Topic: News: Kendrick Farris Sets American Record, Wins Again

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Kendrick Farris Sets American Record, Wins Second Straight Nationals

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. (AP) — Kendrick Farris broke his own American record in the clean and jerk on Saturday, lifting 440.9 pounds to win his second consecutive USA Weightlifting national championship.

Farris, 21, of Shreveport, La., had already won the 187-pound competition when he made his record-setting lift. Adding a snatch of 341.7 pounds, Farris won with a total of 782.6 pounds.

"I look at setting a national record as a stepping stone to breaking a world record," said Farris, who set the previous record of 438.7 pounds in March. "That's why it's hard for me to be too excited about it. I'm happy. It's not like I'm disappointed, but like I said, I look at that as a stepping stone to breaking the world record (480.6)."

These championships serve as the primary qualifier for the U.S. roster for the Pan-American Games and the world championships this summer. The rosters will be announced after competition ends Sunday.

In the women's 152-pound division, Aimee Anaya beat former Olympian Cara Heads by 2.2 pounds, 436.5 to 434.3, to win her first national title. Anaya's 235.8-pound lift in her final clean and jerk topped Heads' 233.6 pounds.

"It's amazing to be a national champion," said Anaya, who set a personal best in this match with a 200.6. "It's even more motivational and inspirational to me to be national champion next to Cara Heads."

Natalie Woolfolk won her third consecutive women's 138-pound championship with a total of 467.3 pounds.

First-time champion Matt Bruce won the men's 169-pound division with former Olympian Chad Vaughn choosing not to go for his fifth title in a row because he had already secured a roster spot.

Bruce swept the metals and posted a winning total of 720.9 pounds.

[Shaun Le Conte]

It's amazing how close he really is to the world's best in the clean and jerk at the present time. With a bit more improvement he could be medalling at this year's world's!

[Eamonn Flanagan]

200kg is a new american record in the clean and jerk? I thought he did 203kg at the Arnolds in Columbus this year?

Or is it the total that is the new record?

[Adrian Cadmus-Dixon]

200kg is a new american record in the clean and jerk? I thought he did 203kg at the Arnolds in Columbus this year?

Or is it the total that is the new record?

He tried 203kg at the Arnolds, but missed it.

[Jim Hooper]

If he's this close to the WR at age 21, he's going to break it, barring injury.  I propose his one-of-a-kind jerk jerk techique be named the Squit Jerk (Half Squat, Half Split = Squit).

[Jake Harrison]

anybody have video of this lift and his snatch?

[Eamonn Flanagan]

Kendrick Farris 200kg clean and jerk:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2_LWgQx_Rw

And yeah, I forgot that the record he made at columbus was 199kg on his second attempt, and then cleaned 203, before barely missing the jerk.

[Ryan Marciniszyn]

It looks like he cleaned the technique up a little bit... starting to look like there is less split and more push jerk like.