National Junior Championships Come to Rochester This Weekend

Nicole Jomantas February 25, 2010

Junior_nationals

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) - Nearly 150 athletes will be competing this weekend at the USA Weightlifting National Junior Championships in Rochester, Minn.

Athletes ages 20 and younger will be vying for the opportunity to compete at the 2010 Junior World Championships, June 11-20 in Sofia, Bulgaria.  At the conclusion of the event, eight men and seven women will be named to the Junior World Team as this is the primary qualifier for the Junior Worlds.

"Most of the top young weightlifters in the United States will be competing in Rochester," said USA Weightlifting CEO Rick Adams (Colorado Springs, Colo.)  "These athletes are the future Olympians of our sport and there should be some great action this weekend."

The Junior Nationals will be held at the Rochester Civic Center Auditorium, 30 Civic Center Dr. SE with competition being held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Among the athletes who will be competing in the event are the following 2009 Junior World Team members:

  • Sara Cowles (Marquette, Mich. / Team Florida - Volusia County / 53kg)
  • Breanne Bassler (Seabrook, Texas / 58kg)
  • Robin Feuerman (Marquette, Mich. / Team Florida - Altamonte / 63kg)
  • Donovan Ford (Colorado Springs, Colo. / Hassle Free / 105kg)

Ten members of the 2009 Youth World Championship Team also will be competing at the Junior Nationals, including: 

  • Jenny Lam (San Francisco, Calif. / Hassle Free / 48kg)
  • Jessica Beed (Norman, Okla. / 63kg)
  • Brianna Barnett (St. Joseph, Mo. / Wesley Weightlifters / 69kg)  
  • Chioma Amaechi (San Francisco, Calif. / Hassle Free / +75kg)
  • Darren Barnes (St. Louis, Mo. / Lift for Life / 56kg)
  • Darrel Barnes (St. Louis, Mo. / Lift for Life / 62kg)  
  • Ryan Borges (Bradenton, Fla. / Team Florida Gulfcoast / 62kg)
  • Peter Musa (East Stroudsburg, Pa. / Metropolitan Elite / 77kg)
  • Taylor Cahoon (Kill Devil Hills, N.C. / OBX / 77kg)
  • Ian Wilson (Berkeley, Calif. / Hassle Free / 105kg)

A tentative schedule of divisions is as follows.  Please note: this schedule is tentative and will be finalized on Thursday evening: 

Friday, February 26
9:30 a.m.
Men's 56kg

Noon
Women's 48kg

2 p.m.
Men's 62kg

4 p.m.
Women's 53kg

6 p.m.
Men's 69kg

Saturday, February 27
9:30 a.m.
Women's 58kg

11:30 a.m.
Men's 77kg

2 p.m.
Women's 63kg

4 p.m.
Men's 85kg

6 p.m.
Women's 69kg

8 p.m.
Men's 94kg Group B

Sunday, February 28
9:30 a.m.
Men's 94kg Group A

11:30 a.m.
Women's 75kg

1:30 p.m.
Men's 105kg

3:30 p.m.
Women's +75kg

5:30 p.m.
Men's +105kg

Tags: Breanne Bassler, Donovan Ford, Sara Cowles