Local CrossFit Andalusia members Karen Pugh and Renee Bullard recently represented the United States at the 2019 Pan American Masters Championship in Olympic weightlifting.

Pugh was on top of her game as she swept her way to three gold medals.

“Karen routed the competition,” Jason Kelley said. “She swept gold in all three categories by totaling 113 kilograms (249 lbs) from the ground to overhead. This matched her total weight lifted at Nationals two short months ago. She also walked away from Orlando with a personal competition best squat snatch of 52 kilograms.”

Bullard also had a successful day as well as she brought home a silver medal.

“Renee took a very hard-fought silver medal back to Andalusia,” Kelley said. “She lifted the second heaviest weight in the squat snatch and walked away from Orlando with a 116 kilogram (255 lbs) overhead total. This also matched her totals from Nationals.”

Bullard and Pugh continue to train at CrossFit Andalusia, but are now members of team Grace, Strength and Barbell out of Dothan.

“These medals were built on new material,” Kelley said. “Sports training is always a changing industry and you have to avoid getting stuck with just doing the things in training that you like. There’s always someone out there that has more talent coaching or playing, but the right gym training is the equalizer. In the years past, many people, myself included, would not have though that heavy kettle bell training would help a barbell go up so easy. That’s important because many athletes all over the world lift barbell weights for their sport.”

Kelley said he was proud of the way they competed.

“I was really proud of how they both approached the very short turnaround from Salt Lake City by staying on top of their technique,” Kelley said. “Now they both have a brief moment to reset for their biggest weightlifting meet of the year. The World Cup.”