National Championship Records

by Sanjiv Gupta

Al Myers penned a piece on National Records published June 21,2012.  He laid out a case for recognizing special National Records that met a few criteria:

  • Set on the stage of the National Championships – Harder than setting a record at home.
  • Is an ALL age record for the weight class – Age group records are not recognized.

The piece did not consider that the National Record (NAT) set for a given weight class and lift could be exceeded in future competition.  To break the NAT, an athlete would have to exceed not only the NAT but also the current ALL age weight class record.

The 2024 National Championship was certainly amazing and much has been written on the results and overall National Champions Beth Skwarecki and Abe Smith.

I wanted to add my observations on new NAT.  (15) new NAT were set.  (9) on the women’s side and (6) on the men’s side.  Your National Champions, Beth and Abe set (3) NAT each.  Lisa and Stacy both set (2) NAT.  David, Leroy, Lillian, Phoebe and Everett each set one.  As a side note, I was confused as to whether Junior Records count towards ALL records and NAT records.  The historic record list seems inconsistent, but it is also harder to get a snapshot in time of what the ALL record was during that year’s National Championship.

Clean & Press, Fulton Bar (1st time at Nationals)

  • Abe Smith (85kg) – 215 pounds
  • David DeForest (80kg) – 105 pounds
  • Beth Skwarecki (70kg) – 100 pounds
  • Lisa Gore (100kg) – 75 pounds
  • Leroy Todd (60kg) – 50 pounds
  • Lillian Todd (75kg) – 60 pounds
  • Phoebe Todd (65kg) – 50 pounds

Pullover & Press (8th time at Nationals)

  • Abe Smith (85kg) – 295 pounds

Hack Lift (4th time at Nationals)

  • Beth Skwarecki (70kg) – 295 pounds
  • Stacy Todd (90kg) – 200 pounds
  • Everett Todd (50kg) – 125 pounds

Deadlift, Fulton, Ciavattone Grip (2nd time at Nationals)

  • None

Snatch, One Arm, Left/Right (14th time at Nationals)

  • Abe Smith (85kg) – 130 pounds (Left)
  • Stacy Todd (90kg) – 50 pounds (Left)

Zercher Lift (18th time at Nationals)

  • Beth Skwarecki (70kg) – 225 pounds
  • Lisa Gore (100kg) – 90 pounds

As there were only (6) official lifts, only (6) National Records had a chance of being set.  Record Session lifts and Exhibition lifts do not count.  It also gets progressively more difficult to set a National Record as the ALL (age) weight class record tends to be set and bested more frequently.

To date (61) different lifts have been contested at the National Championships.  With left/right designation on the one arm lifts, (72) of (219) lifts in the records list have recognized National Records.

In the early days of the USAWA it was not uncommon to contest (10) different lifts to crown National Champions.  During the last decade (5) or (6) lifts seem to be the norm.

Good luck to all of the rising stars who want to set a National Record.

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