NPAJ’s Powerlifting Series off to a cracking start

The opening leg of the National Powerlifting Association of Jamaica’s (NPAJ) Powerlifting Series was held recently with the squat-only meet welcoming four females and a dozen males for a 16-contender show.

Topping the female and male rankings at the end of action at Fit Farm’s grounds were Aiesha Denton and Shaun Simpson, respectively. Denton, who falls within the 84kg plus weight category, racked up a GL points score of 71.29.

Simpson, in the males’ 120kg plus weight class, led the field with 76.91 GL points. Denton piqued the interest of spectators early on, when she opened with an easy 315 lbs. For the second round, she added 45lbs for a total of 360lbs, before making it three from three with a weight of 405lbs in the third. Her third attempt saw onlookers being wowed from the start, as they marvelled at the mere ease and grace with which she unracked the bar, and stepped back into her stance for execution.

As for the other female competitors, Shaniqueka Allman and Dian Palmer competed in the 63kg weight class, where Palmer took top honours, and Ayana Duhaney was a lone star in the 84kg class. Palmer closed with a GL points score of 40.05 after three successful lifts of 155lbs, 165lbs, and 180lbs.

Meanwhile, Allman who had successfully squatted 180lbs in the second round, faltered at 225lbs in the third. Those, coupled with a good opener of 135lbs, saw her ending the day with a GL point score of 39.46. Duhaney was also a crowd pleaser, making three from three with the closer being 305lbs. She had two similar additions of 15lbs through the rounds, having started with 275lbs, which she followed with 290lbs. Her GL points score was 59.76.

Over in the much more populated male category, Simpson was in a league of his own. He opened with an easy 600lbs, before making good work of 675lbs. While initially opting out of a third attempt, he took a crack at 685lbs but chose not to push himself to see it through. Following closest behind Simpson’s GL points score in their 120kg plus class was Rasheed Downer, with 66.65. Downer had a clean slate of lifts, starting with a 510lbs opener. He added 40lbs for a 550lbs second round squat, before closing with an even 600lbs in the third. Meanwhile, Desmond Thompson made good on squats of 500lbs, 545lbs, and 560lbs for 62.52 GL points to round out top three in the class.

Richard Powell, the sole contender in the 120kg class, ended his day with 450lbs. After failing to get a clean lift with his 380lbs opener, he rallied with a good 405lbs second round squat, and subsequently garnered 55.31 GL points. The only other contender with no class competition on the day was Nicholas Campbell in the 83kg weight class. He opened with a pound-a-day 365lbs, followed with 385lbs, and closed with 450lbs on his way to amassing 56.67 GL points.

The remaining weight class of 93kg, was topped by Sonic Palmer. His GL points score was 71.41 after following his 500-lb opener with a second-round squat of 530lbs. His attempt at 540 lbs to close was unsuccessful. Mervin Barrett and Oniel Williams, in that order, closed out the top three in that class. Barrett opened with 455lbs, closed with an even 500lbs, and was good at 480lbs between those lifts, to see his GL points score amount to 67.48. Williams’ GL points score was 60.69, thanks to a second-round lift of 455lbs. His opening and final squats, of 435lbs and 500lbs, were no lifts.

The NPAJ Powerlifting Series, picks up with the bench only meet on July 16, 2022. The series serves as a means of qualifying for the National Championships in November. A maximum 22 athletes will be chosen to join the three champions from last year’s inaugural staging, who earned automatic berths to this year’s staging.