bh89-2 Posted March 28, 2007 Report Posted March 28, 2007 BH lifter qualifies for World ChampionshipsBy Michael PinedaBaytown Sun Published March 22, 2007In 2006, Barbers Hill senior Cameron Swart qualified for the Junior Pan Am Games but that proved to be only an appetizer for what 2007 has already offered. Last week Swart placed first overall in the men’s 105 kg and over class at the National Junior Weightlifting Championships in Merrillville, Ind. to earn a spot on the Junior World Team that will compete in Prague, Czechoslovakia. Swart lifted a total of 336 kgs, winning first in the snatch with a lift of 153 kgs and second in the clean and jerk with 183 kgs. “It’s quite an accomplishment,†Swart’s coach Tim Swords said. “He is one of the top four in the nation. You have to have good genes, a good work ethic, coaching and a plan. It just doesn’t happen overnight. I felt like he was going to make it this year.â€Swart won his weight class last year at the Junior Nationals but did not crack the top lifters and competed in the Pan-Am games in Columbia. This year Swart will have the chance to compete against the top juniors in the world.“I’ve never been on that side of the world,†Swart said. “It’s real exciting. I’m glad I get to compete against the best in the world; I just don’t know what to expect. I do know there is going to be a lot of good athletes.“I am working on my Olympic weightlifting three times a week. My core and upper body training is two times a week. It has been really intense. I have been training harder than I ever have because this is now my focus.â€Swart was all-district first team in football and competes in track and field for Barbers Hill. Next year Swart plans to attend Lee College while competing at the national and international level.“Now he is at the world level,†Swords said. “We are talking about Eastern Europe, China, Turkey and Egypt. To be honest I’m hoping that he will be invited to the Olympic Trials. I’m hoping that he will show continual improvement to the 2012 Olympics which is the goal.â€Besides competing in the Junior World Championships, Swart also plans to compete in the American Open next December.
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