# @powerlifting_america on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/C30ESo-ALiT
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/11290408-powerlifting-america-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/legacy-do/59f3e8c292301c3a07eb9e0d112f46900b0fc6714afb0551eefef26a3e40b0b4.jpg
- **Posted:** 2024-02-26T14:10:09.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Powerlifting America (@powerlifting_america) — https://gondola.cc/powerlifting_america

## Caption

Classic Open Nationals begins a ferocious battle in the 47kg class. Jessica Espinal will face off for the 3rd time against Heather Connor to determine who will be competing at the 2024 IPF Classic Worlds. Here are the best recent totals of the competitors:

Jessica Espinal 417.5kg (920lbs)
Heather Connor 410kg (903lbs)

In 2023, Espinal took the US title from Connor, who had won the year prior in PA’s first ever Open Nationals. Espinal went on to win the overall silver medal at 2023 Classic Worlds, placing just above Connor, who was forced to pull a massive 200kg world record deadlift for the overall bronze medal. 

Even though she is a relative newcomer to the elite stage, Espinal could be considered the favorite as she is nominated above Connor and has beaten her on two separate occasions. She recently set a massive PR total of 417.5kg in November at the Texas Fall Championships. This is the second highest total of any lifter in the 47kg class. She will be looking to increase her own national squat and bench records at 143kg and 95kg, respectively. The stakes are high as she hopes to return to the World Championships to face off against France’s Tiffany Chapon and potentially win her first world title.

However, Connor will not be easy to beat. She is a two time world champion herself and will not go down without a fight. She is seeking revenge from 2023 and is looking to take back the national title from Espinal. This past October, she set a PR total of 410kg, just 7.5kg below Espinal’s best. She is also in contention for the national squat record, and we could see her and Espinal trade this on back-to-back attempts. Connor’s training has been on fire lately–she pulled her own 200kg world record deadlift for a double. This battle will surely come down to the last deadlift, and Connor will have the advantage of knowing exactly what she needs to load on the bar for the title and the ticket to the World Championships. 

Who will come out on top in this ongoing rivalry? Tune in on Thursday, March 14 on the @sbdapparel YouTube page to find out.

## Stats

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## Credits

These are the roles credited on Gondola. Credits may be incomplete.
A brand, account owner, or featured person is not necessarily the creator.

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Powerlifting America | @powerlifting_america | https://gondola.cc/powerlifting_america | Sports League |
| Marshall Powell | @powellifting | https://gondola.cc/powellifting | Content Producer |
| Marshall Powell | @powellifting | https://gondola.cc/powellifting | Graphic Designer |

## Events

powerlifting america classic open nationals

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