USAPL Collegiate Nationals 2024, Day 1, 43kg - 52kg Weight Classes
“Got Nerfed By Center Ref”
43kg/44kg
19-year-old Anna Castro from the University of Texas - San Antonio, who stood at an overall third place last season at the 2023 USAPL Collegiate Nationals, weighing at 43.94kg (96.87lbs), took home the 43kg (94.80lbs)/44kg (97lbs) Collegiate national title with a progressive total of 289.5kg (638.24lbs), which represents a +9.25% progression, in parallel to her last season's total at the 2023 USAPL Collegiate Nationals, which stood at 265kg (584.23lbs). However a 289.5kg (638.24lbs) total is -6.62kg/14.59lbs (-2.29%) below Anna Castro’s baseline total projection of 296.12kg (652.83lbs) prior to the USAPL Collegiate Nationals.
Whilst second standing, Emily Former from Tarleton State University missed two out of three of her squat attempts, including missing her second bench attempt of 50kg (110.23lbs), which cost her dearly. If Emily had matched Anna's competition-best squat of 102.5kg (225.97lbs) in her third squat attempt, followed by a final bench of 50kg (110.23lbs) and a deadlift of 130kg/286.60lbs (the heaviest among all other weight class competitors), she would have totalled 282.5kg/622.81lbs. Anna Castro, on the other hand, achieved nine out of nine attempts and a 9.25% progression to win the USAPL Collegiate Nationals. Anna Castro’s total of 289.5kg (638.24lbs), includes a competition-best squat of 102.5kg (225.97lbs), bench at 67kg/147.71lbs (+7kg/15.43lbs) and deadlift at 120kg/264.56lbs (+5kg/11.02lbs). Anna's total currently ranks her second on the 2024 season global ranking, behind Britain's Gwen Marsden. Anna also ranks twelfth on the overall all-time 43kg (94.80lbs)/44kg (97lbs) list of athletes.
48kg
Jocelyn Eng of UC Irvine, who only started to compete last season, weighing 45.95kg (101.30lbs), won her first USAPL Collegiate national title with a total of 333kg (734.14lbs), which equates to a progression of +2.46%, in parallel to 21-year-old Jocelyn Eng’s 2023 season-best total, which saw the athlete experienced an in-year total progression of 32.96%, which is +30.78% above most of the 2023 season top forty ranked athletes, which averages at 2.18%; resulting in a total of 325kg (716.50lbs). However, her total of 333kg (734.14lbs) is -54.5kg/120.15lbs (-16.37%) below last season’s USAPL Collegiate Nationals Leanne Le’s winning total of 387.5kg/854.29lbs.
After the first round of the collegiate nationals, Jocelyn stood -2.5kg (-5.51lbs) behind last season’s USAPL Florida Collegiate State Champion, 22-year-old Jenna Kjoller, who weighed in at 47.83kg (105.45lbs) for her second squat attempt, squatted a competition personal best of 115kg (253.53lbs) - a squat progression of 4.55% (+5kg/11.02lbs), in comparison to Jocelyn’s competition best squat of 112.5kg (248.02lbs). Eventually, the 47kg (103.62lbs)/48kg (105.82lbs) USAPL Collegiate national champion Jocelyn gained ground by an overall average lead advantage of 15.50kg (34.17lbs) over second-standing Angela Pistilli, who had a total of 200kg (440.93lbs) and third-standing Jenna Kjoller’s total of 180kg (396.83lbs) after the bench, leaving her trailing behind Jocelyn by a margin of 25.50kg (56.22lbs). It would have been reason to assume that the fight to the finish line would be between both Jocelyn and Angela, considering after both squat and bench rounds, the marginal difference between both athletes stood at 5.5kg (12.13lbs), which signalled a probable tight race to the finish line. Between 2016 - 2023 the median difference between the first and second-standing athletes after the second round, while competing at the USAPL Collegiate Nationals stands at 10kg (22.05lbs). Only at both the 2016 and 2019 USAPL Collegiate Nationals, there was a slightly less marginal difference, which stands at 5kg (11.02lbs).
