Smash 'em bro

Benet Kumeroa was top performer in his age and weight class at the Commonwealth and Oceania Welightlifting Championships on the Gold Coast last week.

He creamed his rivals on the Gold Coast and now steps up older and heavier opposition at the New Zealand National Olympic Weightlifting Championships in Dunedin on October 6-8.

Auckland Grammar Year 12 student, Benet Kumeroa, whose Whanganui family has links to Parikino, Koriniti, Matahiwi and Otoko, was named top youth lifter at the Commonwealth and Oceania Weightlifting Championships on the Gold Coast last week where broke 8 New Zealand records.

The 17-year-old won the Youth 94kg-plus grade and broke his own New Zealand records multiple times, including total combined weights lifted in the snatch and clean and jerk three times.

Kumeroa lifted 137kg in the snatch and 170kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 307kg.

"That gave me the win in my age and weight class, the U17 94kg-plus division," Kumeroa said.

"Of the 8 New Zealand records I broke, most were mine set before this competition, but I also set, then broke new records on the day in the Gold Coast."

His performances has given the young lifter confidence going into the New Zealand Junior and Senior National Olympic Weightlifting Championships in Dunedin early next month.

"It will be tougher competition in Dunedin and a definite step up against stronger and older lifters, but I'm confident I'll do well. I haven't let up since Australia and will continue training and working hard in the lead up to Dunedin," Kumeroa said.

Kumeroa finished in the Top 10 of his division at the 2017 IWF Youth World Championships in Bangkok in April this year and won silver in the Youth 94kg-plus division at the Oceania championships in May 2016.