Tommy Kono was back in town for the 4th Annual Tommy Kono Open at Sacramento High School this past weekend. Tommy traveled 2500 miles from his home in Honolulu as 60 lifters, both men and women, young and old, paid homage and competed in this annual USA Olympic Weightlifting event. The two-time Olympic and 6-time World Champion, also held a 2-hour Olympic Lifting clinic on Saturday for a very lucky two-dozen participants.
The event saw lifters ranging in age from twelve to eighty-one. Twelve year-old Florian Koch traveled all the way form Austria to win the 56k class, while eighty-one year old, Masters World Champion Dan Takeuchi, from Fresno, held his own in the 77kg weigth class.
There were many great performances, but eight athletes stood out. On the women's side, Junior World Team member, Chelsea Kyle, from Sandusky, Ohio had a 154kg total running away with gold in the 58kg weight class. The 20 year-old lifter also won both the Outstanding Junior Female and Outstanding Overall Female Lifter awards.
Also on on the women's side, Kevin Doherty's young girls team continued to break records. In the 53kg weight class Jenny Lam broke PWA Junior records in the Snatch, C&J, and Total. Serena Felicity broke the PWA Snatch Record in the 58kg class. Krislyn Li broke the Snatch, C&J, and Total PWA Junior Records in the 63 kg class. Michelle Cai, also a 63kg lifter, broke the previous PWA Junior records in both the Snatch and Total. Last, but not least, Cathy Cai broke the 69kg PWA Junior Records in the Snatch and Total.
Onthe men's side, we were pleased to have Junior World Team member Caleb Ward in the house and he had an outstanding 329kg total, easily winning the +105 weight class. Caleb also won the Outstanding Junior Male Lifter award. Caleb is from Wichita Falls, and along with Chelsea, has been training at California Strength in San Ramon, CA.
Martin Pashov was back for his second Kono and didn't let anyone down by dominating the 105kg weight class. His 203kg in the C&J is a new PWA Senior record. Martin was this year's Outstanding Male Lifter.
Hassle Free-San Francisco won the 1st Place Team award with 41 points, followed by HF-Sacramento with 33 points and The Sports Palace with 18 points.
For a complete list of results go to: http://www.lifttilyadie.com/Results/09TKOpen.htm
Kono IV pictures: http://hasslefree.smugmug.com/gallery/9239752_ckMgh#P-1-25
See you next year!