LIBERTY, Mo. – The McKendree University women's powerlifting team opened its 2022-23 season here this past weekend by placing third as a team overall at the Midwest Collegiate Regional hosted by William Jewell College.

McKendree sent five women's lifters to the one-day event and all five Bearcat lifters recorded national qualifying marks for this year's USAPL Collegiate Nationals, which are scheduled for April 13-16, 2023, in Arlington, Texas.

In addition to having all five of its women lifters qualify for nationals, junior 56kg Kailee Carr (St. Peters, Mo./Fort Zumwalt East) finished first overall in the 56kg class at the event. Carr posted a combined total of 332.5 kilogrqams at the meet as she recorded 115 kg squat, 65 kg bench press and 152.5 deadlift to tally 391.02 points to earn first place in the 56kg weight class.

In the 48kg weight class, sophomore Zariah Valentine (Monroe, La./Carroll) placed third overall in her weight class with a total of 292.5 kilograms as she recorded 95kg squat, 60kg bench press and a 137.5kg deadlift to tally 3821.4 points.

Sophomore Isabelle Rivera (Lake in the Hills, Ill./Huntley) was third in the 60 kilogram weight class as she recorded a total of 367.5 kilograms as she posted a 130kg squat, 80kg bench press and a 157.5kg deadlift to tally 407.39 points.

In the 82.5 kilogram weight class, junior Dominique Donegan (Midlothian, Ill./Bremen) finished second overall with a total of 387.5 kilograms as she recorded a 140kg squat, an 82.5kg bench press and a 165kg deadlift to tally 362.01 points.

The final women's lifter to compete in the meet was freshman Hannah Alexander (Lake Mills, Wis./Lake Mills) as she finished second in the 90 kilogram weight class with a combined total of 400 kilograms as she recorded a 145kg squat, an 80kg bench press and a 175kg deadlift to tally 358.56 points.

McKendree will next be in action on Feb. 4 as they host the Beast of the Metro East at the McKendree Sports Performance Center in Lebanon, Ill.