Weightlifter Stoneback fourth at nationals

Olympic-style lifting seems to suit Lawrence High senior Andrea Stoneback.

Stoneback, a 101-pounder, placed fourth in her weight class over the weekend at the Junior National Weightlifting meet in Los Angeles.

“She performed adequately at the meet and had never been to anything of this magnitude with the number of lifters and quality of lifters,” said Loren McVay, Stoneback’s lifting coach.

At the national meet, Stoneback had an 88-pound lift in the snatch and 121-pound effort in the clean-and-jerk.

“It was really a learning experience for her,” said McVay, who has worked with Stoneback for seven months. “She didn’t lift as much as she’s capable, but she had a solid meet. She was nervous on her stances and it showed.”

An illegal move on the clean-and-jerk prevented Stoneback from placing higher and receiving a medal. Her right elbow was at improper angle.

“I thought I made the lift and everything,” Stoneback said. “Then I saw the red lights come on.”

Stoneback admitted the Olympic lifting was more of a challenge than powerlifting, which consists of the squat, power clean and bench press.

“There’s a bunch of technique involved,” said Stoneback, a powerlifter for three years. “I have the strength, but now I need to work more on technique.”

Stoneback has two more years of eligibility at the junior national level. A couple of big meets in the next year in which Stoneback will enter are the American Weightlifting Open Championships in Savannah, Ga., and the National Collegiate Weightlifting Championships in Shreveport, La.

“She’s a very dedicated, very hard worker,” McVay said. “She is extremely motivated. She’s only been doing this style of lifting for seven months and to qualify for the national meet in seven months was very difficult.”

Lawrence’s Micah Clark, 14, also competed at the national tournament in Los Angeles. The 137-pound West Junior High student was entered in the 16-under age group.