2018 Classic Open Nationals Preview - Women

by Connor Lutz

The women’s competition this year is filled with drama before the event has even begun, as if that’s a surprise to anyone… The root cause of this drama can ultimately be determined to be a result of one lifter who isn’t even competing; Jessica Benedetto. Jessica has been a long time competitor in the CPU’s 57kg class and has opted out of this years competition. I believe this resulted in a ripple affect across the light weight women’s classes as these ladies jockey for position to qualify for the world championships!

47kg Nominations

Wong	Rhonda	AB	322.5
Lai	Simone	ON	315

 

One of the major weight class changes in the women’s classes involved the heavy favourite of the 47kg division. This leaves two very capable women to duke it out for supremacy in the 47kg class and a spot on Team Canada this coming June. These ladies are Rhonda Wong and Simone Lai, two individuals who both have previous international experience. Look for this battle to come down to the final pull!

47kg Predictions

1. Rhonda Wong
2. Simone Lai

The outcome of this class could certainly come down to one missed attempt! For that reason I have to give the edge to the bigger deadlifter of the group, Rhonda who will have the final opportunity to take home the gold.

52kg Nominations

Rieber	Joanna	ON	387.5
Paviglianiti	Nicola	ON	357.5
Gee	Christina	BC	325
Ungar	Isabel	ON	315
Rochford	Alexandra	ON	300
Stewart	Clarissa	MB	290
Sideroff	Carissa	SK	290
Yanke	Skylar	AB	290
Lehmann	Mae	ON	287.5
Xie	Sarah	BC	282.5
Janis	Melissa	SK	265

 

The 52kg class is led by two Inner Strength Products teammates both of whom have extensive international experience. While both are on opposite ends of the age spectrum, Joanna being able to compete as a Master and Nicola being a first year open, this doesn’t make them any less competitive. Not only do they two differ in age, they also differ in skill with Joanna boasting a world class bench press and Nicola a standout in the deadlift. The rest of this class behind these women is filled with a collection of relative newcomers to the sport all looking to make a name for themselves at the national level. Christina Gee comes in nominated in third place with a total attained as a light 57kg lifter, while close behind is Isabel Ungar another first year open fresh off her first year of competition!

52kg Predictions

1. Joanna Rieber
2. Nicola Paviglianiti
3. Isabel Ungar

While I have been giving the podium position nod to deadlifters throughout this preview, I think Joanna will prevail in the first of many battles between herself and Nicola. That leaves Nicola coming away with the silver medal in her first open championships. Battling it out for third place, I am giving the nod to new comer Isabel Ungar who appears to be making really consistent progress meet to meet in her first year and I don’t expect this to be any different!

57kg Nominations

Puddicome	Stephanie	NL	375.5
Tran	Carolyn	SK	355
Van Den Bosch	Jannelle	MB	342.5
Stajniak	Alicia	SK	337.5
Earl	Stephanie	ON	335
O'Toole	Colleen	BC	322.5
Cluett	Chelsea	NS	312.5
Salahub	Sumalee	AB	300
Hochstein	Natasha	SK	295

 

Now the 57kg class is where things start to get really interesting! In years past the 57kg class has been extremely competitive with two lifters achieving multiple 500 wilks performances in this class. As previously discussed, one of these lifters has chosen not to compete. Now logic would say this class would be a homerun for Maria Htee, the defending champion; however, being the competitor she is, she has chosen to not to cut weight and compete up a class in the extremely deep 63kg division. This leaves the 57kg class wide open and in classic #coachkean fashion, Stef Puddicome has opted to change weight classes from her original 47kg class to the 57kg class. Yes, she has chosen to compete two weight classes up at the entry deadline. Now keep in mind Stef has a history of painful weight cuts to make 47 however now needs to weigh at least 52.01 to find herself in the 57kg class. Oddly enough with her best total at 50kg body weight Steph now assumes the number one position in this class. What gets even more interesting is that by winning their weight classes, Maria and Steph would qualify for the world championships where I assume they will choose to go back down in class to put themselves in a position for international medals! Two other lifters to keep an eye on in this class are Carolyn Tran and Jannelle Van De Bosch who find themselves, literally overnight within potential striking distance of a world team spot!

