Written By: JP Nicoletta

Our nation's best weightlifters will meet at the Hilton Anatole this weekend in Dallas for USA Weightlifting's premier competition. With a field of 450 lifters, the 2015 USAW National Championships is not only the biggest but the deepest ever.

 

Originally slated as the final qualification event for the 2015 IWF World Championships, the USAW made a last minute change on Monday of this week to extend qualification to September. The World Team will consist of 7 women and 8 men (plus alternates). Only the top 5 women and top 6 men after Nationals will be locked onto the team and a victory in Dallas won't assure the winner of a trip to Worlds.

 

Qualification for the World Team is based on projected ability "place and score" team points at Worlds. Lifter results at Nationals will be ranked as a percentage of the first to twenty-fifth place average total for each bodyweight class from the 2011 and 2014 World Championships. Spots on the World Team are coveted as lifters must compete in two International events in order to earn eligibility to compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics.

 

Lifting begins on Friday, August 14, and will feature the women's 48kg and 53kg and men's 56kg, 62kg, and 69kg classes. Saturday, August 15 will host the finals for the women's 58kg, 63kg and men's 77kg classes. The competition ends Sunday, August 16th with the women's 69kg, 75kg, +75kg, men's 85kg, 94kg and 105kg/+105kg combined session.

 

The final startlist and schedule will be determined Thursday evening, August 13th, at the technical conference. Check the USAW homepage for updates to the athlete startlist, schedule and results.

Class breakdown:

 

W48kg (Friday, August 14) 

 

Based on her performance last month at the Pan-Am Games, Morghan King is currently ranked #1 in the USA. With her position as a 48kg on the World Team likely secure she has opted not to cut weight for Nationals. The lifters watch in this class are Kathleen Winters of Team Montana, Jr. World Team Member/Jr. National Champion Megan Seegert of Hasslefree Barbell and returning National Champion Kelly Rexroad Williams of Coffee's Gym. If these athletes win medals this could be the only class with a Senior, Junior and Masters lifter on the stand.Winter's entry total of 160kg is her personal best and would project her to place 15th at Worlds. If she can match or exceed this total she'll be in the game for a World Team spot.

W53kg (Friday, August 14) 

 

The 53kg class could be one of the toughest competitions at Nationals. Morghan King has won Nationals two years in a row and will look to defend against a very deep class that includes her Pan-Am Games teammate, and former Olympian, Melanie Roach. King and Roach are the startlist leaders but expect a big improvement from the field in what will be a great competition. For anyone in this class to have a shot at Worlds, they must win the class and exceed a 180kg total.

 

W58kg (Saturday, August 15) 

 

With 38 lifters on the startlist, this is the biggest women's field at Nationals. Cortney Batchelor will look to make it three in a row but will have her hands full as Jessica Lucero of Catalyst Athletics, Angela Candage Parra of Average Broz and current American Record holder Rizelyz Rivera (Snatch - 91kg) of East Coast Gold are all within striking distance. Also, Ashley Perkovich, currently 5th on the startlist, has the highest lifetime PR total of anyone entered. Her 202kg kilo total from a local competition in 2013 exceeds the current American Record of 200kg. If the winner of this class can finish at or near a 200kg total they will be in the mix for the World Team.

 

W63kg (Saturday, August 15) 

 

Defending National Champion and American Record holder Geralee Vega (C&J 125kg, Total 225kg) of East Coast Gold will also look to make it three in a row. Vega, who was named to the Pan Am Team, withdrew prior to competition so her condition and plans for Nationals are questions to be answered. National Junior Champion, Junior World and Jr. Pan Am Team member Mattie Rogers has totaled over 200kg in all of her 2015 appearances. If Vega is not in top shape, Rogers will make things interesting.

 

W69kg (Sunday, August 16) 

 

Allie Henry, who did not lift at the 2014 Nationals, recently hit a personal best 209kg total that has her at the top of the startlist. Her personal best 99kg snatch is just 2 kilos off the American Record held by former teammate and Olympian, Natalie Woolfolk Burgener.

 

W75kg (Sunday, August 16) 

 

After a 2014 victory at Nationals and trip to Worlds, American Record holder Jenny Arthur has spent most of 2015 recovering from injury. If she is healthy and can post a total anywhere near her best of 235kg she'll be a lock for the 2015 Worlds. Whether Arthur is in top form or not this class is deep enough that everyone in the "A" session has a legitimate shot at a medal.

 

W+75kg (Sunday, August 16) 

 

Holley Mangold of MDUSA will try to win her second in a row. Mangold is currently ranked 2nd for the World Team based on her performance last month at Pan-Ams. Marissa Klingseis, who competed at the Junior Worlds and Junior Pan Ams earlier this year is currently 3rd on the World Team Rankings. They'll battle it out whille keeping an eye on what weights are needed to keep them inside the cut line for Worlds.

