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Nebo powerlifter captures world title

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Joey Smith bench presses 760 pounds at the SPF World Championships in Nashville, Tenn.

By Marty Queen | The McDowell News

Published: October 12, 2009

Nebo's Joey Smith has captured a ton of bench press titles in the last few years, but one – a world championship – had always eluded him.
Until now, that is.
Smith benched 760 pounds to claim the SPF (Southern Powerlifting Federation) World Championship in Nashville, Tenn. Oct. 4. Smith took first place in the 308-pound Sub-Masters Division (ages 33 to 39) and set a new world Sub-Masters record. Smith, who weighed in at 286, placed second in the 308-pound Men's Open Division with his lift, which exceeded his previous best by 5 pounds.
Smith qualified for the world championships by capturing first-place honors in both the state and national SPF meets earlier in the year. In Nashville, he competed alongside more than 200 other lifters, including some of the sport's biggest names.
He admitted it was a little overwhelming.
"I was a fan at this meet. I was sitting there beside legends," said Smith. "I was like, hey, there's so-and-so, I've got to get his autograph and get my picture made with him. I was stoked just being there."
If Smith was star-struck, you couldn't tell it from his performance. The Nebo lifter opened with 730 pounds and pressed it easily. His second attempt, 760, also went up relatively quickly. Smith tried 785 on his third and final lift, but couldn't lock out his right arm.
But any disappointment at missing his final weight dissipated when he realized what he had accomplished.
"It's always an honor to be able to compete in anything in life with the best in the world," said Smith. "Was I satisfied? No. Am I happy that I won? Yes. I know I could have done more, but I also know I've got more in me."
Still, Smith will have a tough time trying to better his 2009 campaign. Going three-for-three in meets this year, Smith also won two best lifter awards and two biggest bench awards, as well as setting three Men's Open SPF state records, three Sub-Master SPF world records and two Men's Open SPF world records. Along the way, he has increased his bench press by a remarkable 30 pounds in the last eight months and set new personal records in each of the three competitions.
Smith attributed his success in part to his training partners, Kelly Wofford, Jonathan Britt, Tim Hudgins, Mark Prather and Timmy Boyce, all of who work out at Smith's gym, Nebo Barbell. Jeremy Frey, the head conditioning and strength coach at Cornell University, who, like Smith, is sponsored by Elite FTS, also played an important role.
"This was the first time I had ever trained for a meet with a pre-determined plan," said Smith. "Jeremy had everything scheduled and written out for me. It was so complicated he (Frey) had to make me a key so I could read it."
Smith said he thinks Frey's input might extend his career in the sport.
"I know I don't have much longer (in powerlifting)," said Smith, who has competed in 27 meets in the last four years and estimated he has about two years left to compete at the highest level. "My body can't maintain it. It's beating me up. But I'll keep doing it as long as my body will let me, and maybe if I continue to train like that, I can last a little longer."
And who knows? Maybe that will mean another world title. Or two.
Notes: Smith's partners, Wofford and Britt, both of Winston-Salem, also captured first place in their respective events at the meet…Smith said he appreciates the support he gets from his wife, Amy, and daughter, Katelyn…Smith's sponsors include Elite Fitness Systems, APT Pro Wrist Wraps, House of Pain and criticalbench.com.
Smith is home delivery/single copy circulation manager for The McDowell News and Morganton News-Herald.