Jamaica pocket 15-medal haul at North American Powerlifting Championship

The Jamaica Spartans capped off an impressive showing at the recently concluded North American Regional Powerlifting Championships held in Scottsdale, Arizona. The team secured 15 medals from the 13 athletes sent to represent Jamaica.

The National Powerlifting Association of Jamaica (NPAJ) congratulated the Spartans on their performance following their medal haul.

“The success of the Jamaica Spartans at the championships is a testament to the strength and resilience of the athletes and the support of the NPAJ,” the organisation wrote in their press release after the competition.

“This achievement will serve as a foundation for future successes on the international stage.

The NPAJ looks forward to building on this momentum and inspiring a new generation of powerlifters to represent Jamaica with pride.”

There were originally 14 Jamaicans athletes selected to compete at the competition. However, team captain and two-time men’s 93kg class defending champion Jevon DaCosta was unable to attend due to flight issues caused by Tropical Storm Debby.

In his absence, Jamaica’s contingent of six female and seven male athletes took on the best in the region across several weight classes. There were standout performances from Sami DePass, Anna-Kay Brown, Scott Jennings, and Bruce Higgins.

Reigning women’s 74kg champion DePass showed why she is considered one of the best in the world when she defended her title for the third consecutive year.

DePass recorded a stunning series of performances with 215kg in the squat, 123kg in the bench press, and 242.5kg in the deadlift for an overall total of 580.5kg. She left the competition with four gold medals and a tally of 114.70 IPF GL points.

Brown, making her debut, also impressed for Jamaica as she left with four bronze medals. Competing in the women’s 84kg class, Brown placed third overall with her best lifts were 157.5kg in the squat, 70kg in the bench press, and 172.5kg in the deadlift.

Jennings took home three medals in the men’s 93kg weight class, a silver, and two bronze. The 2022 North American champion placed third overall after his series of efforts with a 255kg squat, 180kg bench press, and also deadlifting 320kg.

Higgins rounded out the medal haul for Jamaica with his performances in the men’s 120+ kg weight class. He won bronze for placing third overall in the competition. His best squat of 310kg earned him a silver medal in the category before taking home two more bronze medals in the bench press, 202.5kg, and the deadlift, 305kg.

This year’s staging was the third year in a row Jamaica has competed at the regional competition and further cements the nation’s growing reputation in powerlifting.