HS POWERLIFTING: Abington Heights' Gercken wins bench press title at world championships in South Africa
May 23—Abington Heights junior powerlifter Amelia Gercken traveled a long way and captured a world title in the bench press.
Representing the United States at the IPF International World Bench Press Championships in Sun City, South Africa, Gercken overcame some pre-meet adversity and earned the championship in the 76 kilogram (165 pounds) weight class in the sub-junior division with a winning lift of 72.5 kilograms (160 pounds) Monday.
"I am ecstatic," Gercken, 17, said in a phone interview. "My first thought was that my lift wasn't good. I walked out, and I went over to shake hands to congratulate the winner. I heard my other coach say that my lift was going to the jury. They watched the video and said it was a good lift.
"I didn't believe it, and I ran over to the board. It was so cool to win it. I never thought it could happen."
Gercken earned the chance at this competition by winning the national title at the Powerlifting America National Bench Press Meet in Reno, Nevada, in January with a lift of 67.5 kilograms (148.8 pounds).
In the warmup room, officials questioned Gercken's bench press form and the depth of her elbows on her lift.
That unnerved her a bit. National coach Steve Petrencak adjusted her grip and narrowed Gercken's hands. He moved her feet closer together on the floor, and she arched her back less. By doing that, the coach also dropped her starting weight from 65 kilograms (143 pounds) to 57.5 kilograms (126 pounds) to allow her to get a successful lift with the new technique.
Gercken then jumped to her initial weight of 65 kilograms, which she also lifted successfully.
The other competitor, Roechelle Van Der Merwe of South Africa, could not lift 70 kilograms on her third and final attempt. Gercken attempted 72.5 kilograms and lifted it successfully. However, she received two red lights as judges explained they felt her lift wasn't smooth and the bar bounced ruling it a failed lift.
Initially disappointed, Gercken's coaches appealed the decision to the jury, and the red lights were overturned.
"I was very worried," Gercken said. "I was also worried that my coach dropped my first weight by that much, thinking that I might not have a successful lift. I was really glad that it all worked out for me."
Gercken, who is coached at Abington Heights by Claude Welcome, has more competitions on her summer schedule, including the NAPF Championships in Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands and the IPF World Classic and Junior Powerlifting Championships in Romania. In October, she plans to compete at the NAPF North American Bench Press Championships in Mexico.
In April, Gercken finished second in the 167-pound class in the Female Raw Varsity division at the Powerlifting America High School National Championships at The Radisson at Lackawanna Station. She also won the 167-pound weight class at the PSCPA State High School Championship this spring.
Contact the writer: jbfawcett@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9125; @sportsTT on Twitter
