Jayme Young of Williams Lake competed in Kelowna’s Strongest on Saturday, May 18.
It was her first time competing in the sport, but not her first experience with endurance.
For 10 years she has been lifting weights at the gym.
“After years of training in the same way I got pretty bored and wanted to try something new,” she said. “I wanted to test my strength.”
Test it she did.
She ended up winning first in sand bag toss, second in novice women and frame carry, and third in car deadlift and log ladder, completing three of the four logs.
“It was incredible,” she said of her successes. “I went in thinking I wouldn’t be able to finish a few of the events, but I completed all of them and was in the top three for all except one.”
For the 350-pound car deadlift she was hoping for one rep but got 13.
“It was a huge eye-opener in regards to what my body and mind are actually capable of, versus what I perceive I’m capable of,” she said.
Tyson Delay, who won first overall in middleweight, was very proud of all four Williams Lake athletes who competed at the event.
He said Joey Willburn won second in his middleweight class and Dan Ursino, also a first-timer, got fourth in novice man.
For the bag toss they had to throw sandbags, weighing 15 to 35 pounds.
The men had to throw them 15 feet and the women had to throw them 12 feet.
“Joey Willburn won that event and Jayme won it in her class,” Delay said. “Dan and I did pretty good.”
For the log ladder, Delay got first and Willburn got second.
“I don’t think I should have. Joey is a better log presser than me. I just think he was having a bad day,” Delay said.
Competing in the frame carry almost lost him the whole show, Delay said.
“It is a grip event and my grip is not very good.”
In the sandbag run there are three heavy sandbags they had to throw over a chest height bar.
“The whole Williams Lake team did great, I’m so proud of them. We definitely made a mark out there.”
Planning is underway for the local athletes to host Cariboo’s Strongest on July 13 in Williams Lake.
This year’s event will take place in the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex parking lot.
Young recommend if anyone has thought about trying something like this, go for it.
“It’s a little scary because it’s different and new, but the strongman community is one of the most supportive groups of people I’ve met,” she said. “I’m excited for the event in the Cariboo.”
READ MORE: Williams Lake strongman Tyson Delay places 25th at worlds
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