Port McNeill’s Lexie Murgatroyd was one of four athletes representing BC at the Canadian Junior Weightlifting Championships in Halifax.
The Jan. 20 competition showcased Canada’s top under 20 weightlifters and was the first event to take place at the newly built Halifax Convention Centre.
Murgatroyd returned from the competition, where she competed against all other provinces, placing sixth for the 58 kg class and also finishing as the BC champion for that class.
Murgatroyd’s parents, John and Annetta, travelled across the country with the 17-year-old athlete to see her compete in the national championships.
RELATED: Port McNeill athlete wins best female weightlifter
“I was very proud of her,” said dad John Murgatroyd, adding that Lexie was happy about her placement “but she thinks she could have lifted more - it wouldn’t have affected her standings but she always expects more of herself.”
Prior to 2018 Nationals, Murgatroyd competed in 2017 BC Provincials in Weightlifting where she won Best Female Lifter overall and also won her division.
John said the national competition was quite a bit different than the provincial level, noting the national championships were hosted at the Halifax Convention Centre, whereas in BC the provincials took place in a cross-fit gym.
“Weightlifting is definitely more serious as you go out east,” said John, adding “It was an eye-opener to see the athletes out of Quebec - in the men and women’s categories Quebec pretty much dominated the competition.”
Murgatroyd was originally only interested in cross-fit, but began weightlifting as apart of her cross-fit training and quickly discovered she was a natural.
“I’m extremely proud. Compared to all of the other girls who have been doing this since they were little kids - it was pretty neat to see - her starting a-year-and-a-half ago and being able to compete with them,” said John.
Although Murgatroyd will start up her cross-fit training again soon, she is planning to continue to compete in weightlifting.
She will be joining the West10 Barbell Club in Vancouver for the BC Senior Provincials in late February.