COLUMBUS, OH – Bladen County’s Mary Caitlin Campbell finished 2nd in her 72 kg weight class at the Arnold Classic SBD Pro American Powerlifting Sunday. The Arnold was one of the first national events to feel the effects of the Coronavirus.
The Arnold Sports Festival normally draws over 200,000 fans and 22,000 athletes from 80 nations competing in over 80 events, but Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther acting on advice from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) imposed limitations on spectators for the events.
Thirteen events were held with no spectators, 23 events were held with limited spectators and 17 events were cancelled including 2 big Expo events that draw huge amounts of people. The Arnold normally brings an estimated boost of $53 million to the Columbus economy but generated only a fraction of that this year.
Campbell who was allowed to have only her trainer with her at the powerlifting events matched her personal best in both the squat (175 kgs; 386 pounds) and bench press (95 kgs; 209 pounds).
She made her first attempt in the deadlift of 185 kgs (408 pounds), but failed at her next 2 attempts to improve that mark. Campbell was still tied for first in her class until California’s Claire Zal lifted 195 kgs (430 pounds) on her final attempt to win the 72 kg class.
Campbell totaled 455 kgs (1003 pounds) for the 3 lifts. “It was disappointing but there were a lot of distractions this week with the uncertainty about the spectators, who was going to be allowed in, and how quiet it was,” she said.
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