In 1998 Roach held the record in the clean and jerk for her weight class with a mark of 113kg. At the time she was the only women able to clean and jerk twice her body weight. Today she posted 108kg in the clean and jerk. When combined with her 74kg in the snatch, she lifted for a combined total of 182kg to finish with the bronze behind Yudelquis Contreras of the Dominican Republic and Ana Margot Lemos of Colombia who won gold and silver respectively. Roach had the second best clean and jerk total behind Contreras’s 112kg.

“I’m so happy, it’s exactly how I wanted it to end today,” said Roach following the medal ceremony. ‘Obviously I wish I would have liked to have done more in the snatch. It put me in a position where I really had to focus and stay determined to make that big lift. That’s the most I’ve done in nine years. I’m very happy!”

Roach’s performance today was the best since returning to competitive weightlifting after taking time off to start her family.

“I took a little break and had three kids. I’ve been back for almost two years now and everything ended exactly as I wanted (at these Games), so I am very, very happy.”

When asked if she thought her kids would be proud of Mom, she said, “I hope so. I was looking at their picture before I started. I am grateful for everything I’ve been given. I am truly blessed. It’s been great!”

Jackie Berube (Colorado Springs, Colo./58kg Weight Class) carried the flag for the U.S. in the night cap. Berube who underwent knee surgery in the fall of 2006 to repair damage that was done when a weight fell on her leg, finished the meet in sixth place with a total weight of 191kg. Berube posted a snatch of 86kg and a clean and jerk of 105kg.

A full day is on tap for the USA Weightlifting team on Monday, July 16. Team USA will have four athletes competing in the competition being held in Pavilion 2 at the Riocentro Convention Center. Defending Pan American Games gold medalist and 2004 U.S. Olympian Chad Vaughn (Konawa, Okla./Norman, Okla.) and teammate Matt Bruce (Baton Rouge, La.) will be the first to take the platform at 14:00 in the men’s 77kg weight class. Natalie Woolfolk (Arnold, Md./Colorado Springs, Colo.), the number two ranked woman weightlifter in the United States (behind Cheryl Haworth) and the daughter of the head strength and conditioning coach at the United States Naval Academy will be next to go at 16:00 in the women’s 63kg weight class. Kendrick Farris (Shreveport, La.), the 2007 USA Weightlifting National Champion and Best Lifter will take the stage at 18:00.

2007 United States Pan American Games Weightlifting Team Results:

Women’s 53kg Weight Class
Gold; Yudelquis Contreras (Dominican Republic); 207kg total (95kg snatch; 112kg clean and jerk – both Pan American Games records; Robin Goad of the USA had held the Pan Am Games record in the snatch since 1985)
Silver; Ana Margot Lemos (Colombia); 190kg total (84kg snatch; 106kg clean and jerk)
Bronze; Melanie Roach (Bonney Lake, Wash., USA); 182kg total (74 snatch; 108kg clean and jerk)

Women’s 58kg Weight Class
Gold; Alejandra Escobar (Ecuador); 223kg total (98kg snatch; 125kg clean and jerk)
Silver: Rusmeris Villar (Colombia); 204kg total (90kg snatch; 114kg clean and jerk)
Bronze; Maria Cecilia Floriddia (Argentina); 200kg total (90kg snatch; 110kg clean and jerk)
Sixth Place; Jackie Berube (Colorado Springs, Colo., USA); 191kg total (86kg snatch; 105kg clean and jerk)

Remaining 2007 U.S. Pan American Games Weightlifting Team Schedule:

Monday, July 16, 2007

Time; Event; Athlete (Hometown); Venue
14:00; Men’s 77kg Weight Class; Chad Vaughn (Konawa, Okla./Norman, Okla.); Riocentro Convention Center Pavilion 2
14:00; Men’s 77kg Weight Class; Matt Bruce (Baton Rouge, La.); Riocentro Convention Center Pavilion 2
16:00; Women’s 63kg Weight Class; Natalie Woolfolk (Arnold, Md./Colorado Springs, Colo.); Riocentro Convention Center Pavilion 2
18:00; Men’s 85kg Weight Class; Kendrick Farris (Shreveport, La.); Riocentro Convention Center Pavilion 2

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Time; Event; Athlete (Hometown); Venue
16:00; Men’s 94kg Weight Class; Jeff Wittmer (Florissant, Mo.); Riocentro Convention Center Pavilion 2

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Time; Event; Athlete (Hometown); Venue
16:00; Women’s 75+kg Weight Class; Emmy Vargas (Colorado Springs, Colo.),; Riocentro Convention Center Pavilion 2
18:00; Men’s 105+kg Weight Class; Casey Burgener (Bonsall, Calif./Colorado Springs, Colo.),; Riocentro Convention Center Pavilion 2

For the Pan American Games, the United States Team consists of nine athletes (five men and four women).

2007 United States Pan American Games Team - Weightlifting

Women
Natalie Woolfolk (Arnold, Md./Colorado Springs, Colo.), 63kg Weight Class
Melanie Roach (Bonney Lake, Wash.), 53kg Weight Class
Emmy Vargas (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 75+kg Weight Class
Jackie Berube (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 58kg Weight Class

Men
Kendrick Farris (Shreveport, La.), 85kg Weight Class
Chad Vaughn (Konawa, Okla./Norman, Okla.), 77kg Weight Class
Matt Bruce (Baton Rouge, La.), 77kg Weight Class
Casey Burgener (Bonsall, Calif./Colorado Springs, Colo.), 105+kg Weight Class
Jeff Wittmer (Florissant, Mo.), 94kg Weight Class

Women’s Head Coach: Dennis Snethen (St. Joseph, Mo.)
Women’s Assistant Coach: Bob Morris (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Men’s Head Coach: Roger Nielsen (Arlington Heights, Ill.)
Men’s Assistant Coach: Kyle Pierce (Shreveport, La.)
Team Leader: Frank Eksten (Crown Point, Ind.)

For more information on the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, please visit: www.rio2007.org.br.