Kid age 18 got 4th in the North American invite (mexico, puerto rico, canada, costa rica, etc.) yesterday missed 3rd place medal by 55lbs. total weight. NO idea why the American invite people though put him in the adult open raw class going against 22-30 year olds vs. the junior division age 18-23? My kid thought they told him that class was full but there were only 5 lifters vs. 6 in his category going against more so adults him only age 18, found that odd. If he was in the junior age 18-23 class he would have gotten 3rd place with a medal.
He attempted 6 more lbs. more than he has ever done in the bench press knowing he had to make some of it up behind the 3rd place guy and missed that 2nd and 3rd attempt setting him back 16 total lbs. in 4th place going into the bench. He made some of that up in the deadlift though but with 55lbs. to go he decided to not attempt 595lbs. to tie and win since he was well below the other older adults and did his 540lbs. knowing he can do that. He has done 600lbs. in the gym but not good form and probably would have missed it anyways since was a VERY long day started 1 1/2 hours late at 4:30 vs. 3 p.m. and lasted until near 9:30 p.m. which is pretty darn late if you ask me to keep motivated sitting back there waiting to lift all that time for 9 total lifts. The organizers ONLY had 1 platform which was not enough IMO taking way too long since been to about 8 or so total the past 2 years competiting and they always have 3-4 platforms going on at the same time. Even 2 platforms going on at the same time would have been better since kid looked tired I think ready to go to bed since he goes to bed before 10 p.m. nightly almost his bedtime.
I think if he would have made that extra 16lbs. in the bench only needing 39 bs. to win 3rd place vs. 55 and 3rd place medal which he wanted to do he would have tried for sure a massive 3rd deadlift and he might have gotten it as well since in the gym has done 585lbs. and even once 600lbs. but not good form which would probably been denied since 3 judges require near perfect form.
I thought though for sure he would have tried 595lbs. in deadlift 3rd attempt to tie 3rd place guy since he had 4th place locked up easily and since he was only 185lbs. the rest 198-200 lbs. in 205lb. maximum class tie breaker goes to lightest person being him (he was only 2lbs. away being too light and being disqualified entirely but him being under 183lbs. is pretty light into lighter class which he would have medaled then even in adult division)
Am sure he is a tad disappointed in his bench press setting him back 16lbs. total going into his best event deadlift and felt that 55 more lbs. in deadlift was not going to happen being tired and way late at night to get 3rd place and a medal. Even the announcers kept asking why he was only age 18 in adult division vs. the younger junior division. It would have been awesome if he attempted and got 595lbs. deadlift though but that am sure was pushing his limits and the one time he did do in the gym 600lbs. he said he nearly passed out and did break blood vessels in his head could see them when he got home. Pretty sure if got 16lbs. more in bench only needing like 580lbs. or so deadlift he for sure would have done it since is do-able being a 40lb. jump since his 540lb. deadlift went up looked easy and smooth.
I think he went just as much for the experience and hanging out with his lifting buddies and oh yah, he bought his first LEGAL drink in Costa Rica since drinking age 18 down there. He thought that was pretty cool even though he is not a drinker.
Now he gets to see his lifting buddies go next few days and hang out since week long event and he was first since was in adult division his other buddies all age 18 or under as well but they are in the EQUIPPED junior or sub junior class wearing special lifting suits to make them lift more weight.
