HUSBAND & WIFE TEAM POWER LIFTING TOGETHER

Terry Byrd of Jackson has been power lifting for seven years and recently his wife Jennifer joined him in the sport.

Terry squatted the state record of 523 pounds on Nov. 2 at the Universal Gym meet in Cape Girardeau. Jennifer's first meet on Nov. 2 she squatted 154 pounds, dead lifted 164 pounds and benched 77 pounds.

Terry is in the 148 pound weight class and Jennifer is in the 104 pound weight class.

"I was nervous until after my first lift. Then it wasn't so bad. It makes for a long day and you are completely worn out," Jennifer said of the meet.

"It takes a toll on your body," Terry added.

Terry said he doesn't think about anything when he is getting ready to lift in a meet.

Jennifer said she is thinking "are my hands and legs where they are supposed to be."

She thinks about the placement of her hands and feet because technique is more important in the sport than brute strength.

Terry has set a very high goal for himself in the sport.

"I'd like to go to the ADPLA nationals in 1998 and place in the top three before I quit," Terry said.

Terry won the 148 weight class last April in Missouri and would like to take that success to the next level.

Jennifer will have to give the sport a rest until after she has her baby. But she said she will resume the sport then.

"I'll get out of the sport when Terry does," she said.

"I like it because it is competitive," Terry said.

The sport also keeps you shape, he added.

"I like it because I can stay in shape and spend more time with Terry," Jennifer said.

Terry said that he tries to compete in one or two meets per year.

To get ready for the meets they try new workouts and cycle for the meet.

The Byrds get their bodies ready by getting it used to lower repetitions and higher weights and their diet is a very big part of getting ready for the meet.

Terry does his workouts at Universal Gym in Cape and Jennifer does her workouts in the basement of their home in Jackson.

Sometimes during training Terry tries to lift the state record just to see where he is at in his training.

Steve Wachter got Terry started in the sport. Wachter is a wrestling and football coach at Jackson High School.

Terry lifts with Lindsey Sample and he and Leonard Sample have had an important role in keeping Terry involved in the sport.