Farris sets 2 US records in weightlifting

BEIJING – Weightlifter Kendrick Farris set two US records in the men's 85-kilogram division, hoisting a total of 362 kg (798.1 pounds) to leave him in contention for a medal ahead of Friday's final session. Farris finished first in the morning session, but the higher-ranked lifters in the weight category were not competing until later in the day. "I think that total is going to hold up," the 22-year-old said. "I'm not even coming to watch the next session, I'm just waiting for someone to call me." Farris flexed his biceps to the crowd after hoisting 160 kg (352.7 pounds) in the snatch, bettering his previous best by 2 kg (4.4 pounds). But it was in the clean and jerk that he really proved his strength. After a failed attempt at 195 kg (429.9 pounds), he nailed his second try before setting a new national record of 202 kg (445.3 pound) in his last lift. His total of 362 kg (798.1 pounds) was also a U.S. record. Farris, who has been training weightlifting for 11 years, said his faith helped him bounce back from a poor result in last year's world championship, where he failed to register a good lift in the clean and jerk. That is a two-part lift in which the bar is first raised to shoulder height before being pushed over the head. "Man, at the worlds, I probably was at the bottom as far as emotions and my morale," he said. "I knew I had to get back on it. So I started working hard, and everything just paid off, man. Lot of prayer and lot hard work. And it got me to this point." Double world champion Andrei Rybakou of Belarus was the favorite heading into the evening session, with China's Lu Yong and Tigran Maritorsyan of Armenia also competing for medals. – AP