Powerlifting: Broad Run Grad Jessica Read Sets World Records with 250-Pound Effort

(July 9, 2012) - Farmwell Station Middle School English teacher and Broad Run High School grad Jessica Read broke both the Open and Sub-Masters divisions world records in June at the IPA World Powerlifting Championships in York, Pa.

On her road to victory she set world records in each division with every single lift as she hoisted 220 pounds, 235, 245 and finally 250 pounds. Her effort also earned her the nod as Best Lifter at the event. Her record lifts came in the Raw category which means no equipment such as wrist wraps or bench shirts.

Read, a 1995 Spartan graduate, still holds the school record in the shot and discus and was all-conference performer at Virginia Tech where she competed in the shot and javelin. She has been lifting since she was 13 and has been into competitive powerlifting since 2009.