GHS student breaks national record in deadlift competition at powerlifting event
Christian Ries, shown with coach Joe Humbyrd, recently broke the national record in the deadlift category in his class with a 405-pound lift. In the deadlift, a loaded barbell or bar is lifted off the ground to the level of the hips, torso perpendicular to the floor, before being placed back on the ground.
Powerlifting coach Joe Humbyrd, left, trains Christian Ries at the Warriors Powerlifting Federation Warrior Championships in Harrison, Arkansas.
Gainesville High School sophomore Christian Ries recently competed in the Warriors Powerlifting Federation Warrior Champion-ships held at STS Fitness in Harrison, Arkansas.
Ries competed in the push/pull division which consists of two disciplines, the bench press and the deadlift.
He lifted a personal best 205 pounds in the bench press and a whopping 405 pounds in the deadlift.
Ries’ deadlift was a national record and broke the existing record of 385 by 20 pounds.
Ries’ two-lift (bench press/deadlift) total of 610 pounds garnered him first place in his age and weight class for the competition.
Christian is on team “Joe Show,” the powerlifting team coached by Joe Humbyrd.
Humbyrd was featured in a 2020 article in the Times (see “From skinny kid to lifting legend,” Nov. 25, 2020). The article can also be found at ozarkcountytimes.com. Search for “Joe Humbyrd”.
The team meets and works out at Top Dog Fitness Center in Gainesville.