BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Mahailya Reeves, 19, who became the first girls high school weightlifter to win four state championships (three for Union County and one for Bradford), excelled on the biggest stage of her career, capturing the overall gold medal for Team USA at the International Powerlifting Federation Sub-Junior and Junior World Championships in Istanbul on Sept. 4.
Reeves won the squat, bench-press and deadlift events, compiling an overall total of 594.5 kilograms in the Junior 84+ kg class, which put her ahead of silver medalist Regina Meier of Kazakhstan (465) and bronze medalist Leah Gregory of Canada (452.5).
On her way to the gold, Reeves set a new world record in the bench press twice. She lifted 152 on her first attempt, which gave her the new record by 7 kilograms. Her second attempt at 164.5 was unsuccessful, but she tried it again on her final attempt and was successful. That gave her a 57-kilogram advantage over Meier.
The day for Reeves began with the squat. She opened with a successful attempt of 220, which amazed the commentators for IPF’s broadcast of the event via YouTube. Before Reeves’ attempt, Powerlifter Gavin Adin of the U.S. said, “What’s incredible here is she is extremely close to the world record. It is a 40-kilo gap, but she’s 19. With how young she is, she’s going to get so strong so fast.”
Reeves was successful on all three of her squat attempts, following up 220 with 225 and 230. That put her 37.5 kilograms ahead of Meier.
The deadlift was the final event. Reeves lifted 190 and 200. She was unsuccessful on her third attempt, which was 222.5. If she had gotten that, she would’ve surpassed the overall-total world record of 615.5.
Reeves’ 200 total in the deadlift placed her 11.5 kilograms ahead of Great Britain’s Chizaram Egbuziem.
