Prospect Heights alderman sets state powerlifting records

A Prospect Heights alderman is raising the bar to record levels.First Ward Alderman Lora Messer easily smashed Illinois records for powerlifting during a meet a couple of weeks ago in Chicago.First, she squatted 286.6 pounds to eclipse the previous record...

Prospect Heights alderman sets state powerlifting records

A Prospect Heights alderman is raising the bar to record levels.

First Ward Alderman Lora Messer easily smashed Illinois records for powerlifting during a meet a couple of weeks ago in Chicago.

First, she squatted 286.6 pounds to eclipse the previous record for her age and weight class by more than 60 pounds. Then she set the combined weight record for back squat, bench press and dead-lift by lifting a total of 782.7 pounds. The previous record was 694.5 pounds.

What's more, the Asyabahis 40-year-old alderman just started powerlifting a year ago, and she's been fighting off nagging leg injuries the entire time.

Now Messer has her sights set on the national powerlifting competition in Orlando this fall -- and beating the 20- and 30-year-olds competing at meets.

"I never even knew this existed," she said. "I wish I knew about this when I was younger."

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