BRIDGETOWN, Barbados CMC – Barbadians Ivorn McKnee and Kristin Edwards failed to make the podium at last week’s Pan American Weightlifting Championships in Guatemala but coach Andrew Callender said he was still pleased with the duo’s outing. Commonwealth champion McKnee finished fourth for the second straight year while Edwards was 13th overall. Both managed, however, to record personal bests in the competition.
McKnee had further injury concerns, including a troublesome middle finger, ahead of the trip but defied these challenges to perform creditably in the May 25-30 Championships.
“He also lifted a personal best of 160 kg in the snatch, eight more than his previous competition best,” Callender said. “He just missed the lift at 164 and finished fourth.”
Callender said Edwards, meanwhile, had turned in an impressive performance on debut.
“Kristin lifted a personal best of 65 kg in the snatch and then 70 kg in the clean and jerk. She had an impressive approach and we were impressed,” Callender said.
“She would have to go down two weight categories to be at her optimum,” he added, noting that Edwards had been slightly disadvantaged by her weight conversion in the 75-plus division.
“Kristin finished 13th in the A group but noted that she cannot be a 75-plus super heavyweight. She will be a big 69 middleweight but Kristin has learnt a lot this week.”
The return of the Barbadian contingent has been delayed due to volcanic activity and flooding that struck the Central American nation and forced a closure of the airport there.