2023 NSW State Masters Championships
NSW State Masters Championships were held over the weekend (28th-30th May), with over 150 athletes it was a massive weekend.
The MM Weightlifting house team was on fire, leading off the charge with Sam taking to the stage Saturday morning at 9am, this was Sam’s first state event, there was lots of nerves and with 14 females lifting Sam had a long wait before she even needed to touch a barbell to start her warmups.
Once we picked the empty barbell up we where focused, with the opening lift recorded at 38 kilos our warmups where going well so we bumped it to 40kgs to open our assault on winning the State title. It was always going to be a battle between Sam and Leisa from rec gym, Leisa opening 3kgs more than us in the snatch. Sam went 3/3 ending on 46kgs for a new 4kg Pb and the NSW State record, while Leisa went 43kgs missed 45kgs then hit 46kgs to go into the clean and jerks equal. Opening with the largest C&J of the session and 5kgs above Leisa we remained focused and came out after another long weight with 3/3 again in the C&J ending with a 3kg Pb at 65kgs and 111kg total for the Gold and 2 state records.
Kelley’s weigh-in wasn’t till 12pm which gave her time to sit relax and watch how things work at a State championship. Again, this was Kel’s first big event, after 500 nerves wee’s we were ready to warm up, Again we bumped Kelley’s opener up in the back room as she was making everything look easy, there was lots of nerves from this lady, but as a coach its your job to calm her, settle her and give her the advice that works for her. Kel was up early in the session of 18 ladies hitting our first 2 snatches and a great high pull on her 3rd, but we walked away with a Snatch pb and gained confidence knowing there is way more to come. After a long wait between lifts, we started our warmup for C&J, Kelly like Sam doesn’t like knowing what’s on the barbell or what I’m changing their weights to on the platform, during warmup Kelley asks me what are we opening at as that warmup lift was 2kilos more than our recorded opener.. my response to her was I know right, her eyes rolled back the nerves smile she gets came to her face and she blurted out Fuck me Matt..
We went up opening at 41kgs, then to 44kgs and missing 48kgs with a small press out in the 3rd was deemed a no lift, Kelley walked of stage and again with the Fuck Matt, but this time it was Fuck Matt I’ve never even considered 48kgs and I just cleaned it..
Then it was the boys turn, with Luke and I lifting in the same session it was going to be a whole new experience for me, as I was coaching and being coached at the same time. With a field of 18 athletes, it made it a little easier as I was at the tail end of the session allowing me to warm Luke up and be with him on the platform while he lifted. Luke’s lead up preparations where great, hitting everything we had programmed him, building confidence in the weeks prior. Warmups went well we opened to 78kgs and walked out onto the platform and nailed it. We went 2 kilos to 80kg, then mind started to kick in and we walked to the barbell with the brain saying one thing the body knowing it can do another.
As a coach this is the hardest position to be in, in my opinion. But we need to be able to calm, refocus and encourage our athlete and make them believe they can and not the cannot. Luke walked back out for his 3rd snatch with a much better head but unfortunately on the day the weight was just too much and was deemed no lift with a press out. Then came the clean and jerk, opening heavier than we ever had in the past 2yrs which shows how much work we have been putting in in our lead up. After smashing our opener those mind games came back when we went out on the platform for the second lift at 108kgs, the minute Luke walked of the platform he knew and was super frustrated, we sat him down, again reminded him the weight is something we have hit time and time again in training, the last lift was just that, in the past and we can not change that now focus to what’s about to happen. We went out for the 3rd and final lift, the clean was easy but a soft elbow giving us a 2/6 day, Walking away with 3rd place something that I’m proud of as Luke coach and something he should be also. We have bad days, but we learn from them, and we grow.
Now for my experience of the session.. Well firstly don’t recommend coaching and lifting in the same session just saying. But my lifters will always come before my lifting in an event. Warming up was a whole new level of stress coaching in between it, but I thankfully have one of the best in the business on my side when it comes to helping me in the back room and have for a while now, NSW and Australian coach Venessa Kerr. Taking care of my warmup times, weights loaded on the barbell and numbers in the backroom. During warmups I was missing lifts and doing doubles at weights I was meant to be doing singles at because of the amount of things happening in the background. Missing 90kgs in the back room made me sit, breath and gain focus.. that’s a weight I don’t miss in warmups.. 93kg warmup snatch felt back to normal going out opening with 95kgs. Perfect, it felt awesome. There was 3 lifters all floating around the 95-97kg range and Ness and I decided to get out of all the backroom swapping and changing and went to 100kgs for my second lift, we missed 100 and 102kgs but we had one on the board and that’s all that’s needed.
Clean and jerks same situation in warming up as Snatch super busy with coaching duties but got to focus earlier as I was warming up after Luke had lifted this time, we opened conservative at 120kgs, then did 5kg jumps 125kgs -130kgs. 3/3 in the clean and jerks was a great result as I haven’t hit 130kgs in over 5mths in training or on a platform. Walking away with a 225kg total and eligible for Senior State titles.
Over all a fantastic outcome for the MM Weightlifting Team, well done to all lifters across all sessions over the weekend.