 
Photo credit International Powerlifting Federation

57kg Predictions

1. Stef Puddicome
2. Carolyn Tran
3. Jannelle Van De Bosch

I would like to think that the potential to come in feeling fresh and full has to bode well for Stef’s chances in this class, in collaboration with the potential to pull for the win and have the bodyweight advantage.  Stef has been burned by missing weight in the opposite direction in the past and I don’t think she will let that happen this year by going the other way! The second place battle will be great between some very competitive lifters. I’ve heard very promising things about Jannelle’s potential from a source I won’t disclose but this opportunity is something that Carolyn has been dreaming of since she began competing in the sport and I don’t think you’ll see her pass it by.

63kg Nominations

Htee	Maria	NL	459.5
Parsons	Teresa	AB	432.5
Yeung	Teresa	ON	415
Taccone	Maria Christina	ON	405
Nikiforuk	Natalie	AB	400
Pronick	Wendy	BC	395
Morris	Amy	SK	393
Mamane	Leah	QC	387.5
Zanon	Domini	AB	385
Schwabe	Miriam	ON	380
Hall	Abby	AB	370
Sabino	Jenna	BC	365
Goruick	Milayna	SK	360
Morgan	Maggie	ON	342.5
Fisher	Kristy	MB	342.5
Frank	Mimi	AB	327.5
Guerrero	Lucia	ON	325
Morrison	Caitlin	BC	322.5
Choy	Vanessa	AB	312.5
Murphy	Nathalie	ON	305

 

The 63kg class has become unbelievably competitive over the last couple years and 2018 is no different with upwards of half this class having the potential to podium. That is absolutely incredible when the top two lifters both boast 500+ wilks! I expected to see both Maria Htee and Teresa Parsons do battle in the 57kg class however both have opted to try their hand in the 63kg division. While I presume this was strategy on behalf of team Newfoundland, one has to wonder if Teresa missed her opportunity to compete at the world championships by not choosing to stay down in the 57s! Regardless, there are 6 of top 7 finishers from last years championships returning to compete once again and I don’t doubt they will put on an incredible show as there are too many amazing lifters in this session to name them all. If there is a night you are looking at taking in some women’s powerlifting come check out the Wednesday night session filled with 63s and 72s. You won’t regret it!

63kg Predictions

1. Maria Htee
2. Teresa Parsons
3. Teresa Yeung

Despite Teresa Parson’s being one of the few lifters who could push Maria, Maria being the best female lifter in Canadian history is reason enough to believe she will win this class. That being said, I’m very interested to see how close Teresa can get to stealing the gold away from the silver medal position. Choosing a bronze medal finisher was extremely difficult as so many women could find themselves in the spot with a great performance; however Teresa Yeung is the returning bronze medalist from last year and I believe she will get the job done once again.

72kg Nominations

Smith	Alyssa	ON	493
Stinn	Rhaea	SK	492
Castro	Christine	ON	465
Leighton	Sarah	ON	452.5
Assad	Steph	ON	427.5
Lemay	Valérie	QC	402.5
Winter	Kelly	ON	397.5
Maclean	Mihaela	BC	396.5
McIntyre	Teighan	ON	382.5
Law	mikaela	NS	382.5
Theron	Jennifer	ON	377.5
North	Lydia	ON	377.5
Sperske	Alexa	AB	360
Cahill	Morgan	AB	360
Sorenson	Katie	AB	360
McNutt	Jessica	NS	360
Munro	Jeri	PE	347.5
Crane	Miranda	PE	342.5
Lemire	Melissa	ON	332.5
Cruz	Jennifer-Grace	MB	332.5
Fontyn	Danielle	ON	325

 

