U.S. Juniors Set to Lift at British Championships May 16-17
COLORADO SPRINGS—Nine athletes are set to compete May 16-17 at British Weight Lifting’s (BWL) British Championships in Telford, England, following USA Weightlifting's decision to withdraw from the 2026 Junior World Championships in Ismailia, Egypt. Elle Bays, Bryson Brown, Kyle Martin Jr., Ryan McDonald, Grace Montgomery, Jade Morales, Ella Nicholson, Carter Sing, and Kimberly Wiese will take the platform this weekend. Team USA’s lifters will be competing as guest lifters, meaning they’ll be ineligible for medals at this competition, but their results will still count for ranking and qualifying purposes within USAW.
Full competition information and schedule
Women
53 kg Jade Morales | Redwood City, Calif. | Menlo College
69 kg Kimberly Wiese | San Ramon, Calif. | Saint Mary's College of California
77 kg Elle Bays | St. Augustine, Fla.
77 kg Grace Montgomery | Indianapolis, Indiana | Lindenwood University
86 kg Ella Nicholson | Medina, Ohio | Lindenwood University
Men
65 kg Bryson Brown | Milton, Florida | LSU Shreveport
79 kg Carter Sing | Camdenton, Missouri | Lindenwood University
88 kg Ryan McDonald | Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania | Liberty University
94 kg Kyle Martin Jr | Fleetwood, Pennsylvania | LSU Shreveport
Leading the pack in what was meant to be her fourth IWF Junior World Championship is Ella Nicholson (86kg). Nicholson is a perfect 18-for-18 in international medal opportunities and collected her third world crown at last year’s Junior World Championships in Lima, Peru. She’s set to compete at 86 kg this week and currently holds seven American records to her name. Her current personal records heading into the competition are 114/137/251 from the Rogue Stage at the 2026 Virus Weightlifting Series 1.
Jade Morales (53kg) returns to the international stage for the first time since the 2025 Junior Pan American Games where she earned silver at 53 kg after a 4-for-6 day in Asuncion, Paraguay. Morales earned gold in her first Pan American Junior Championships in March 2025 where she went 6-for-6 and lifted 76/102/178 to finish third in the snatch, first in the clean & jerk, and first in the total by one kilogram.
Kimberly Wiese (69kg) is set to make her second international appearance after a 13th-place finish at the 2023 IWF Youth World Championships where she lifted 74/92/166 at 71 kg. She’s coming off the 2026 Virus Series 1 where she finished fifth overall after snatching 90kg and lifting 115kg in the C&J. Her 205 kg total that day was one under her lifetime personal record.
Elle Bays (77kg) is set for her third international competition following the 2025 Youth World Championships (5th overall, 78/105/183) and the 2025 Youth Pan American Championships (gold sweep at 77 kg, 86/116/202). Grace Montgomery (77kg) returns to the international platform for the first time since the 2025 Junior World Championships where she finished 12th overall after lifting 94/117/211. She’s most recently coming off the University National Championships where she lifted 102kg and 118kg for a snatch gold medal, silver C&J medal, and silver total medal with Lindenwood. Montgomery’s 102 kg snatch set a university 77kg American record.
Ryan McDonald (88kg) is back on the international stage for the first time since last year’s Junior Pan American Games as well. There he finished third overall after going 4-for-6 and lifting 146/182/328 for a competition personal record in the snatch and three international PRs. He has since added six kilos to his total personal record after lifting 147/187/334 at the 2025 Virus Weightlifting Finals. McDonald has competed in five IWF World Championships and was set to return for his third Junior Worlds.
Kyle Martin Jr. (94kg) is back for his ninth international competition and first since last year’s Junior World Championships where he finished 11th overall after recording a 145kg snatch and 176kg clean & jerk. Martin Jr. recently put up 148/175/323 at University Nationals for a third overall finish at 94 kg. He is the junior 94 kg American record holder thanks to a 151kg snatch from the 2025 National Championships.
Carter Sing (79kg) was set for his second age-group world championship and the first of his junior career. He went to the 2025 IWF Youth World Championships where he finished sixth overall after a 123/145/268 day, and is coming off the 2025 Pan American Youth Championships where he swept gold and won the total by 24 kilos. Sing set a trio of U17 79kg American records (131kg snatch, 164kg CJ, 295kg total) with his result.
Of the nine athletes on the team, Bryson Brown (65kg) is the lone athlete making an international debut. Brown is coming off the National University Championships where he swept the men’s 65 kg category, lifting 117 kg in the snatch and 147 kg in the clean & jerk for a 264 kg total. His 117 kg snatch set the men’s university 65kg American record, and he was just two kilos shy of the C&J record. Brown finished sixth in the overall best lifter rankings for that competition with his results.
Competition Schedule
All times Eastern Daylight (EDT, UTC -4)
Red Platform
53 kg - Saturday May 16th 5:55 a.m. start, Jade Morales
69 kg - Sunday May 17th 5:55 a.m. start, Kimberly Wiese
77 kg - Sunday May 17th 7:40 a.m. start, Elle Bays, Grace Montgomery
86 kg - Sunday May 17th 10:25 a.m. start, Ella Nicholson
Blue Platform
65 kg - Saturday May 16th 4:20 a.m. start, Bryson Brown
79 kg - Saturday May 16th 7:55 a.m. start, Carter Sing
88 kg - Saturday May 16th 12:25 p.m. start, Ryan McDonald
94 kg - Sunday May 17th 4:10 a.m. start, Kyle Martin Jr
