LSUS weightlifters bring home American Open honors

Five LSUS weightlifters finished in the top five of their weight categories at the American Open Championships Dec. 1-3 in the Birmingham, Ala. The five combined for two first-place finishes - including an American record lift and the meets best lifter award - a second place, third place and fifth place. The LSUS weightlifting team is coached by Dr. Kyle Pierce, an associate professor of kinesiology and health science and director of the LSUS USA Weightlifting Development Center. Pierce, who received the U.S. Olympic Committees 2006 James "Doc" Councilman Award, is widely acknowledged as being among the top weightlifting coaches in the world. Kendrick Farris, a 20-year-old junior from Shreveport, won the 85 kg category with a lift of 155 kg in the snatch and an American record 198 kg in the clean and jerk. His 353 total also broke the national junior record. Farris received the meets best lifter award for men. Video of Farris clean and jerk lifts may be seen at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=kbvzxlPVDok Aaron Adams, a freshman from Vineland, N.J., won the 62 kg category with lifts of 110 kg in the snatch and 143 kg in the clean and jerk. His performance qualified him for the 2007 Junior World Championships in May in Prague, Czech Republic. Cody Gibbs, a sophomore from Shreveport finished second in the 105 kg category. Sean Hutchinson, a freshman from Palatka, Fla., placed third in the 62 kg category. Jason Brown, a sophomore from Daytona Beach, FL, finished fifth in the 77 kg category but had the highest placement in the group among juniors (age 20 and under). For more information on the LSUS USA Weightlifting Development Center and the LSUS weightlifting team, contact Pierce at 318-795-4241 or Kyle.Pierce@lsus.edu.