Vaughn sees growth from NPAJ squat-only triumph

THERE WAS a sense of growth when Jonhoi Vaughn defended his National Powerlifting Association of Jamaica (NPAJ) Squat Only title in the 105kg class on the weekend.

According to Vaughn, his experience from winning his first title taught him the importance of balance in his training sessions and ensuring there were enough recovery periods for his body throughout the year.

Vaughn is using the competition as the jump-off point in his bid to qualify for the national competition later this year.

“Coming out of the last Squat Only Championship, I realised a greater need to prioritise recovery to peak at the right times throughout the year,” he said. “The goal is not to win squats only but to qualify for Nationals and prioritise injury prevention. This season is about representing the country in August and basing my training around that.”

Vaughn was a class above the rest in the men’s 105kg category, finishing ahead of Staffon Commock, with Kamau-Akeele Brown winding up third in the division.

Vaughn would have to settle for second best however in the men’s open best lifter competition as Roxroy Campbell took the crown with 34.878 IPF points, Vaughn tallied 34.474.

Just behind the two leaders, Desmond Thompson took third with 30.935.

Campbell also defended his title in the men’s 93kg class, finishing ahead of Demar Grant and Rushane Johnson, second and third respectively.

In the women’s open best lifter competition, Chevaneese Powell took the title with 172.5 pounds ahead of Ayana Duhaney, 168.5, and Tashian Wallace, 165.

Powell also swept the women’s 76kg class ahead of Kishon Green, 155, and Nadesha Thompson, 127.5.

This year’s staging saw an increase in competitors with 47 athletes competing across both genders.