Mendez Totals 810 kg to Win Concha Classic, Vargas Tops Overall Scoring

Austin, Texas — April 18, 2026

Garry Mendez won the Powerlifting America Concha Classic with an 810 kg total and the meet’s biggest lift, while Bella Vargas led overall scoring.

The Powerlifting America Concha Classic in Austin, Texas brought together raw and equipped lifters across multiple divisions. The meet moved steadily across sessions, with consistent judging. The field was competitive across both men’s and women’s divisions, with several standout performances at the top.

Garry Mendez set the mark on total in the Men’s division. Weighing 98.1 kg, he built his 810 kg total with a 300 kg squat, showing control through depth, followed by a 177.5 kg bench press that held his position heading into deadlifts. He closed with a 332.5 kg deadlift—the heaviest lift of the meet—which locked in both his total and first-place finish. No other lift across squat or bench approached that number, making his pull the defining moment for the top total in the men’s division.

Bella Vargas delivered the strongest overall performance of the meet. Competing in the Equipped Women’s division at 56.8 kg bodyweight, she totaled 505 kg with a 177.5 kg squat, 125 kg bench press, and 202.5 kg deadlift. She built her total evenly across all three lifts, staying competitive in each and maintaining her position throughout the meet. By the end of the day, her performance placed her at the top across nearly every scoring formula used, separating her from the rest of the field in the women’s division and across the meet overall.

Will Eckford stood out with the most notable deadlift relative to bodyweight. Lifting at 73.9 kg in the Men’s division, he finished with a 685 kg total, made up of a 237.5 kg squat, 160 kg bench press, and a 287.5 kg deadlift. That pull equated to 3.89 times his bodyweight, the highest ratio recorded at the meet. While he placed second overall, his deadlift was one of the most efficient lifts on the platform.

The meet ultimately highlighted three distinct benchmarks—total, overall scoring, and lift-to-bodyweight ratio. Garry Mendez led with the highest total and the biggest lift of the day, Bella Vargas set the top overall performance by nearly every scoring formula, and Will Eckford delivered the most efficient single lift relative to bodyweight. Each stood out in a different way, giving a clear picture of powerlifting performance. This meet was hosted by Lift ATX under Powerlifting America, and it ran smoothly from start to finish, with strong performances across all divisions.

Meet Results

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