Alwine snags her first Pan American Title Team USA Adds to Medal Count

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (April 22, 2021) -- Team USA secured another Pan American Championship title in the 71  category on Thursday, adding to the team’s success at the last gold level qualifier for the 2020 Olympic Games. Meredith Alwine won the gold, while teammates Kate Nye and Nathan Damron added to the team’s medal count, bringing it to 22 so far this competition. Christian Rodriguez Ocasio and Jordan Cantrell had solid performances in the 89kg body weight category.

Meredith Alwine kicked off the fourth day of competition, winning gold in the 71kg category, her first Pan American title. Alwine finally made a 103kg Snatch on her third attempt, after missing it on the first two. The lift was good for a bronze medal in the Snatch.

“I haven’t been on a competition platform in over a year,” Alwine told USA Weightlifting after the session. “I thought I’d be ready and visualized in training, but nothing prepares you like the real thing.” 

With the nerves of returning to the international platform gone, Alwine nailed her opening Clean and Jerk attempt of 130kg, enough to secure gold in the lift and total, leaving her time to go for the American and Pan American record in the lift. 

“Securing the gold medal with my opener was so satisfying and validating,” Alwine said. “There were definitely kilos left on the platform and I’m hungry for next time.”

She made 135kg on her 2nd attempt, eyeing the 137kg record owned by teammate Kate Nye. With 139kg on the bar for her third attempt, Alwine cleaned the lift, but missed the jerk of what would’ve been a personal best lift. Alwine lifted 138kg in the Clean and Jerk during the Online 2020 USA Weightlifting National Championships, however, the lift needs to be completed in person to be written in the record books.

Kate Nye swept the silver medals in her debut performance in the 76kg body weight category, after moving up from 71kg, where she owns all the American records. Kate made Snatch attempts of 100kg and 105kg prior to hitting 130kg and 135kg in the Clean and Jerk.

Kate says she’s satisfied with her a conservative 235kg total for her first meet in the weight class.

“It was good to get a taste of in-person competition again,” Nye said of her performance. “I was happy to put some decent numbers up and can now focus on Tokyo.”

In 96kg body weight category, Nathan Damron won the bronze medal following a personal best performance, securing a 374kg total and a bronze medal overall. Damron successfully completed all six of his lifts hitting Snatches 156kg, 162kg and 167kg, a personal best lift. 

“I’ve been waiting for this moment since Thailand, the last time I competed,” Damron said of his performance. “To go out there and get my first international medals, it feels great.”

In the Clean and Jerk portion of the competition, Damron looked strong, nailing 193kg, 200kg, and 207kg consecutively. His 207kg lift was a new personal best, as was his total, 333kg that earned him a bronze medal. 

Jordan Cantrell and Christian Rodriguez Ocasio represented Team USA in the 89kg category finishing in fourth and fifth places respectively. Cantrell’s best Snatch of 146kg, combined with his Clean and Jerk of 183kg brought his total to 329kg. Rodriguez Ocasio made five of his six attempts, and came away with a 327kg total.

“It feels amazing,” Rodriguez Ocasio told USA Weightlifting. “It’s been so long since I’ve competed internationally. I’m glad to be back”

Friday’s competition in Santo Domingo sees Mattie Rogers and Jessie Stemo take the platform first in the 81kg category, followed by teammates Jason Bonnick in the 102kg category, and Wes Kitts in the 109kg category. Kitts will defend his Pan American title and his American and Pan American records set at the 2019 Pan American Championships.