Topic: News: Beaufort's James Washington reaching lofty lifter status

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Beaufort's James Washington reaching lofty lifter status

James Washington knew he could hold his own against his peers. After all, the Beaufort High School junior is ranked first in the school-age national weightlifting 62-kilogram division, consisting of all the country's competitors ages 17 and under.

 But after last weekend's USA Weightlifting National Junior Championships in California, the 17-year-old also staked his claim for things to come.

Competing against 16 of the country's top 18- to 20-year-old lifters, Washington took fourth overall with a combined lift of 209 kilograms (461 pounds) in the snatch and clean and jerk competitions. Washington's lift of 94 kilograms (208 pounds) in the snatch event earned him a silver medal.

The achievement did plenty to impress his coach, Ray Jones, who has seen many great lifters during his 35 years in the sport and leading the Team Beaufort squad.

"What's so unique about James is that he's only been lifting for a year now, and all of those older guys he was competing against had at least five to 10 years experience," Jones said. "It's unheard of that someone can come along and do what's he's doing."

The modest Washington attributes his quick learning and success to consistent practice and hard training. In fact, he even admits that he never saw himself being this good when he first picked up the sport after seeing his brother compete.

But for as much as Washington loves lifting and winning, he also doesn't mind the travel and new experiences that have come along with it.

"On Saturday, we went sightseeing and got to go to the pier and Fisherman's Wharf (in San Francisco) to see people performing on the streets," said Washington, who had flown on a plane just once before. "It was a really good time, and the weekend gave me a chance to see what I'll be going up against next year and what I need to do to get better."