2007 USA WEIGHTLIFTING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

 General Event Information

 Local Organizing Committee:      Windy City Weightlifting, USAW Club #2116 

 Competition Management:          Mike Gattone, Competition Director: 847-947-7398

                                                 Roger Nielsen, Technical Director: 847-947-7398

                                                 Lou Mengsol, Logistics & Event Planning: 608-346-6681

Media contact: Mike Gattone: 847-947-7398 / mgattone@sbcglobal.net

USA Weightlifting: 719-866-4508

Sponsored by: WCS Physical Therapy & WCS/Gattone Sports Performance

Location: Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center

1551 N Thoreau Dr

Schaumburg, IL 60173

Event Specifics:

This event is the once per year national championships for USA Weightlifting, the national governing body (NGB) for Weightlifting in the United States. It is the primary qualifier for the 2007 World Weightlifting Championships, which will be held in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It is also the primary qualifier for the 2007 Pan American Games, in Rio di Janeiro, Brazil.

The World Championships in 2007 serve as the primary qualifier for NGB's around the world for team size in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

Athletes to watch:

There are 148 athletes qualified and entered in the competition. There are several exciting men and women coming to the event, many of which are junior and American record holders, world team members, and former national championships. Some primary athletes to watch include:

Women:

· Cheryl Haworth (+75 kg); 2000, and 2004 Olympian, former World team member and medalist, former Junior and Senior World team member and medalist.

· Jackie Berube (58 kg); former World and Pan American team member.

· Natalie Woolfolk (63 kg); former World and Junior World team member.

· Carissa Gump (63 kg); former World and Junior World team member.

Men:

· Casey Burgener (105+ kg); former World and Junior World team member.

· Chad Vaughn (77 kg); 2004 Olympian, former World and Junior World team member.

· Kendrick Ferris (85 kg); former Junior World team member.

Tentative Event Schedule:

FRIDAY May 11, 2007 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME

SATURDAY May 12, 2007 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME

SUNDAY May 13, 2007 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME