Pun Teofilo [left] and Joseph Teofilo [right] with coach James Schroeder after their national championship success. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
POWERLIFTING
CHRIS COGDALE
[email protected]
There was double delight for Wairarapa’s Pun and Joseph Teofilo at the national powerlifting championships in Hamilton on Saturday.
Representing Wellington and Central Districts, the father and son won first placings in their respective categories – while setting national records.
Thirty-nine-year-old Pun not only won the open men’s under 105kg class but also claimed the title for best overall male.
Pun opened with a bench press of 202.5kg, and then targeted a national record with his second press of 213.5kg, which he got.
He then raised the weight for his third and final attempt to 220kg, and was successful, securing him the best overall male award for the championships.
“It was pretty much the goal that I was targeting, which was to secure a New Zealand record, and to win the overall title was the bonus. To accomplish both, I’m pretty rapt,” Pun said.
“My coach [James Schroeder] analysed the results, and my record has ranked me number one all-time NZPF bench press only, based on GL [good lift] points.
“I’m going into the Masters next year, and my level of pressing would put me in the top three in the world.”
Pun is targeting the Commonwealth Championships in Auckland as his main goal.
Eighteen-year-old Joseph was in record-breaking form from his first bench press in the sub-junior under 74kg class, despite only having recovered from an injury that had hampered his training.
He opened with a successful national record attempt of 130.5kg and followed that with a 136kg second bench press. He extended the record to 140kg with his third attempt.
“He’s been managing an injury over recent weeks, and it was a bit of a comeback for him,” Pun said.
“He was expecting to lift a lot more, because he had been pushing 140 in training and been able to push that for two reps, but he was quite happy with the result.”