If all three athletes' historical dependencies are considered (meaning how much each of the disciplines makes up an athlete total), Jocelyn had an average historical deadlift dependency of 39.23%, Angela at 38.44% and Jenna at 45.61%. Jenna with a higher average deadlift dependency, reflected such in her opening deadlift of 140kg (308.65lbs), which was 10kg (22.05lbs) above her average opening deadlift of 130kg (286.60lbs). Jocelyn opened with a deadlift of 115kg, which was -25kg (-55.12lbs) below Jenna’s opening deadlift of 140kg (308.65lbs) and Angela Pistilli's opening of 110kg (242.51lbs), relegated her to a prospective third spot. After the first deadlift openings, Jocelyn's leading difference above Jenna quickly tumbled to 0.5kg/1.10 (-98.04%). Angela was on the back foot by -10.5kg/23.15lbs (a further increment of 5kg).
Unfortunately for Jenna, she ended the collegiate nationals failing both her second deadlift attempt of 150kg (330.69lbs) and also her third deadlift of 155kg (341.72lbs). Ultimately, Jenna finished in third position with a total of 320kg (705.48lbs) - matching her all-time best total. Angela of Boston University attempted her second deadlift of 117.5kg (259.04lbs) and third attempt of 122.5kg (270.07lbs) all successfully. In turn breaking her previous all-time best deadlift of 110kg by a margin of +12.5kg/27.56 (+11.36%), which significantly helped the athlete ensure a second placement. The 2024 Collegiate national champion, Jocelyn also secured her number spot by sustaining a high meet reliability of 91.67%, only failing her first squat attempt of 105kg (231.49lbs),
which was 5kg (11.02lbs) above her 2023 season squat opening at the USAPL Thanksgiving Throwdown. In the end, Jocelyn increased her previous personal best total of 325kg (716.50lbs), with a new PR total of 333kg (734.14lbs), which includes a 112.5kg/248.02lbs (+2.5kg) PR squat, A PR bench at 93kg/205.03lbs (+5.5kg/12.13lbs) and deadlift at 127.5kg (281.09lbs). Furthermore, a 333kg (734.14lbs) total number places Jocelyn at number twenty-three on the junior's all-time list of 47kg (103.62lbs)/48kg (105.82lbs) athletes, including being ninety-eight on the overall all-time list.
52kg
“Got Nerfed By Center Ref”
19-year-old sub-junior athlete, and last season's USAPL Collegiate Nationals sub-junior fourth-place finisher (competing as a 56kg/57kg athlete), Marina Maxwell of Queens University of Charlotte, weighing 51.28kg (113.05lbs), won the 2024 USAPL Collegiate Nationals with a regressive total of 390kg/859.80lbs (-12.5kg/27.56lbs). In February, Marina competed as a sub-junior at the USAPL Oak City Open, achieved a total of 402.5kg (887.36lbs), and placed third on the sub-junior all-time list of athletes, whilst competing for the first time as a 52kg (114.64lbs) athlete.
At the 2024 USAPL Collegiate Nationals, Marina came up against thirty-one other competitors. Noticeably, last season’s USAPL Collegiate Nationals third-standing 52kg (114.64lbs) athlete, Margaret Zhuang of Rutgers University, was amongst the prospective athletes vying for the USAPL Collegiate Nationals title. Prior to the Collegiate Nationals, Marina was entering with a significant average lead advantage over her field of competitors, which stood at 118.39kg (261lbs). On paper, with such a wide margin, including an average reliability of 75.64% positioned her as the overwhelming favorite. Individually, her deadlift reliability (or success), which stood at 58.85%, was the only aspect that may have caused some degree of uncertainty about the outcome. Furthermore, 20-year-old Rylee Ladd of Concordia University was entering the USAPL Collegiate Nationals with a baseline total projection ranging between 387.77kg (854.89lbs) - 391.41kg (862.91lbs), alongside a worst-case scenario projected total ranging between 381.10kg (840.18lbs) - 384.68kg (848.07lbs). Her baseline projections would suggest an ensuing strong possibility of seriously contending for the collegiate title. Even though Marina had a higher average historical reliability, including sustaining a 2023 season average reliability of 84.03%, in direct contrast to Rylee’s overall average historical reliability (or success) of 39.94%, last season Rylee managed to sustain a higher average reliability of 86.11%, which is 2.08% above Marina’s 2023 average. Only 18-year-old sub-junior athlete Brianna Graham of the University of Texas - San Antonio, who finished in third place at the 2024 USAPL Collegiate National trials with a total of 350kg/771.62lbs (+35kg/77.16lbs), has sustained a 100% reliability for all three disciplines.
