By Ethan Benedicto
The young powerlifting sensation, Lara Jones, has taken the crown of first place in her bracket during the 2025 USA Powerlifting Student and University World Championships.
After training for over 12 weeks, every morning before school, and winning her previous competition in late 2024, Lara was eager to once more set foot on the stage, confident that she would take it all back home.
She did exactly that, and was one of 10 people to place first among 105 others, after conquering her Flight A and besting nine other competitors.
Weighing in at 54.35kg, Lara lifted a total of 320kg in the span of the competition, completing three repetitions of 92.5kg, 100kg, and 102.5 kg consecutively on squats, and 125kg, 135kg, and 145kg on deadlifts.
Lara only failed her final 75kg rep on bench-press, leading up to it with a 67.5kg and a 72.5kg lift.
Placing second was American Macy Hartjes from Hortonville, lifting a total of 295kg, trailing 25kgs behind Lara’s total.
With a combination of perfect scores and the balanced distribution of heavy lifts throughout all three compound movements, Lara was able to edge out the others, racking up another medal to her tally.