 

M56kg (Friday, August 14) 

 

Defending 2014 National Champion Darren Barnes will be in a tight competition with his East Coast Gold teammate Michael Fox to take this class a second straight year. Barnes owns all the Junior and Senior American records at 56kg so it will be fun if he and Fox start off the men's competition with a dogfight.

 

M62kg (Friday, August 14) 

 

The battle between CJ Cummings and Derrick Johnson at the 2014 Nationals was one of the highlights of the competition. With Cummings up in the 69kg class, the 62kg's are all about American Record holder (Snatch and Total) and two-time defending champion Derrick Johnson. To get himself back on the World Team Johnson is going to have to do two things that have eluded him so far in 2015: make weight and post an official total. Assuming he can he get through weigh-ins, he likely take a run at the American Record C&J of 153kg which CJ Cummings broke last year.

 

M69kg (Friday, August 14)

CJ Cummings's 170kg C&J at the Junior Worlds might be the most impressive lift by a US athlete so far this year. Alex Lee did not total at Pan Ams which means he has to have a big day to get himself back in the mix for Worlds. Defending National Champion Caleb Williams broke the American C&J record last at Nationals then again at Worlds but has competed only once since then. If he is healthy this class can turn into an epic contest. When its said and done we might see two of these lifters on the World Team.

 

M77kg (Saturday, August 15) 

 

Everyone in this class has eyes on the 325kg total posted by Travis Cooper at the Pan Am Games last month in Toronto. Leo Hernandez, formerly of Cuba, will be competing in his first US Nationals. He was the overall winner at the Arnold in March with a 329kg total and is currently on top of the startlist for Nationals. Behind him are Angelo Bianco, and James Tatum who can both total well over 300kg. Lurking in the background is Travis Cooper who could make a last minute decision to cut weight and enter this class to defend his title from 2014. This is the biggest class at Nationals with 64 lifters and will be one of the best.

 

M85kg (Sunday, August 16) 

 

If 2014, 77kg National Champion, Travis Cooper competes overweight he'll have the highest entry total on the startlist. Other lifters to watch in this crowded field are Anthony Pomponio of Iron Athlete Weightlifting, Robert Blackwell of Cal Strength and defending 2014 Champion John McGovern. All of them are capable of totals in excess of 330kgs but they will need to total over 340kg to have a shot at the World Team.

M94kg (Sunday, August 16) 

 

For the last few years, the 94kg class has been the featured session at Nationals. This year will be no different with the top 5 from last year's war all entered to do it again. Kendrick Farris and Norik Vardanian took Gold and Silver last month at Pan-Ams. Farris's 366kg total and Vardanian 362kg total have them projected to place 16th and 18th at Worlds. For Colin Burns, Jared Fleming or D'Angelo Osorio to have a shot at the World Team they'll have to beat each other and those totals. The questions to ask in this class are how heavy will Farris and Vardanian go being just a month removed from Pan-Ams and who from this field will break the American Record in the Snatch.

 

M105kg (Sunday, August 16) 

 

With all eyes on the 94kg class it might be easy to overlook this excellent 105kg group. With David Garcia, Donovan Ford, Spencer Moorman, Wesley Kitts, and Ethan Harak all capable of +200kg C&Js this class is insanely deep and will be one of the most fun to watch. Don't forget American Record Holder (Snatch) Ian Wilson is also entered and although he is just coming back from shoulder surgery he cannot be overlooked.

 

M+105 (Sunday, August 16)

If the USA wants to send more than one or two men to compete in Rio, Caine Wilkes needs to be on the World Team. He has been one of the USA's top scorers at Worlds the last two years and lifting last he has the benefit of knowing exactly what he'll need to make the team. Competing as a +105kg at Worlds he'll be a key chip to position us for the points we'll need to secure spots (or additional spots) at the Olympics. Arguably, every one of his attempts will be very important if he gets there. The good news is he should. 

 

The better news is he's been a rock on big stages totaling at or near 400kg consistently. He just recently hit a lifetime PR 227kg C&J and if he can do it again it'll be a fitting end for Nationals close with a 500lb. lift.

 

Team Competition: 

 

On the Men's side, seven loaded teams are set compete for the nation top honor. Catalyst Athletics, California Strength and Hasslefree Barbell, all based in CA, may not have the manpower to hold up against stacked teams from Iron Athlete Weightlifting, MDUSA, East Coast Gold and defending champions - Texas Barbell.The Women's team competition is even more crowded with eight strong teams. Look for East Coast Gold, MDUSA and Coffee's Gym to battle it out all weekend.

 

JP Nicoletta is a USAW Technical Official and Coach with the Metropolitan Elite Weightlifting Club in NYC. He has been involved in the sport of Weightlifting since 1992. Follow his writing at www.weightliftingmindset.com.

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