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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend May 25, 2004 North Medford High School�s Laura Tarkon learned powerlifting for her senior project, setting an Oregon record for her age and weight groups in March. She�s planning to compete for the world record in June. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven She’s raising the bar North weight lifter’s senior project becomes quest for a world record EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the third in a six-day series on senior projects, those daunting hurdles some students must pass before they graduate from high school. By BILL KETTLER Mail Tribune Coaches at North Medford High School have watched Laura Tarkon carry her team to victory for three years. Now she wants to get her name in the record books for some real heavy lifting. Tarkon starred for North’s softball and volleyball teams and lettered three times in both sports. She trained with weights to build strength for team sports and decided to learn powerlifting as her senior project. "I tried it and I was hooked," she says. "It’s awesome." Advertisement Tarkon started training in December, meticulously logging each workout, noting the weights she lifted and the number of times she lifted them. In March, at her first competition, she deadlifted 303 pounds — enough to set an Oregon record for women her age (18) and weight (148-165 pounds). "She did something special," said Sam Pecktol of Medford, Tarkon’s coach and mentor and a champion weightlifter himself. "It took me 10 years to break a state record. She did it in months." Pecktol says Tarkon could break the world record, 325 pounds, when she competes at a meet sanctioned by the World Association of Benchers and Deadlifters on June 27. "I know she can do it," he says. "She can probably do it now." For her project, Tarkon learned the three styles of powerlifting — squat, bench press and deadlift — and organized a training schedule leading up to the meet in March. "I didn’t realize there was so much technique," she says. "There are three judges critiquing everything you do." She was most attracted to deadlift, where the legs and back provide most of the strength. Deadlifters squat at the waist to grasp the weight bar, then lift by extending their hips and knees to full extension in one smooth motion. The arms simply hold the bar. "When you do a good deadlift workout your back is really sore the next day," she says. At the March competition, she discovered the power of adrenaline. "I was really nervous. I didn’t think I could lift as much weight as I did. "But when you’re in competition you don’t even think about (the weight). It doesn’t feel like anything at all." Pecktol says Tarkon has succeeded because she has the determination to work out regularly and push herself. "She’s one of those athletes that thrives on technique. She learned it really fast," he says. Powerlifting even made Tarkon change her plans for college. She originally planned to play softball at the University of Oregon while she pursued a degree in elementary education. Lately she decided to give up softball in favor of powerlifting. "I love the competition," she says. "I like to know that I can do it. I like to prove to myself that I can." She says high school sports have helped her and other young women build self-esteem, and sports have created opportunities for them that women of earlier generations never knew. "Women’s sports have really come a long way," she says. "It’s cool now for girls to be athletes. It’s something to be a part of. It’s fun, and it keeps you in shape." She says sports have made her who she is today. "I don’t think I’d be the same person if I didn’t play." Reach reporter Bill Kettler at 776-4492, or e-mail [email protected] Schools need project judges Students at North Medford, South Medford and Phoenix high schools must complete a senior project to graduate. The projects require dozens of hours of work outside the classroom, a minimum eight-page paper and a presentation before judges. The schools need help from community members willing to be judges. The judges are asked to assess the presentation and the overall project. No expertise is required and guidelines are provided. Judges are needed from 12:15 to 3:30 p.m. May 27 and 28 at North Medford, 12:45 to 3:45 p.m. May 27 and 28 at South Medford and 12:15 to 2:30 p.m. June 2 at Phoenix. To volunteer, call 779-5318 or 842-3693. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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