My SPF Women’s Pro Am meet at Super Training Gym went international in only its second year! Competitors from all over the United States converged in Sacramento to vie for the $4500 in prize money at this unique event celebrating women’s powerlifting. And this year we were pleased to welcome Iryna Piatrovich of Belarus and Tara Green, the Canadian National champion.
This year’s Pro Am drew amazing athletes like Westside’s Laura Phelps-Sweatt and Amy Weisberger, superhero Dana Shealey, and single ply phenom Nicolai Stern. Joining them were plenty of first time competitors like the impressive 18-year-old Savanah McCoy.
In the multi ply division, heavyweight winner Dana Shealey hit PRs in every lift, including a 451 squat and massive 407 bench, to get an elite total and $500 in prize money. What made her performance so spectacular is that she did this as a below-the- knee amputee! To my knowledge she is the only woman with a prosthetic leg to attain an elite total. Second place finisher Super Trainer Jessica Brown also had a great day in her first multi ply meet, with four huge PRs.
Lightweight winner Laura Phelps-Sweatt wowed us as always with her amazing strength. While not having her best day, she still squatted 716, benched 485, and deadlifted 534! Laura left nothing on the platform, attempting world record lifts with all of her third attempts. Her best lifter performance netted her $1500 cash. As always, it was an honor to watch her lift. Second place finisher Canadian Tara Green had a great meet, setting new Canadian records with a 501 squat, 275 bench and 374 pull.
In the raw division, we were thrilled to see Nicolai Stern, major sponsor of the Women’s Pro Am and last year’s single ply winner. At the last minute, her friends talked her into competing raw at this meet. She borrowed some equipment and proceeded to win the heavyweight raw division and $250, while at the same time handling one of her lifters in the single ply division! As she did last year, Nicolai generously supported the Women’s Pro Am by donating her prize money back to support next year’s event. The always impressive Tamara Holmes was a strong second in this division.
The packed lightweight raw division created a ton of excitement throughout the day, as the superb Amy Weisberger battled it out with Iryna Piatrovich. Iryna had travelled 35 hours from her home in Belarus to compete at this meet. At the end of the squats, Amy had hit 385 and Iryna 391. Into the bench, Amy made 259 but missed 270 twice. Iryna hit 270 on her third to build on her lead. They then both pulled 418 on their seconds and it was down to the last pull. Amy attempted 446 but missed. Iryna called for 440 and pulled it decisively, giving her the win, $1500, and a 9 for 9 day! Amy went home with $500. In third with $250 in this huge class was local favorite Julie Diss, with her spectacular raw 391 deadlift weighing in at only 131.
Complete results for this meet will be posted on the Southern Powerlifting Federation and Supertraining websites.