Airmen bring 'big guns' to weightlifting competition

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. - Airman 1st Class Cory Jenkins, 334th Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chief, weighs in during the bench press competition here July 28, 2011. The fitness center hosted the competition to encourage Airmen to live a healthy lifestyle. Jenkins hails from Slidell, La. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Gino Reyes/Released)

Airmen bring 'big guns' to weightlifting competition

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. - Airman 1st Class Cory Jenkins, 334th Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chief, lifts 305 pounds during the bench press competition here July 28, 2011. The winner of the competition, Staff Sgt. Lysander Roberson, 4th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle maintenance technician, received a T-shirt and a trophy for lifting 500 pounds. Jenkins hails from Slidell, La. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Gino Reyes/Released)

Airmen bring 'big guns' to weightlifting competition

Published Aug. 2, 2011
By Senior Airman Gino Reyes

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C -- The 4th Force Support Squadron fitness center hosted a bench press competition for Airmen wanting to prove their muscular prowess here July 28, 2011.

"The goal of the competition is to boost morale and physical and mental health," said Senior Airman Brian Delacruz, 4th FSS fitness specialist. "Participation is essential to the event's success!"

The competition used the Wilks formula, which takes an individual's weight and amount he or she lifted to determine the best pound-for-pound winner. With no weight classes factored in the competition, the individual lifting the least weight began the event.

The competition consisted of the three rounds per person and one repetition per round. Participants picked a weight to begin with and had to complete one repetition with that weight to move on the next round.

"This is my first competition, and I expect to do well for my size," said Airman 1st Class Marcus Toney, 4th Civil Engineer Squadron operations apprentice.

The winners of the competition were Staff Sgt. Lysander Roberson, 4th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle maintenance technician, lifting a top weight of 500 pounds, and Staff Sgt. Danielle Williams, 4th FSS sports NCOIC, lifting a top weight of 135 pounds.