Brianna Graham opened with a squat of 115kg (253.53lbs), which was 42.5kg/93.70lbs (58.62%) higher than her average squat opening of 72.5kg (159.84lbs). This was also 2.5kg (5.51lbs) above her personal best squat of 112.5kg (248.02lbs), which she achieved at the USAPL Collegiate Cup last season. Margaret Zhuang, who placed third at the 2023 USAPL Collegiate Nationals and had a personal best squat of 127.5kg (281.09lbs), opened with a squat of 117.5kg (259.04lbs), putting her 2.5kg (5.51lbs) ahead of Brianna. Rylee Ladd, whose baseline squat projection ranged from 138.16kg (304.59lbs) - 139.45kg (307.43lbs), responded with a squat of 120kg (264.56lbs), which was 33.21kg/73.22lbs (61.74%) higher than her average squat opening of 86.79kg (191.34lbs). Tushita Wadhawan, a 21-year-old from UC Berkeley, had a promising start. Weighing 51.19kg (112.85lbs), she opened with a squat of 122.5kg (270.07lbs), which is 20kg/44.09lbs (19.51%) higher than her best squat opening of 102.5kg (225.97lbs) at the USAPL Bay Area Barbell Winter Swolestice II last season. With a 122.5kg (270.07lbs) squat, Tushita took the lead ahead of the other competitors.
Marina typically relies on squats to build her total, with an average squat dependency of 38.18%. At the 2024 USAPL Collegiate Nationals, she opened with a squat of 145kg (319.67lbs), which speedily gave her an average leading margin of 27.5kg (60.63lbs) over her competitors. This lead is 20.71kg (45.66lbs) higher than the historical average first squat attempt of the second and third-placed athletes at prior USAPL Collegiate Nationals between 2016 and 2023, which is only 6.79kg (14.97lbs). It is also worth noting that Marina's opening squat of 145kg/319.67lbs (+29.29kg/64.57lbs) is the heaviest squat opening since 2016, where the average opening squat was 115.71kg (255.10lbs).
Marina managed further to increase her second squat by a margin of 7.5kg (16.53lbs), which resulted in a sub-junior world record squat of 152.5kg (336.20lbs), which is consequently a -2.5kg/5.51lbs (-1.61%) regression, in comparison to her best second squat attempt of 155kg (341.72lbs). Brianna Graham also increased her second squat attempt by 7.5kg (16.53lbs), surpassing her average second squat increment of 6.25kg (13.78lbs), resulting in a second attempt of 122.5kg (270.07lbs). This is a 16.67% (or 17.5kg/38.58lbs) increase compared to her second squat attempt of 105kg (231.49lbs) at the 2023 Collegiate Cup. However, Marina still remained ahead of Brianna by a margin of 30kg (66.14lbs). Rylee Ladd also increased her second squat attempt by 7.5kg (16.53lbs), resulting in a squat of 127.5kg (281.09lbs), a 6.25% increase compared to her second-best squat attempt of 120kg (264.56lbs). Margaret Zhuang increased her second squat attempt by 7.5kg (16.53lbs), resulting in a squat of 125kg (275.58lbs), which is -2.5kg (5.51lbs) below her personal best squat of 127.5kg (281.09lbs), putting her in fourth position. Tushita managed to maintain her second-place standing with a second squat attempt of 130kg (286.60lbs), which is a 13.04% (or 15kg) increase compared to her second-best squat attempt of 115kg (253.53lbs).
Marina’s squat reliability (success) stands at 84.03%. Nevertheless, there existed a probability of failure, which unfolded for her third squat attempt of 160.5kg (353.84lbs), which she failed. According to Marina after the 2024 USAPL Collegiate Nationals, revealed on her Instagram page that she “…sick and threw up during warmups.” This may have contributed to her failure. As a result of this failure, Marina's lead over her closest competitors decreased by 5.62kg (12.39lbs), giving her a new lead advantage of 21.88kg (48.24lbs).
As the competition progressed to the bench press round, Marina's lead of 21.88kg (48.24lbs( seemed tenuous. Marina and Rylee both had a personal best (PR) bench press of 87.5kg (192.90lbs), but Marina had a lesser bench press dependency of 21.88%, while Rylee's bench press dependency was 22.80%. This meant that Rylee would likely make a greater effort to utilise the bench press to close the leading gap between both athletes.
Rylee's projected baseline bench press was between 95.19kg (209.86lbs) - 97.42kg (214.77lbs) and her worst-case scenario bench press was between 91.67kg (202.10lbs) - 93.82kg (206.84lbs). This meant that Rylee had a good chance of winning the bench press round. However, Rylee's overall bench press reliability was only 40.12%, compared to Marina's reliability of 84.03%. This made it more likely that Rylee would fail an attempt. Marina, on the other hand, may have simply needed to successfully attempt all three bench press attempts.
