USAWA

by Al Myers

The other day I was thinking about all of the records that have been recently set and established in the USAWA, and it got me a thinking, “what about National Records?”.  There has never been any list of records from our National Championships, and I think there should be.  So I took a little time and put together this list of records.  This list ONLY includes the best lifts in each bodyweight class in lifts that have been in our National Championships.  I didn’t break it down into age groups, because I feel the National Championships Records should be for the BEST RECORD regardless of age in each bodyweight class.  I designated these records as NATIONAL RECORDS.  To break one of these records requires you to lift in a Nationals – and then set the highest mark ever in your weight class in a lift that is part of the championships.  Now – that’s a record worth having!

It is easy to set a record at a record day versus setting a USAWA record at a major competition like the National Championships.  I consider it a “unlevel” playing field when a lifter breaks a record at a record day in their own gym that was previously set a big meet in a high pressure situation.  In a record day you can come in focused on any record in question – and not have to worry about things that create obstacles in competitions.  Add in the added stress of competing in a big meet where there is added pressure to perform well throughout the day, as your goal is getting the best total for the day, not a best lift in any particular lift.  In a record day, you can warm up perfectly for your max attempt whereas in a meet you are under the timeline of the meet schedule.  Plus in a record day, you are usually more familiar with the bar and weights you are using, as record days are typically held in one’s gym where the equipment the record is set on is the same as what the lifter has been training on.  Also, there is LOTS less pressure on you as a lifter versus competing in the National Championships!  I typically don’t take extra attempts at Nationals for records because record attempts don’t count in your day’s total – so what’s the point of it if your goal is performing the best you can for the day.  I consider it wasted energy in which you should be saving for your next meet lift.  Add in the drain it takes on you in traveling to the Championships, because rarely is the Nationals a close trip.

The point I’m trying to make is that setting records at Nationals is COMPLETELY a different standard, and the great lifts set by these lifters at this meet should be recognized separately from the other USAWA records.  However, I was surprised by several of the National Records being the same as the Overall Records.  This goes to show the exceptional lifting that takes place at our biggest meet of the year. 

LIST OF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH THE MOST NATIONAL RECORDS

MEET	LOCATION	NATIONAL RECORDS
2004 Nationals	Lansdale, PA	70
2005 Nationals	Youngstown, OH	58
1990 Nationals	Akron, OH	57
2000 Nationals	Lebanon, PA	56
1994 Nationals	East Lake, OH	54
1991 Nationals	Ambridge, PA	46
1998 Nationals	Mansfield, MA	45
1999 Nationals	Ambridge, PA	45
2003 Nationals	Youngstown, OH	45
1995 Nationals	Columbia, MO	43

COMING NEXT – The list of USAWA lifters who have the MOST National records.  The is the ultimate in determining who really is the best lifter in the past 25 year history of the USAWA.  I going to call this lifter the GRAND BEST LIFTER of the USAWA.  Every year a OVERALL BEST LIFTER is crowned at the National Championships – but this lifter is the BEST of the BEST – thus the GRAND BEST LIFTER of All-Time in the USAWA for his/her record setting performances at past National Championships.  I’m going to leave everyone in suspense here and wait to name this person in a latter Daily News Story.  So in the meantime I welcome “guesses” and comments in the USAWA Discussion Forum who this award goes to.