The event was a ranking event, meaning that posted totals can count toward an athlete’s national ranking. There are four ranking events that count toward qualification for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Weightlifting; the 2007 World Championships, 2007 American Open, 2008 National Junior Championships and the 2008 National Championships. The top 30 ranked women and men following the conclusion of the 2008 USA Weightlifting National Championships, February 29 to March 2 in Columbus, Ohio, will qualify for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, May 16-17 in Atlanta, Ga.

Based on the U.S. team performances at the 2007 World Weightlifting Championships, September 17-26 in Chang Mai, Thailand, the United States is poised to have a total of seven slots (four women and three men) for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Representatives for the seven slots will be determined following the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Weightlifting, May 16-17, 2008 in Atlanta, Ga.

2007 American Open Champions

Women’s Division
48kg Weight Class: Stacy Suyama
53kg Weight Class: Kelly Polly
58kg Weight Class: Jackie Berube
63kg Weight Class: Carissa Gump
69kg Weight Class: Ingrid Marcum
75kg Weight Class: Cara Heads
75+kg Weight Class: Rachel Hearn

Men’s Division
56kg Weight Class: Joshua Barnett
62kg Weight Class: Derrick Johnson
69kg Weight Class: Henry Brower
77kg Weight Class: Henry Woodard
85kg Weight Class: Zach Krych
94kg Weight Class: Jeff Wittmer
105kg Weight Class: Norm Fulk
105+kg Weight Class: Patrick Judge

For complete results from the The 2007 American Open Weightlifting Championships in Birmingham, Ala. please visit www.usaweightlifting.org, the official website for USA Weightlifting.

For more information, please contact Cecil Bleiker, USOC Manager of NGB Media Services in the USOC Media & Public Relations Division at 719-866-4608. This press release is also available on the USOC’s media specific website at www.usocpressbox.org.