Raising the bar

Charles Whitenburg, 67, of Eastpoint, established a new world record bench press Saturday, Dec. 12 at the Southern Powerlifting Federation (SPF) Body by George Mini-Meet bench press and dead lift championship in Lawrenceville, Ga.

Whitenburg pressed 180 pounds, while weighing in at only 146 pounds.

Strength Trainer Tim Whitehead, 51, of Eastpoint also broke a SPF world record for “Bench Press for Reps.” Whitehead, weighing in at 215 pounds, surpassed the old record of 24 by pounding out 27 full extension reps. This was the first time Whitehead has competed in the rep division and dropped 20 pounds of body weight while preparing for the event.

“It was great,” Whitehead said. “When I got to 24, I just grinded the last three out.”

Although Whitenburg has been attending gyms for over 20 years, he has been training for this type of lifting for just two months. “I'm hooked,” he said. “I'm only going to get better. My goal is 225 by April 2010 at the meet on St. George Island.”

Both men train at the Apalachicola Fitness Center in Apalachicola. If you would like more info or like to train with HHP Powerlifting Team call Whitehead at 653-1920.

“We start training January 2010 for the meets that start in March and April. Male, female, young, old, big or little can train for this team,” he said.