The 16th-annual Oregon Classic weightlifting competition, held Saturday at the Casanova Center, featured five new Oregon state records and impressive performances by Oregon running backs – and first-time competitive lifters – Andiel Brown and Jonathan Stewart.
Both Oregon backs won their respective weight classes. Brown lifted a total of 495 pounds, including a 225.5-pound snatch lift, in which the lifter uses a wide grip on the barbell and takes the weight from a squatting motion to a full upright extension. Brown also managed a 269.5-pound clean and jerk – a lift similar to the snatch except the lifter brings the barbell up to the chest and then over the head – to win the 207-pound weight class.
“Andiel had a couple struggles with technique, but he was very aggressive and very powerful,” said head strength and conditioning coach Jim Radcliffe.
Stewart lifted a total of 599.5 pounds, including a 264-pound snatch lift and a 336-pound clean and jerk lift to win the 231-pound weight class.
“For his weight class he’s exceptional,” Radcliffe said. “He’s just such a strong, powerful kid.”
Stewart nearly managed to outlift heavyweight (more than 231 pounds) lifter Brenden Ziegler, whose 346.5-pound clean and jerk was the heaviest lift of the day.
Stewart had one last lift to match Ziegler’s. The tie for overall winner would have gone to Stewart because he was the lighter lifter but after getting the weight in the air, he couldn’t stabilize it above his head. He held it there for a few seconds but was unable to stop his shuffling feet and gain complete control of the bar.
“I thought I got it,” Stewart said. “(The referee) was sort of pumping his hand like it was about to go down but it never did. It’s alright though.”
Radcliffe, the Oregon Classic coordinator for all of its 16 years, agreed with the referee’s ruling.
“His feet were still moving so the referee was waiting,” said Radcliffe. “He’s got to come to a complete stop.”
Despite the disappointment of missing his last lift, Stewart said he is pleased with his results and confident that the extra work he put in will help his performance on the football field.
“Lifting is definitely a component of what I do on the field,” Stewart said. “We’re using techniques for speed, quickness, power and explosiveness. To be a great running back, you need all of that.”
Brown stressed the mental edge he gets in all aspects of life from competing in events like the Oregon Classic.
“It’s not just strength, it’s confidence,” he said. “If you believe that you can do whatever, then there’s nothing stopping you. If you can break down those mental barriers, the sky is the limit.”
Brown and Stewart have been training for the event since the end of spring practices about a month ago. Radcliffe said that injuries are not any more likely when training athletes for this competition than they are in normal training.
“We use the same exercises in training, we just don’t use them to a competitive end,” Radcliffe said. “The only thing is taking them through all the nuances and judging. I plan it out. Monday all the football players will be back in here training and lifting, and I’m giving these guys the day off.”
Stewart said that while the strength and conditioning program wasn’t a factor in his decision to attend Oregon, he feels blessed to have Radcliffe as a training coach. Brown echoed the sentiments.
“He’s a great motivator,” Brown said. “He really helps me push myself.”
Aside from the two Oregon athletes who competed and won, the most impressive performance of the day was turned in by Justin Devereux.
Devereux had five successful lifts in six attempts to win the 170-pound weight class, and he broke the Oregon state records in snatch, clean and jerk, and combined total.
His new snatch record of 248 pounds is 16.5 pounds more than the previous record and his clean and jerk record of 308 pounds bested the previous record by 27.5 pounds.
“I don’t want to sound cocky, but those were records I knew I could get,” said Devereux. “To be honest, the only records I’m really concerned with are the national records. These weren’t even really on the radar.”
But while breaking the records might not have thrilled Devereux, lifting in the Oregon Classic did.
“Growing up in Missouri I always wanted to live in Oregon,” Devereux said. “Every year I would look at the meet results and the pictures because I always wanted to lift in this meet. So it was a really big deal for me.”
Devereux, a former track athlete, pointed to the history of Oregon athletics as an inspiration for him growing up.
“I’ve always been a big fan of all the history of Oregon athletics, like Steve Prefontaine and everything,” Devereux said. “When I ran track in high school, he really motivated me.”
Sarah Bertram broke her own state snatch record with a 181.5 pound lift. Elaine Weiss celebrated her 46th birthday by winning the 139 pound weight class and setting a new state snatch record with a 93.5 pound lift.
On top of winning their respective weight classes, Devereux and Bertram were also honored with Outstanding Lifter awards for the meet.