Moree's Raymond Heaton now has an Australian title to his name, after success at the recent national powerlifting championships.
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Heaton won the 93kg junior division at the 2019 Australian Powerlifting Union (APU) Australian Classic Powerlifting Championships, held in Perth on November 7 to 10.
It was Heaton's second ever competition, having won his very first competitive outing to qualify for nationals at the end of August.
"I'm pretty proud; I've worked pretty hard," he said of his national title.
"I'm glad everything came together."
A minor back injury only two weeks prior to the competition wasn't enough to stop him from lifting an impressive 710kg overall to win the competition.
"It didn't hinder me too much," he said.
Up against seven of the best young powerlifters in the country, Heaton managed to finish 15kg ahead of the second place-getter with a 270kg squat, 165kg bench press and 275kg deadlift.
"There was one guy right at my tail, I only just beat him," he said.
"I knew he had a big deadlift - I had him on squats and bench but he had me on the deadlift."
The runner up ended up lifting a 290kg deadlift, but only a 250kg squat and 155kg bench press.
Heaton said he was thrilled with the outcome.
"I was very happy - I couldn't get the smile off my face," he said.
He has now qualified for the International Powerlifting Federation World Championships, to be held in Russia next year.
After enjoying a week's break, the 19-year-old is already back training at the Moree PCYC gym, with guidance from Moree world champion powerlifter Eric Dumas, and online coaching from American-based coach William Valle.
Training currently involves one and a half to two and a half hours six days a week, during which Heaton will work on lifting heavier weights to be able to compete at an international level.
At this stage he's unsure if he'll go to the world championships next year, but being the youngest in the division at only 19, he has "a few years to improve".
"If I go, I want to at least podium," he said.
"Everyone at the top level is 21, 22, 23.
"I'll see how training goes over the next couple of months; I might just go for the experience."
Heaton would like to thank Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre for sponsoring him and helping with his accommodation, and his parents for helping him fundraise to get to Perth.