More than 350 competitors from around the country competed at the Eleiko Victorian Weightlifting Stadium in Hawthorn, making the competition the most significant masters powerlifting competition to date in the history of the sport in Australia.

Marco Kandybko, 56, lifted on Friday night in the over-50, 83kg class.

After settling some nerves from the week previous to the competition, he finished off with a personal best bench press of 87.5kg, deadlift of 172.5kg and total of 417.5kg.

Kandybko placed fourth in a very competitive division.

Lifting in his first national championships, Richard Dixon, 64, competed in the over 60-years, 83 kg class on Friday evening and won his division.

He lifted 100kg in the squat, 57.5kg in the bench press, and a very impressive 140kg deadlift.

Contesting her second national championships, Therese Pollard, 69, had her best competition to date, making light work of three national records.

Her lifts included 92.5kg in the squat, 117.5kg in the deadlift, for a total of 252.5 kg in the 65-69 year class.

Her coach Dean Mawby lauded the remarkable performance of all three lifters and continued to be astounded by Pollard’s progression in the sport.

“It's hard to believe that Therese will be eligible to lift in the over 70 years class next year, and she will be truly world standard at this age and weight class,” he said.

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