple of months.”
Smith informed that it is the first international meet that she would have achieved more that 7 of the 9 lifts which shows promise. On her immediate radar is continued training and a few more international competitions once they come along the way.
Offering a comment on the overall performance of the team, Manager Smith credited the very encouraging performances to a collective approach where all hands were on deck.
“I always started the day with a to do list and I checked off as I went along. I also did a lot of prep prior to leaving the country, ensuring I had person’s data and numbers so I can manage them a bit more efficiently. I was nervous about it at first because I was really exhausted day in, day out but when I looked around here and I saw other people doing the same, I assured myself and I got through it.”
She posited that there were a number of teachable lessons for her and reiterated that team work was the main pillar for success.
“It made my job less tedious; I would thank the lifters, my colleagues because they really worked with me, it wasn’t just me alone doing this. Everyone did well; I observed a lot of structure in the approaches of our athletes in choosing their attempts and executing their lifts. The feedback I kept getting from them was that they knew their technical faults which showed a willingness to learn and improve.”
“I would say they gave a very good effort, the medal count speaks for itself, they did well and I am very happy about that.”
The final day of action is today and the lone lifter in contention for more medals will be ‘Big’ John Edwards who will be going after more glory in the Masters 2 120kg and Open classes.

Name                  Weight Cls         Squat Bench     Deadlift    Total
Andrea Smith       72kg F-O, F-FO          160kg  77.5kg         182.5kg       420.0kg

Erwyn Smith       93kg M-O, M-FO       235kg  145kg           282.5kg       662.5kg

Medal Table for Guyana
Day 1          Gold    Silver   Bronze     Total
2                2              1          5
Day 2                        2               1               2          5
Day 3                       11              3               2                    16
Day 4                       1               2               0                     3
Overall total to date                                 29   

Erwyn Smith (silver) with FESUPO Gold medalist, Jaime Castro of Ecuador.