But there was a catch! Rylee's 2023 season bench press reliability was 84.03%, which was 43.91% higher than her overall historical bench press reliability of 40.12%. This implied Rylee had the ability to sustain a high degree of bench reliability (success).
Marina opened with a bench of 80kg (176.37lbs), which is similar to her performance in the last two meets this season. Rylee, in response, opened with a 85kg (187.39lbs) bench press, giving her a 5kg (11.02lbs) lead over Marina.Brianna opened with a personal record of 75kg (165.35lbs), which is 7.5kg/16.53lbs (11.11%) higher than her previous best of 67.5kg (148.81lbs) and 36.25kg (79.92lbs) above her average bench press opening of 38.75kg (85.43lbs). Margaret Zhuang opened with 60kg (132.28lbs), which is 7.5kg (16.53lbs) below her heaviest bench press opening of 67.5kg (148.81lbs), and 3.75kg (8.27lbs) below her average bench press opening of 63.75kg (140.54lbs).
Tushita lost her second spot after being outflanked by Rylee, Brianna, and 18-year-old sub-junior athlete Kay'D Leal of Midland University. Kay'D bench pressed a personal best of 75kg (165.35lbs), which is an 11.11% improvement over her previous highest bench press of 67.5kg (148.81lbs), and 15.38% (10kg/22.05lbs) higher than her last season's opening bench press of 65kg (143.3lbs).
Marina's average lead over the remaining top four rivals (Rylee, Brianna, Kay'D, and Tushita) increased to 31.25kg/68.89lbs (+9.37kg/20.66lbs). However, her lead over Rylee decreased to 15kg/33.07lbs (-5kg/11.02lbs). The question remains whether Marina can maintain or increase her lead over Rylee, who is positioning herself as a strong contender for her first Collegiate Nationals title.
Marina increased her second bench attempt by 5kg (11.02lbs), which is higher than the average second bench increment of 3.98kg (8.77lbs) in the 52kg (114.64lbs) weight class, resulting in a bench of 85kg (187.39lbs). Rylee reciprocated by increasing her second bench by 1.02kg (2.25lbs) above the average second bench increment, hitting a 90kg (198.42lbs) bench. Although Rylee was 0.5kg (1.10lbs) above her average second bench increment of 4.5kg (9.92lbs) as a 52kg (114.64lbs) athlete, she was unable to make up the 15kg (33.07lbs) lead that Marina had.
Brianna and Kay’D fell further behind Marina, with a 30kg/66.14lbs (+2.5kg/5.51lbs) lead for Brianna and a 40kg/88.18lbs (+2.5kg/5.51lbs) lead for Kay’D. Tushisha remained in fourth place, standing 45kg (99.21lbs) behind Marina.
For the final bench attempt, Marina increased her bench by 2.5kg (5.51lbs) but failed at 87.5kg (192.90lbs) - a weight selection which she successfully attempted at the USAPL Oak City Open earlier in February.
Rylee took the opportunity to reduce her lead by increasing her third bench by 2.5kg (5.51lbs), finishing the bench rounds with a 7.5kg (16.53lbs) advantage over Marina and a 25% bench dependency increment, which was higher than her average of 22.80%.
Marina’s third bench failure gave Rylee an optimal opportunity to reduce her leading margin of 15kg (33.07lbs). As such, Rylee took the opportunity to reduce her lead by increasing her third bench by 2.5kg (5.51lbs), merely 0.03kg (0.06lbs) below the 52kg (114.64lbs) weight class’s average third bench increment of 2.53kg (5.58lbs). Rylee finished the bench rounds with a 7.5kg (16.53lbs) advantage over Marina and a 25% bench dependency increment, which was higher than her average of 22.80%. However, not attempting her top-end projected baseline bench figure of 97.42kg (214.77lbs), may have costed Rylee.
For instance, if an attempt of 97.42kg/214.77lbs (or 97.5kg/214.95lbs) was successfully undertaken, it would have reduced Marina’s leading difference to 7.58kg (16.71lbs), instead of 12.5kg (27.56lbs). Keeping in mind that Marina, whose average deadlift dependency stood at 39.72%, is higher than both her squat dependency to build her totals, which stood at 38.18% and bench at 22.10%. Including the fact that out of both athletes, Marina was entering the meet with a stronger pr deadlift of 157.5kg (347.23lbs) compared to Rylee's prior PR deadlift of 142.5kg (314.16lbs).
