Weight lifters get pumped for bench press contest

Tony Jenkins shows he can bench press an astounding 405 pounds while working out at the Civic Center on Thursday. The bench press competition is this Saturday.

With less than a week until the competition, here are some hints to help get the best bench press from Sebastian Burns, who has been in the fitness business for 15 years. Burns says competitions are won and lost with the setup.

?I have personally seen lifters add 50 to 100 pounds to their bench in one or two sessions just by improving their setup,? said Burns, who recommends positioning your feet wide. ?Position your feet a little wider than you think you can. For competitors who are not flexible enough to spread their feet wide, spreading them wider than you think you can will increase flexibility.?

As for your feet, Burns recommends looking at your feet in relation to the knee. Your feet should be tucked behind your knee more toward your head. The angle of your leg from a side view should look like this (<). This position will help with stability and keep your rear from coming off the bench. ?We have also found it is best to put the full force of your push onto the balls of your feet,? said Burns, ?but at the same time pressing the heel to the floor.? For more information about how to improve your bench press by improving your set up go to www.criticalbench.com/bench-press-technique.htm. There will be three divisions: men?s, women?s and the silver division. Each division will be broken down into weight classes. T-shirts will be given to the first 50 participants. Entry fee is $20. Anyone wishing to enter the competition should be at the Civic Center between 9 to 10 a.m. for weigh-in. Each competitor will be given three lifts. Awards will be given to the top lifter of each class and to the top overall male and female. With last year?s competition a success, the 2006 competition is improving. ?We are looking into something different this year,? said Wellness and Aquatic manager Justin Scott. ?It hasn?t been finalized yet but we?ve looking into getting some extra sponsors and prizes.? For more information about contest rules, contact McMinnville Civic Center at 473-1212.