By Kizan Brumell
Winston Stoby and Randolph Morgan put on two top performances to make top podium finishes for Guyana in the 8th North American Regional Championships and inaugural Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Championships in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
In the men’s 75kg class, Stoby won gold medals in both championships while Morgan landed a gold medal in the CAC segment and gained a silver medal in the North American Regional Championships.
On Thursday, Stoby powered his way to the gold with best lifts of, squat – 250kg (551lbs), bench press – 130kg (287lbs) and deadlift 275kg (606lbs).
His overall total of 655kg/1,444lbs was enough for him to finish ahead of Mexico’s David Salgado and Costa Rica’s Alvaro Mejia.
Stoby’s performance surpassed his personal best of 652.5kg/1439lbs which he achieved at the Caribbean Powerlifting Championships in Guyana in March.
On Friday, Morgan fought his way back from third position in the 82.5kg/181lbs category.
After trailing going into the last lift Morgan produced a tremendous lift of 310kgs/683lbs to overcome a deficit of some 15kgs/33lbs and capture gold.
He defeated his old rival Luis Tapia of Puerto Rico into second and Chevon Simpson of Trinidad and Tobago into third.
Morgan and Tapia of Puerto Rico finished with identical totals of 800kgs but Morgan gained the edge by having the lighter bodyweight of the two for a higher Wilkes total of 547 to Tapia’s 542.
In the North American Regional Championship segment Morgan placed second behind USSA’s Wade Hooper while Tapia came in third.
Morgan’s best lifts were: squat – 285kg/628lbs, bench press – 205kgs/452lbs and deadlift – 310kgs/ 683lbs.
