Wait is over for Myers
Proving herself at national level was a weight off the shoulders for Jenna Myers.
At the Australian weightlifting championships in Melbourne last week, the Frankford 23-year-old lifted more than any other sub-75kg Tasmanian woman in history to claim the national title and a shot at the world crown.
The achievement, which involved breaking two of her own Tasmanian records, came within a year of returning to the sport as a Tasmanian Institute of Sport scholarship holder after serving a two-year suspension for a banned stimulant.
“I wanted to prove to myself, and to those people who did not believe me, that I could become Australian champion,” Myers said.
“I’ve got a lot to prove to some people but also to myself, my coach and the TIS and this is just another stepping stone to doing that.
Competing in the under-75kg division, Myers snatched a Tasmanian record 96kg and clean and jerked 112kg for a total of 208kg – 1kg above her existing state benchmark and 7kg over the world championship qualifying figure.
She now has both the Australian and Oceania records in her sights.
“She is lifting the heaviest weights a Tasmanian girl has ever done,” PCYC coach Mark Brown said.
“The landmark lift of 100kg snatch is just around the corner and she would be the first Australian of her weight to achieve it.”
Myers will contest the world titles in South Korea in November and next June will attend trials for the Commonwealth Games in India.
“It’s an honour to be selected to represent my country against the very best,” the Parks and Wildlife employee said.
“The world championships are second only to the Olympics so are a fairly big stage and it will probably be a dress rehearsal for the Commonwealth Games and another chance to prove myself.” (Australian Weightlifting Federation)
