It was an outstanding weekend for our Massey High School weightlifters at the Secondary Schools Weightlifting Nationals, with our students achieving multiple podium finishes, personal bests and plenty of recognition for the high standard of lifting being developed at Massey.
For those unfamiliar with weightlifting, an athlete’s total is their best snatch combined with their best clean & jerk. Increasing an athlete’s total is a great measure of their progress and development.
Our results included:
- Akira Taingahue – 1st in the 70kg division, adding an impressive 17kg to his total. Akira moved up a weight division for this competition and still claimed 1st place in his first Nationals as a senior.
- Karen Ota – 1st in the 65kg division, adding 15kg to her total in her final Secondary Schools Nationals.
- Emalia (Mia) Tuitama – 3rd in the 86kg division in her first ever weightlifting competition, competing in the largest division of the weekend.
- Fou Simi – Made her weightlifting debut in the 86kg division.
- Leonidas Pereira – 2nd in the 85kg division after moving up a weight division this year. Leonidas added 10kg to his total and recorded a huge 120kg clean & jerk personal best.
- Jacob Kanuta-Munn – Competed in the 85kg division and put together some impressive lifts.
- Malachi Henare-Lai – 3rd in the 95kg division, recording two personal bests and adding 17kg to his total.
- Tapua King – 1st in the 65kg Junior division in his very first weightlifting competition.
- Cadence Graydon-Tolua – 1st in the 53kg Junior division at her first Nationals. The youngest athlete at the entire competition, Cadence has added a massive 28kg to her total since May.
The weekend was a fantastic reflection of the work being put into our weightlifting programme.
While the podium finishes and personal bests were fantastic, even more encouraging was the recognition our athletes received for the standard of lifting being developed here at Massey. We are incredibly proud of every athlete who competed.
A huge thank you also goes to coaches Luke Kanuta and Morgan Mitchell, who put in some very long days supporting our athletes, including a 5.30am to 9.00pm day on Saturday.
Congratulations to all our athletes, coaches and everyone involved in another very successful Nationals campaign.
