Evans zeroing in on magical 80kg lift
Zero Limits gym member Delwyn Evans was in record-breaking form at the World Bench Press Championships in Finland.
The 54 year old eclipsed her own Oceania, New Zealand and Commonwealth record with a third lift of 77.5kg in the 50-59, Masters 2, age group.
The lift was half a kilogramme superior to her previous personal best record lift of 77kg to retain the national women’s 50-59 age group, 72kg weight category title in Whanga¯rei in October, 2017.
“I’m stoked. You cannot ask for anything more than personal bests and what better platform to achieve it on than the world stage,” said Evans on her return home.
It was her fourth appearance at world champs, having also made the 26-hour flight to Finland in 2015, South Africa 2016 and Texas last year.
Evans is unsure whether she has improved on the fifth ranking she took into the world champs as the new rankings have yet to be released.
She still has another six years in her current age group and her goal is to make the podium at world champs.
The French woman who placed third in Finland this year lifted 82.5kg. Evans showed she is quite capable of matching those kinds of weights after producing two lifts of 80kg at Zero Limits last week under the watchful eye of her personal trainer Tony Thomson.
“It’s time for me to take the bull by the horn and be more aggressive with my approach at championships,” said Evans.
“At world champs, I was too concerned about getting a number on the board and had a first lift of only 72.5, followed by a 75 and 77.5.
“I need to back myself more, kicking off with 75 or even 77 to have an opportunity of lifting 80 with my third and final lift.”
Evans’ focus is now on the New Zealand Bench Press Championships in Hastings in October, where she hopes to replicate the 80kg lifts she is executing at Zero Limits.