NZ Weightlifters shine in Samoa
New Zealand’s weightlifters delivered a strong showing at the recent Universal Cup and Oceania Weightlifting Championships in Samoa.
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Highlighted by standout senior Oceania titles to Cameron McTaggart and Marco Mollo, alongside a host of medals and records across the team.
Cam McTaggart dominated the Men’s 88kg division, claiming Oceania senior gold with lifts of 154kg in the snatch and 185kg in the clean and jerk for a 339kg total. His performance also secured victory across all three disciplines at the Universal Cup, while setting new Oceania senior records in the clean and jerk and total, as well as New Zealand senior records in all three lifts.
Marco Mollo was another standout performer, winning the Men’s 79kg Oceania senior title with a 302kg total. He lifted 133kg in the snatch and his 169kg clean and jerk earned a new New Zealand senior record. Mollo also impressed at the Universal Cup, finishing second overall in the clean and jerk and total, alongside fourth in the snatch.
Elsewhere, David Liti continued his strong form in the Men’s 110kg+ category, earning silver at both the Oceania Championships and Universal Cup with a 387kg total.
In the women’s events, Litia Nacagilevu produced one of the performances of the competition in the Women’s 86kg division. The young lifter won both the Oceania and Commonwealth junior titles, added Oceania senior silver, and finished runner-up across all three disciplines at the Universal Cup. Her 111kg snatch broke Oceania junior, Commonwealth junior, New Zealand senior, and New Zealand junior records.
Tui-Alofa Patolo also claimed Oceania senior silver in the Women’s 86kg+ category, setting a new Oceania senior snatch record with 113kg, while also breaking New Zealand senior records in the snatch and total.
Mollie King added to the medal haul with Oceania and Commonwealth junior gold in the Women’s 86kg+ division, alongside Oceania senior bronze. King also set a new Oceania junior jerk record.
Georgia Theron rounded out the New Zealand medal winners with Oceania junior silver, Commonwealth junior silver, and Oceania senior bronze in the Women’s 77kg category after totaling 214kg.