Also worth considering is the fact that her baseline (minimum) deadlift projection ranged between 150.85kg (332.57lbs) - 151.72kg (334.49lbs), still 5.78kg (12.74lbs) - 6.65kg (14.66lbs) below Marina’s competition-best deadlift of 157.5kg (347.23lbs). Also, historically, Rylee tends to achieve -3.92% below her projected deadlift baseline targets while competing as a 52kg (114.64lbs) athlete.
Another important factor to consider is that in the 2023 powerlifting season, Marina had a deadlift reliability of 91.67%, alongside an overall deadlift reliability of 64.19%. In contrast, Rylee had a lower deadlift reliability of 76.39%, alongside an overall deadlift reliability of 49.04%.
Rylee, already 12.5kg (27.56lbs) behind Marina, opened with a deadlift of 132.5kg (292.11lbs) Brianna Graham stood 27.5kg (60.63lbs) behind the frontrunner (Marina) after finishing the bench round with a personal best bench of 80kg (176.37lbs), which equates to a subsequent third and overall bench progression of 18.52% (+12.5kg/27.56lbs), opened with a deadlift of 135kg (297.62lbs), which is 2.5kg (5.51lbs) above Rylee’s deadlift opening, including matching her personal competition's best deadlift of 135kg (297.62lbs), Kay’D Leal, who was in fourth place behind Brianna and who also entered the Collegiate Nationals with a baseline deadlift projection of 136.42kg (300.75lbs), opened with a deadlift of 127.5kg (281.09lbs), which is 10kg (22.05lbs) above her average opening of 117.5kg/259.04lbs (specifically whilst competing as a 52kg/ 114.64lbs raw athlete). Not far behind was 18-year-old sub-junior athlete, Tyler Martin of Texas A&M, with a leading difference of 2.5kg (5.51lbs) between fourth-standing Kay’D and fifth-standing Tyler, who opened with an even heavier deadlift of 135kg/297.62lbs (+7.5kg/16.53lbs).
Marina established an ample lead throughout both prior rounds of the meet, and with a reliable deadlift of 64.19% and average deadlift lead advantage of 33.66kg (74.21lbs), she opened with a deadlift of 145kg (319.67lbs), increasing her lead to 43.75kg (96.45lbs) , a further 12.5kg (27.56lbs) increment.
Given that the average second deadlift increment for the 52kg (114.64lbs) weight class was 9.29kg (20.48lbs) or 15.93kg (35.20lbs) in total, it was reasonable to assume that Marina would win the 2024 USAPL Collegiate title even before the meet ended.
Rylee increased her second deadlift attempt by 10kg, which is the second time she has achieved this in her sporting history. This is 0.71kg (1.57lbs) above the respective weight class’s average second increment of 9.29kg (20.48lbs). However, her historical average second deadlift attempt increment stood at 6.43kg (14.18lbs). As a result, her final deadlift amounted to 142.5kg (314.16lbs), which was not sufficient to challenge Marina. Marina successfully attempted a deadlift of 152.5kg (336.20lbs) for her second attempt, giving her a 22.5kg (49.60lbs) lead ahead of Rylee. Brianna secured third place with her second deadlift of 140kg/308.65lbs (+5kg/11.02lbs), giving her a lead of 12.5kg (27.56lbs) ahead of Tyler. Considering the weight class’s average third deadlift increment of 6.64kg (14.64lbs), the probability of Tyler outflanking Brianna was unlikely.
Marina's final deadlift attempt of 157.5kg (347.23lbs) failed due to "downward motion," even though she had successfully lifted the same weight earlier in February at the USAPL Oak City Open. Nevertheless, her total of 390kg (859.80lbs) was enough to win her first USAPL Collegiate Nationals title. Rylee Ladd finished in second place with a total of 370kg (815.71lbs), successfully attempting all nine out of nine attempts (squat, bench, and deadlift) and achieving a reliability of 100%. This is the second time in the athlete’s competition history that she has ended a meet with a reliability of 100%. Brianna Graham secured an overall third place with a PR total of 350kg (771.62lbs), representing a progression of 11.11% as compared to her last competition's total of 315kg (694.46lbs).
Marina’s current season best total of 402.5kg (887.36lbs) , places the athlete at number one on the sub-junior’s 2024 season global ranking, and fortieth position on the all time 52kg (114.64lbs) list of athletes.
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