Local lifters ‘Big John’ Edwards, Mervin ‘Spongy’ Moses and Randolph Morgan have begun their preparation for the 7th NAPF North American Regional Powerlifting Championships and the 12th NAPF/FESUPO Pan-American Regional Championships which will be held in the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt Hotel in Miami, Florida from August 4-8.
The trio is at present working out at the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) Gym in Alberttown and according to Edwards, so far the training has been coming along smoothly.
‘Big John’ is also the Regional Open and Masters Powerlifting champion, winning those titles at the North American Powerlifting Federation Caribbean Championships earlier in the year. He said that unlike when they competed at that tournament, they are a bit ahead of training.
Edwards would be competing in the 125KG class while Morgan who was named the best lifter in the open category at the last Caribbean Championships will once again be looking to dominate the 82.5KG class.
Moses, a well known figure around the sport locally, could not have exploited that reputation at the championships because he was disqualified.
According to ‘Spongy’ after the squatting 229.97KG he was told that his bench press vest which he had on could not be worn.
He informed the judges that he would have to borrow one from a fellow competitor but due to this he was unable to complete the press and was forced out of the tournament.
However, Edwards said that they were given a rundown on some of the athletes who would be their competitors and based on this he can safely predict that they will return with a medal.
“Well so far things have been going good. I think we are more prepared going into this championship as compared to the last one and I think we are more confident as well. I think looking at the competition where we were given some rundown, I think we fit right in the top five bracket and could even come back with a gold,” stated ‘Big John’.
However, while they are making headway in their preparedness, the same cannot be said for the state of their funding.
Edwards said that this has always been an area of concern for them, but so far things are coming in but slowly. He declared that they will not be sidetracked and would keep their focus on being successful next month in Miami.
The powerful Edwards who is also overseeing the wellbeing of both Moses and Morgan said that as time goes by they would be intensifying their routine.