February 7, 2026 – Eagle River, AK
From the very first squat command to the final deadlift attempt, the 2026 Alaska State Championship delivered everything you want in a state-level showdown: junior phenoms, masters strength, high school battles, national qualifying totals, and strong pulls that brought the house to its feet.
Hosted by Mac’s Strength & Power, the atmosphere was steady all day. Spotters and loaders were on point. Judges were tight. And lifters showed up ready to lift.
As was said on the mic throughout the meet, “The meet doesn’t start until deadlifts.” When deadlifts started, the energy in the room shifted immediately.
Squat Highlights
Maci Martin – Youth 44 kg (8–9 Years Old)
The meet opened with something special. Maci Martin, weighing in at 42.4 kg (93.5 lb), opened her squat at 104.7 lb (47.5 kg), already squatting over bodyweight, and made it look exactly how an opener should: clean, controlled, three white lights.
On her third attempt, she stepped up to 132 lb (60 kg) for a state record squat. It was a grind. She fought through the sticking point, locked her knees, waited for the rack command, and secured three white lights. She finished the day nine-for-nine with a 358 lb (162.5 kg) total.
As stated on the mic, “Now, if you’ve ever wondered what a third attempt should look like, there you go. Miss Maci just put it on display”
Kiersten Robeson – Team 2 (16–17 Division, 65 kg)
Kiersten Robeson secured a 248 lb (112.5 kg) state record squat. She handled her attempts with composure, hit depth, and delivered under pressure.
Masters Strength – Charles Estes (70–79 Division)
Charles Estes showed strong in the Masters 70–79 division, and posted:
- 303 lb (137.5 kg) squat
- 215 lb (97.5 kg) bench
- 353 lb (160 kg) deadlift
His lifts were smooth, controlled, and technically sound, drawing clear respect from the crowd.
Bench Press Highlights
Bench press brought technical drama throughout the day: start command timing, rack command misses, and state records.
Isabella Edades – Junior 65 kg
Isabella Edades came in chasing nationals and delivered. After solid opening attempts, she broke the state record with 176 lb (80 kg), then broke it again with 182 lb (82.5 kg).
Her setup was tight, pauses were patient, and lockouts were strong. She followed it up with a 275 lb (125 kg) deadlift PR to secure a 717 lb (325 kg) total and qualify for USAPL nationals.
Jeffrey Bottorff – Bench Only (140 kg)
Jeffrey Bottorff posted one of the biggest lifts of the day with a 440 lb (200 kg) bench press. Clean pause, strong press, three white lights. It was one of the most explosive moments of the bench session.
Deadlifts: Where It All Happened
Deadlifts brought intensity across every flight.
The 90 kg Open Battle
One of the most compelling storylines unfolded in the Men’s 90 kg Open between Rianmel Molina and Randolph Thurston II.
They matched openers, stayed close through squats and bench, and both opened deadlifts at 441 lb (200 kg), setting up a direct showdown.
Molina ultimately pulled ahead to secure gold, but Thurston kept it competitive throughout. It was a true head-to-head battle that came down to the final pulls.
Kenji Sayavong – Teen 75 kg
Kenji Sayavong entered deadlifts eight-for-eight. He pulled 501 lb (227.5 kg) cleanly, then attempted 540 lb (245 kg).
He finished the meet with:
- 243 lb (110 kg) bench PR
- 500 lb (227.5 kg) deadlift
- Best Male Teen Lifter honors
It was a confident, aggressive deadlift session
Chiehmeng (Peter) Chen – 75 kg Open
Chiehmeng Chen was in contention for best lifter all day. He opened at 529 lb (240 kg), followed with 551 lb (250 kg), and attempted 573 lb (260 kg) on his third.
He walked away with Best Male Open Lifter and a 449 DOTS performance. His presence on the platform during those final attempts commanded the room’s full attention.
Elijah Whitacre – Junior 90 kg
Elijah Whitacre delivered one of the cleanest big pulls of the day with a 500 lb (227.5 kg) deadlift. Smooth off the floor, controlled at the top, and solid lockout for three white lights.
Best Lifters
- Best Male Open: Chiehmeng Chen
- Best Male Teen: Kenji Sayavong
- Best Female Open: Cassandra Sargento
- Best Female Teen: Gabrielle Whitacre
Multiple lifters secured national qualifying totals, and several were called forward during awards to confirm qualification.
Judging Reviews
Judges were consistent and strict on squat depth. Several second attempts were red-lighted for being high, forcing lifters to adjust and retake attempts.
Bench press proved highly technical. Missed rack commands, early starts, and butt-lift calls cost a few lifters important kilos.
Deadlifts were aggressive. Many lifters went eight-for-eight before swinging for ambitious third attempts, creating a high-energy finish across all flights.
Team Awards
- 1st Place: UAA Powerlifting
- 2nd Place: Kodiak Movers
- 3rd Place: Caribou Crew
Team scoring was calculated by comparative scores across top lifters, and UAA’s depth of talent secured the win.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 Alaska State Championship showcased the continued growth of powerlifting in the state. Junior lifters set records. Masters competitors demonstrated strength. High school programs showed depth. Heavy pulls brought the crowd to life. Nationals qualifiers were earned.
From nine-for-nine performances to strong deadlifts, it was a complete state championship meet and a strong statement for Alaska powerlifting moving forward.
Meet Results
Powerlifting.com meet coverage based on official results, event reporting, and on-site or published sources.
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