Keya ready for Strongman title defence
CrossFit enthusiast Keya Woodland is looking to successfully defend her Strongman title next week.
Woodland, weighing 70kg, won the open women’s category in the second round of the Auckland Strongman Series in August.
The Remuera resident hopes to win the final round of the competition at New Lynn on November 26.
This is the first year in the competition a women’s division has been introduced and winning, the 25-year-old says, would be phenomenal.
‘‘It’s an awesome feeling to be one of the first women to compete in the first women’s category of Auckland Strongman,’’ she says.
Originally from Australia, Woodland works as a nanny looking after three children below the age of 10.
Despite her busy schedule, she is a devoted Strongman competitor. Woodland’s competed in Australia, America and South Africa.
This year alone, Goodland won both the Australian Arnold’s Strongman Championship in the under-65kg class and the South African Arnold’s in the 75kg class.
She also holds the Australian Women’s Log Lifting record with a lift of 89kgs on a 10 inch log, even though she competed as a lightweight.
‘‘I was always an athletic kid, became an overweight teenager but started CrossFit six years ago.
‘‘A friend of mine introduced me to Strongman two years ago and I’ve been hooked ever since.’’
Goodland is nursing a shoulder injury from whitewater rafting in Rotorua two months ago, but she’s adamant this will not slow her down on the day.
The women will battle it out in four events - the max log, keg toss, max rep with squats and stone overbar.
‘‘The stone and log are my favourite lifts. I would like to try, depending on my shoulder, break my own personal best (95kg) for log lift.’’
With several titles under her belt from other countries, Woodland hopes to conquer Auckland next week, and hopefully Europe in the future.
‘‘More women should give this competition a go, it’s all about stepping out of your comfort zones.
‘‘I stepped out of mine and I’m loving it. You’re not going to walk into a competition and hit every weight and come out on top every time but it’s about setting your own personal goals.’’