An iron will

Hatter Teresa Lei plans on breaking records at Iron Challenge power lifting competition this weekend

Her coaches are six hours away, but Teresa Lei is motivated and ready to break some records this weekend.

The 20-year-old University of Alberta student will return home for the Iron Challenge Saturday at Temple Fitness (inside the Medicine Hat Curling Club), hoping to improve upon how she did at her first powerlifting competition this past August.

“I definitely surprised myself,” said Lei, who’s among seven or so locals who will compete in squat, bench press and deadlift. “After the one session I really enjoyed, though let’s stick with it. I’ve been doing it ever since.”

Specifically, Lei set Canadian marks in squat (“around 270 pounds”) and deadlift (“325ish”) at a competition at Temple Fitness in August. Her records are specific to the Raw Powerlifting Federation, which shouldn’t be confused with the many other weightlifting organizations including those which compete in the Olympics. They’re also age and weight-specific, important when you realize she’s strong but not necessarily the stereotype of a lifter. Lei played badminton and ran cross country in her high school days.

Starting school at the U of A means she uses email and video to work with coaches Colin and Allie DeWolfe and Lisa Gervais back in Medicine Hat. It seems to be working out well.

Aside from Lei, Back Alley has veteran Mike Moorehead and newcomer Cherisse Martineau taking part. Colin DeWolfe says 53 competitors will be in town, and anyone who might be setting a record will get drug tested as per Raw’s mandate for clean sport.

“There’s three regionals in order for a (national) team to go to worlds,” said DeWolfe. “You have to compete at one of these three, have a large enough total to qualify because they only sponsor the top 10 in each age and weight class.”

Moorehead set two world records at the Raw worlds this past October but thought he could’ve done better. He’s got the same anxiety leading up to this meet — namely, how he’ll feel the morning of the event.

“I hate the days leading up to it because you never know how you’re going to feel that day,” said the 40-year-old. “I’ll know in the morning, as soon as I start warming up.”

Competition begins around 9:30 a.m. Saturday, and will wrap up around 3:30 p.m.