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Going for more than their weight in gold

By MICHELE MILLER
Published September 13, 2006

ST. LEO -- Roberto Colon shook his shoulders out and took five deep breaths before bending over to grasp the loaded barbell.

"Go - you can do it," said Scott Walter, 19, adding a whooping holler just for good measure. "360 -right here!"

Colon squatted down, took one more breath and let go a mighty roar as he lifted 360 pounds of red, blue and yellow weights off the floor and up to his thighs.

Almost.

Turns out Colon, 20, didn't hold his stance long enough to complete the 360-pound dead lift. He'd have to settle for his last lift of 345 and perhaps a new goal.

"Now you've got something to work for," said Judy Brunner as the two exchanged high-fives. Brunner, co-coordinator of the Pasco County Special Olympics, was keeping tally for the eight athletes representing Moore-Mickens Education Center and Zephyrhills High School in the Special Olympics Fall Classic Games powerlifting competition Tuesday at Saint Leo University. The contestants had various disabilities.

Next up was 18-year-old Julio Delmoral.

"This kid's for real," said teammate Andres Torres, 17, as Delmoral lifted 360 easily.

"Piece of cake," said Brunner. "He lifted that like a toothpick."

"I can go higher than that," said Delmoral, who, after hoisting 600 pounds between the dead lift and bench press, appears headed to state competition. "I just have to work at it."

[Last modified September 13, 2006, 01:27:24]