Topic: News: LSUS' Kendrick Farris Claims National Title

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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LSUS' Kendrick Farris Claims National Title

Kendrick Farris began weighlifting at the USA Weightlifting Developmental Center on the LSUS campus as an 11-year-old. On Saturday, as a 20-year-old, on the same campus, Farris became the first local product of the program to qualify for the World Championships.

"He is the first to the Worlds," said Kyle Pierce, Farris' coach. "We've had Junior Worlds, a bunch of them. Kendrick's been to Junior Worlds three times but this is our first kid on the World team."
 
Farris earned his slotted spot on the team by winning the 85 kg weight class at the 2006 National Championships at LSUS. He had lifts of 155 in the snatch and 190 in the clean and jerk for a 345 total, just ahead of Innocent Upkong who finished second at 341.

"It went pretty good," Farris said. "I made four out of six lifts. I wanted to go six for six and planned on getting a 355 total. But I did up my total from my previous competition in China."

Perhaps more important than winning on Saturday is the position Farris finds himself.

"To me, it's just a stepping stone to the Olympics," Farris said. "I trained hard to make this (World) team. I feel good about the results. I wish I could have gotten a higher total but I'm on the team so all I can do is train for the competition and get ready for that."

The Olympics are still two years away, but for Farris, they are closer than you might think.

"It's coming into focus," he said. "I'm trying to get ready for it right now. I've been thinking about it for awhile."

In the men's 69 kg weight class, Henry Brower was first with 123 in the snatch, 162 in the clean and jerk and 285 total.

Chad Vaughn won the men's at 322 total. Jason Brown, an LSUS student, also competed in the event and had 117 in snatch.

In the men's 94 Kg weight class, Jeff Wittmer was first with a 335 total.