They do the heavy lifting

Women’s champion lifts twice her weight

Bob Reinert / Northwest Guardian

Katie Payne took a couple of deep breaths as she approached. Then she reached down, grabbed the bar, pulled the weights off the floor and stood straight up with more than twice her body weight in her hands.

While large men were hoisting absurd amounts of weight, a 130-pound woman deadlifted 265 pounds and drew perhaps the loudest cheers Saturday at the annual Fort Lewis Bench Press and Deadlift Championships at Sheridan Sports and Fitness Center.

“That’s really good weight for a little girl like she was,” said Susan Jackson, of Fort Lewis Sports, Fitness and Aquatics, the event director. “I was surprised.”

Payne, one of two women in the championship, was the only one remaining by the deadlift. It didn’t matter to her.

“This is my first competition, but I’ve been lifting for about five or six years, just for fun,” said Payne, who had plenty of that Saturday. “I love having a big crowd, because it has my adrenaline rushing and it gives me more energy.”

The 24-year-old Payne earned “Best Female Lifter” for her deadlift and a bench-press of 135 pounds.

“I’m trying to get some more (women),” said Jackson, a former world powerlifting champion. “It’s a fun sport. It’s just seeing what you can do and putting it out there.”

Aaron Rodely did that, too. Coming off surgery on his left knee in July and whispering through laryngitis, Rodely competed in — and won — the men’s bench press in the 220-pound-plus class. He lifted 425 pounds.

“It’s hurting right now,” Rodely said. “I told myself last night that I’d be happy with anything over 405, because I haven’t been heavy on the bench in a long time.”

Limping noticeably, Rodely passed on the deadlift competition. Anthony Morris, 42, took the division with a 600-pound effort.

“I put an effort in it. That’s for sure,” Morris said. “I get into that zone.”

When he wasn’t lifting, Morris made sure to encourage the other competitors.

“It ain’t just the individual,” Morris said. “I make sure I help motivate all the other guys, also.”

Among them was his son, Delshawn Arnold, a Lakes High School football player who was named Best Teenage Lifter.

As Jackson pointed out, however, the biggest competitors weren’t always the best lifters. In fact, 158-pound Charlie Fields won Best Male Bench Lifter for pressing 300 pounds, and Eric Farmer claimed Best Male Deadlifter with his 485-pound effort.

“Your last lift should be at least your maximum, or a little bit above,” Jackson said. “You should not be leaving anything behind.”

Twenty-four lifters took part in the competition. Leamon Woodley, another world champion, gave the initial briefing to them and served as head judge.

“There is no way I could have done Saturday without him,” Jackson said of Woodley. “He was a key part of it.”

Jackson said she looks forward to an even better turnout next year. “I’m hoping the numbers will be like 30 to 50,” Jackson said. “I want to get more people involved.”

2009 Fort Lewis Bench Press and Deadlift Championship

Best Female Lifter

Katie Payne

Best Male Bench Lifter

Charlie Fields

Best Male Deadlifter

Eric Farmer

Best Teenage Lifter

Delshawn Arnold

Team results

1. 170th MPs, 2. 4th LSB

Women’s Bench

1. Katie Payne, 135 lbs.

2. Jauchia Blythe, 105 lbs.

Women’s Deadlift

1. Katie Payne, 265 lbs.

Men’s Bench

165 pounds

1. Charlie Fields, 300 lbs.

2. Jesse Weinert, 275 lbs.

3. Rodney DeLeon, 225 lbs.

181 pounds

1. Eric Farmer, 345 lbs.

2. Vincent Williams, 250 lbs.

3. Joseph Alwan, 195 lbs.

198 pounds

1. Brian Heimbigner, 255 lbs.

2. Daleon Fushaw, 235 lbs.

220 pounds

1. Nicholas Dechicko, 405 lbs.

2. William Brockington, 360 lbs.

3. Edward Fucci, 320 lbs.

220-plus pounds

1. Aaron Rodely, 425 lbs.

2. Rodman Delasko, 410 lbs.

3. Anthony Morris, 410 lbs.

Men’s Deadlift

165 pounds

1. Mason Ostram, 415 lbs.

2. Charlie Fields, 395 lbs.

3. Jess Weinert, 350 lbs.

181 pounds

1. Eric Farmer, 485 lbs.

2. Vincent Williams, 350 lbs.

3. Joseph Alwan, 330 lbs.

198 pounds

1. Daleon Fushaw, 450 lbs.

2. Brian Heimbigner, 360 lbs.

220 pounds

1. Nicholas Dechicko, 550 lbs.

2. Edward Fucci, 405 lbs.

3. William Brockington, 400 lbs.

220-plus pounds

1. Anthony Morris, 600 lbs.

2. Rafael Ortiz, 515 lbs.

3. Marcus Abbott, 500 lbs.

Multimedia Gallery:

2009 Bench Press and Deadlift Competition