The 72kg women will once again be a battle for the ages. I feel like a broken record but this session has the makings of a competition for the history books. Rhaea Stinn is a true legend in the sport of powerlifting, she is competing in her 16^th nationals for goodness sake… she has long dominated both the equipped and classic scene, achieving the highest equipped women’s wilks of all time in Canada, holding multiple world records and competing at more international competitions that I can count. Yet this year, Rhaea comes in nominated in the number 2 position, by a kilogram! I don’t think there is a girl who has started powerlifting in the past 16 who hasn’t looked up to Rhaea or dreamed of achieving what she has in the sport and I presume Alyssa is no different. Rhaea is extremely competitive and well versed in attempt selection making her very difficult to beat; however, should Alyssa perform the way she is capable, she will join a very select few women to say they have topped Rhaea Stinn, and likely the first in Canada! These women both come into the event with monster squats, eyeing world record attempts this summer at the world championships however Rhaea has a distinct advantage in the bench press while Alyssa the deadlift. Behind these two extraordinary women falls two equally accomplished lifters which includes Sarah Leighton another well-seasoned lifter with international experience of her own and Christine Castro, last years 63kg gold medalist with a huge deadlift in her own right. Needless to say, the outcome of this session will not be decided until the bar hits the floor!

Photo credit Loaded Bar Collective

72kg Predictions

1. Rhaea Stinn
2. Alyssa Smith
3. Christine Castro

The outcome of this group might honestly be the most exciting showdown of the entire week of lifting. I suspect that Rhaea’s experience will prevail as she seems to execute flawlessly time and time again under pressure. With that being said, Alyssa has immense potential and will have every opportunity to be crowned the best 72kg lifter in Canada and punch her ticket to the world championships. The battle for bronze will also be entertaining however Christine’s potential in her new weightclass, along with an ace deadlift should be enough to fend off the surge of the rest of the field.

84kg Nominations

Cowan	Sara	ON	542.5
Philibert	Danielle	AB	437.5
Reid-Clavelle	Danielle	SK	417.5
Bunt	Darron	AB	405
Garand	Rebecca	QC	399.5
Swidnicki	Megan	MB	392.5
Petersen	Krista	AB	380
Adams	Rebecca	NL	377.5
Hollingshead	Shelly	AB	375
Schellenberg	Alexandria	BC	375
Desautels	Lynne	BC	373.5

 

In short, the 84kg class will be dominated by Sara Cowan. Sara comes in nominated an astonishing 105kg ahead of her competition despite being a junior. This total is not only impressive by Canadian standards, it stands higher than both the junior AND open world record totals for this class. It goes without saying Sara is not out of her league registering for the open category. Behind Sara are two relatively new lifters, competing in a total of 7 competitions combined. This isn’t reason to discount their abilities however as they continue to make great strides during their time in the sport.

84kg Predictions

1. Sara Cowan
2. Danielle Philibert
3. Danielle Reid-Clavelle

There is no reason to think Sara Cowan won’t come away with the title unless she gets snowed into her hotel room and misses the competition entirely. Danielle Philibert found herself behind Sara at last years championships an experience I think she can replicate this year against first time Nationals competitor Daniel Reid-Clavelle.

84kg+

Schlater	Brittany	ON	576
Kostynuik	Hailey	MB	571.5
Belanger	Emilie	AB	481
Broadbent	Bianca	BC	466
Bishop	Aileen	AB	442.5
Willis	Gaïa	AB	435
Hollahan	Lindsay	NL	427.5
Elias	Lexie	MB	420
Pigeon	Samantha	ON	397.5
Mullowney	Jillian	NL	382.5
Hearn	Christine	QC	377.5
Kubb	Barbara-Ann	BC	355

 

The 84kg+ class has been dominated by Hailey Kostynuik for the last couple years as she has medalled at the world championships in both Killeen, Texas and Minsk, Belarus; however this year she comes in nominated in the number two spot behind Brittany Schlater. Brittany has only been competing for two years and has made enormous strides in a short period of time with accolades including the national record in bench press, deadlift and total. It’s not too often you see two women squatting and deadlifting over 225kg but this session will have at least two! The field behind these ladies is extremely deep with a collection of women eyeing the bronze medal.

84kg+ Predictions

1. Brittany Schlater
2. Hailey Kostynuik
3. Emilie Belanger

While it may be anti-climactic, I think despite Brittany’s inexperience, she will come away with the title and a birth on team Canada. I actually had to do a double take at her progress the last two years which has been out of this world. Assuming she can sustain any bit of that momentum Hailey will certainly have her hands full in defending the national title and once again competing at the world championships.

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Find the men's open classic preview here. 

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Tune in to the live stream February 20-24 here.