Youth lifter Kiien Manuel powers through a successful snatch lift during the CNMI Weightlifting qualifier tournament on Saturday at the Ada gym.
Young lifters pose for a photo after competing in the CNMI Weightlifting qualifier tournament on Saturday at the Ada gym.
YOUNG lifters from the grassroots took the spotlight during the CNMI Weightlifting qualifier tournament on Saturday at the Ada gym.
They are Kiien Manuel, Jaden Andrew, Sean Mateo, John Castro, Aiden Gimed, and Anniegail Manuel.
Kiien Manuel was the sole participant in the men 96 weight class, but he still impressed judges and spectators alike with six perfect lifts.
In the snatch portion, he lifted 45kg, 50kg and 55kg, breaking his personal best along the way.
He did the same in the clean & jerk portion with a lift of 65kg, 67kg and 70kg, breaking another PB. He recorded a total weight of 125kg.
“I feel good about my performance,” said the 12-year-old who has been lifting for about two months now.
Aiden Gimed also broke a PB. He competed in the men 89 weight class against three other lifters.
Although he placed fourth, he recorded three clean lifts in the snatch portion at 45kg, 53kg and 60kg to break his PB.
He tried to ride the momentum in the clean & jerk portion with his first lift at 55kg, but failed in his second attempt at 60kg.
He then redeemed himself with a successful third lift for a total weight of 120kg.
“It was good, I felt really confident in my snatch,” Gimed said. “I thank Mr. Angel [San Nicolas] for bringing me into weightlifting.” He has been training for the past few months, Gimed added.
In the men 61 weight class, Jaden Andrew and Sean Mateo competed against each other.
The 11-year-old Andrew excelled with three clean lifts in the snatch portion starting at 55kg, followed by 60kg and 63kg to break his PB. He nearly perfected the clean & jerk portion as well, with a lift of 65kg and 70kg, but he failed in his third attempt of 80kg for a total weight of 133kg.
Mateo came in second with two lifts of 30kg and 35kg in the snatch and two lifts of 40kg and 45kg in the clean & jerk for a total weight of 80kg.
In the men 67 weight class, John Castro faced 2022 Pacific Mini Games gold medalist Raymond Santos and had two lifts in the snatch weighed at 25kg and 28kg, and one successful lift in the clean & jerk portion at 35kg for a total weight of 63kg.
Anniegail Manuel is also new to the sport but still lived up to expectations as she topped the women 64 weight class. She had two lifts of 55kg and 64kg in the snatch portion and 75kg and 80kg in the clean & jerk for a total weight of 141kg.
“It could’ve been better,” she said. “I didn’t like that I missed both of my last lifts in the snatch and clean & jerk, but I’ll come back better hopefully. Nothing to be proud of, just living up to expectations.”
She went up against Kaie Camacho who lifted 25kg, 28kg and 32kg in the snatch portion while adding 30kg, 35kg and 40kg in the clean & jerk for a total weight of 72kg.
