Alberton resident Natasha Dunn has taken a well-deserved break from powerlifting after recently winning silver medal overall at a Commonwealth competition in Richmond, B.C.
But the break, and the eating binge, is almost over.
Dunn, 41, said she will be back on track by Dec. 14. She needs to; she has a Canadian championship to defend in Moose Jaw, Sask., from Feb. 15 to 20.
The British Columbia competition was Dunn’s first experience in a team competition, and she said she enjoyed the atmosphere – from wearing the Canadian colours to cheering on fellow team members.
Dunn won silver in bench and squat, and bronze in deadlift and finished with a silver overall in her 72-kilogram Masters 1 class. Of the seven competitors in her class, she was the lightest, weighing in at 65.4 kilograms. Her 362.93 Wilks points were second behind Australian Cass Pickard, who accumulated 403.58 points.
Three Islanders
Dunn was one of three Islanders on the Canadian team.
Tilman Gallant of Summerside competed only in bench in the 93-kilogram Masters 3 class, and had a successful 138 lift. He was the only competitor in the class.
Tom Nichols of Charlottetown was alone in the 120-plus-kilogram class. He had a squat of 262.5, a bench of 196 and a 292.5 deadlift for 427.47 Wilks.
Dunn’s numbers would have been higher, but still second overall, if not for two red lights on her third squat. She had to settle for a 130-kilogram squat instead of 135. Her strongest event was bench where she finished a close second with a 77.5 lift.
“It’s my favourite lift,” acknowledged Dunn, who succeeded at 140 in the deadlift.
Back training
Dunn admits she needs to get back into training to stay competitive for nationals. She will have extra motivation and push. Her 14-year-old daughter, Grainne, is going to join her in the gym. Knowing the commitment to training and diet and having her daughter wanting to train with her is a huge compliment, she acknowledged.
Winning nationals, Dunn said, would qualify her for the world championships in Dallas next summer. She’s trying not to look that far ahead.
“There’s stiff competition coming up,” she stressed.
To get ready for nationals, Dunn is contemplating dropping down a weight class to 63 kilograms. It’s within reach, she admitted.
Courtesy of: Journal Pioneer