Mary Theisen-Lappen wins +87kg Silver bringing Team USA’s Medal Count to 8

September 15, 2023, (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) – Mary Theisen-Lappen lifted her way to the +87kg podium on Saturday in Saudi Arabia, winning two silver medals in her World Championships debut. Theisen-Lappen’s 160kg clean and jerk and 227kg total are only a few kilos shy of her best competition performance. 

She successfully completed a 117kg snatch on her second attempt after missing the weight on her first. Her 121kg third attempt was ruled a press-out. She made clean and jerk attempts of 156 and 160kg before attempting a 166kg lift, which if successful, would’ve been the winning clean and jerk of the session. It was also ruled a press-out. 

Tokyo 2020 Olympian, Sarah Robles competed in the same session, coming away with a 117kg best snatch attempt and a 150kg clean and jerk for a 267kg total. 

Earlier in the day, fellow 2020 Olympian, Wes Kitts took the platform in the 109kg B session, making all five of the lift attempts that he opted to take. His best snatch of 170kg and best clean and jerk of 200kg combined to give him a 370kg total. Kitts trained through this competition, the first mandatory qualifier for the 2024 Paris Games, but one of many remaining qualifying meets. Kitts aims to peak this training cycle at the end of the year in Doha, at the Grand Prix II. 

Caine Wilkes and Alejandro Media wrapped up the competition for TeamUSA Sunday morning in Riyadh, competing in the +109kg C session. Wilkes set two new Masters American Records while competing in his sixth world championships. His 170kg snatch and 386kg total are new American records in the M35 +109kg category.

The two went head to head in the snatch portion of the competition, making lifts of 165kg and 170kg. Wilkes made his 175kg 3rd attempt, but Medina missed the weight in front. 

In the clean and jerk portion of the competition, Wilkes made lifts of 203kg and 211kg before missing 216kg on his third attempt. Media made his opening attempt of 203kg before missing 210kg and 217kg, but he totaled 373kg in his world championships debut.