Kearns sets lifting mark
BUTLER TWP — Lifting weights is something Justin Kearns has never stopped doing.
He’s trying to put breaking world records into that same category.
Kearns, 43, of Butler recently broke the International Powerlifting Federation world record with a 555-pound bench press. He did so at the National Powerlifting Championships in York.
“I knew I could come close,” Kearns said of the record. “I did it on my second attempt.”
A 1990 Butler High School graduate, Kearns played tight end and linebacker for the Golden Tornado. He made first team All-WPIAL at tight end, second team at linebacker.
He played on a Butler team that reached the WPIAL playoffs for the first time in four years.
“They (played for) the WPIAL title the season after I was gone, but I led the team in receptions and in tackles my senior year,” he said. “That would be hard to believe, looking at me now.”
Kearns stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 290.4 pounds. His world record came in the masters division, age 40-44, weight division 275-308.
The previous world mark was 545 pounds, set by a Russian competitor in 2009.
Kearns plans to compete in a Pittsburgh meet in March, then get ready for nationals “and try to break my own record.” He’s been lifting weights since high school.
A collegiate football career at Youngstown State didn’t work out, but his weight training has never stopped.
“I’ve always enjoyed time in the weight room and it keeps me in shape,” he said.
Kearns said he tries to stay around 90 percent of his bench press ability — a bit over 500 pounds — before undergoing a rigorous 15-week training session before every competition.
He’s been competing for four years and the powerlifting championships in York marked his sixth competition.
“During the 15 weeks, I train four days a week, two hours a day,” Kearns said. “The bench press is the only event I compete in.”
Kearns is now ranked second in the United States in the male masters 308-pound class by powerliftingwatch.com.
“Form is big in powerlifting,” he said. “You can’t be off by an inch or you’ll totally miss the lift.
“It’s a lot of technique, a lot of repetition. I want to keep going and keep reaching a new standard.”
