Journal-News.com

The Cincinnati Weightlifting Club is hosting the inaugural Cincinnati Open Meet at 11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, at the GameTime Training Facility in Fairfield.

Club president Chris Cleary expects between 20 to 24 USA Weightlifting members of all ages to participate in what will be about a two-hour event.

"There will be people lifting in their first meet ever," said Cleary, who has 13 members in his club. "We'll have ranked lifters, and beginners trying to get the butterflies out of them. We have a couple of guys lifting trying to qualify for national meets. We'll have all different levels of experience."

Admission is free to the Open, which will feature the snatch and clean-and-jerk lifts.

There will be eight weight classes for the men and seven for the women, but Cleary said that each category probably won't be filled.

Lifters from the Cincinnati club will be competing, as well as individuals from Toledo, Columbus, Indianapolis and Brownsburg, Ind.

Each competitor will lift six times — three each of the snatch and clean-and-jerk. Ages range from an 8-year-old girl to men in their 50s.

"It's good for all athletes to come and take a look at it," Cleary said. "There's a resurging interest in Olympic lifts. They develop power and explosiveness and strength for all athletes."

Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5113 or smatthews@coxohio.com.