The CNMI’s youth lifters pose for a photo during the Olympic Weightlifting Championships on Guam Saturday.
Anniegail Manuel attempts a lift in the snatch portion of the Olympic Weightlifting Championships on Guam Saturday.
THE NMI’s youth lifters performed admirably in the Olympic Weightlifting Championships at the Barrigada Readiness Center on Guam Saturday.
Rising stars Jaden Andrew and Aiden Gimed thrived in their respective youth division weight categories.
In the youth male 55kg category, Andrew was the only competitor, recording a best lift of 62kg in the snatch portion. In the clean & jerk portion, Andrew stepped up with three perfect lifts starting with 75kg, then to 79kg and 82kg for a combined weight of 144kg to claim first place.
Aiden Gimed also took the spotlight as he topped the youth male 81kg category.
Gimed started strong with three successful lifts in the snatch portion: 60kg, 63kg and 65kg. In the clean & jerk, he recorded a best lift of 70kg for a total weight of 135kg to secure the top spot. His opponent, Malachi John Lujan, came in second with a total lift of 116kg.
Andrew also competed in the open male 55kg category and placed second with a snatch of 62kg and a clean & jerk of 82kg for a total weight of 144kg.
Gimed likewise participated in the open male 81kg category, placing fourth with a best snatch of 65kg and a clean & jerk of 70kg for a total weight of 136kg.
In the women’s division, the NMI’s Kaya Rain Rasa competed in two categories.
In the youth female 64kg category, she recorded a best lift of 43kg in the snatch and 59kg in the clean & jerk for a total weight of 102kg to take third place.
In the junior female 59kg category, she finished fourth with a lift of 43kg in snatch and 59kg in clean & jerk for total weight of 102kg.
Another NMI lifter, Anniegail Manuel, topped the junior female 71kg category with a lift of 60 in the snatch and a lift of 77kg in the clean & jerk for a total weight of 137kg.
The Olympic Weightlifting Championships served as a qualifier for NMI lifters who want to be part of the delegation that will compete in the 2023 Micronesian Games and the 2023 Pacific Games.
The open division results will be featured in Variety’s next edition.
