The Young Hercules contingent were but 15 lifters strong, but boy, did they make some noise.

No one moreso than Yahea Alsebaai.

The 14 year-old representing the Variety Village Weighlifting Club broke a pair of provincial records last weekend in Sudbury, setting a new standard in both the Youth 49kg snatch (77kg) as well as the clean and jerk (92kg).

"I was surprised by the new records - but it's easier to do it in competition because you're more excited," stated the son of coach and former Syrian Olympic weightlifter Abdallah Alsebaai.

Now in his third year of lifting, Yahea was named Best Male Lifter, with Jahala May copping the honours as Best Female Lifter.

Just 13 years of age, May has been lifting since she was seven, one of a handful of representatives of Maximus Barbell Club in Fergus, all under the tutelage of coach and Sudbury native Rolly Chretien.

"Rolly is a friend of my father's and I saw a lady lifting one time at his club," recalled the 59kg competitor who recorded best lifts of 47kg (snatch) and 59kg (clean & jerk) at the event hosted by Sudbury Weightlifting Club head coach Alex Fera.

"I started doing it because it was cool," added May. "I get to talk to my peers and share an interest with those people."

May would spend two full years working on her technique before ever entering a competition, a development path that she credits for much of her current success.

"Working on things like keeping your arms straight for a good period of time before bending your arms and keeping the bar close to you, those are really good things to focus on before thinking that I can get this bar over my head."

"Just being able to do the pull is a good thing to focus on first," May continued.

While she has grown very comfortable with both of the standard Olympic lifts, it's definitely the somewhat less complex version that she favours.

"Snatch is better for me just because it's one fluid motion," said May. "I don't have to think a whole bunch; just pull it and put it over your head. With clean and jerk, I have to pull it, put it here and then stand up."

"Sometimes, you have to take a breath and move your feet and arms and make sure your arms are straight and yadda, yadda, yadda."

On this day, May would successfully complete five of her six attempts, all in all a very good day. "For me, if I make four or more of my lifts, I am pretty happy with myself."

And when things don't go right, she generally recognizes the technical culprit almost immediately.

"Having the bar too far in front of my face and I don't remember to move my head forward, my arms back, that can really mess me up," said May. "For the clean portion, I just think: don't hit your elbow off your knees of then they disqualify that lift."

Following is a complete rundown of the competitors that we in Sudbury for the outdoor meet hosted under a large tent adjacent to The Gym Fitness Centre on Sparks Street:

Male Lifters
U13 - 49kg - Reid Miller (Giant Weightlifting - Trenton) - 7kg (snatch); 9kg (C & J)
U13 - 61kg - Taha Alsebaai(Variety Village Weightlifting - Toronto) - 51kg (snatch); 66kg (C & J)
M49kg - Matthew Miller (Giant Weightlifting) - 33kg (snatch); 41kg (C & J)
M61kg - Nowl Wallace (Adamantium Weightlifting - Sauble Beach) - 46kg (snatch); 60kg (C & J)
M61kg - Madden Brown (Variety Village Weightlifting) - 35kg (snatch); 51kg (C & J)
M61kg - Alexi Moulton (Sudbury Weightlifting) - 30kg (snatch); 35kg (C & J)
M67kg - Graeme May (Maximus Barbell Club) - 60kg (snatch); 83kg (C & J)
M73kg - Elijah Wilke (Adamantium Weightlifting) - 74kg (snatch); 93kg (C & J)
M81kg - Hunter McNeillie (Sudbury Weightlifing) - 56kg (snatch); 80kg (C & J)
M96kg - Samuel Moulton (Sudbury Weightlifting) - 38kg (snatch); 38kg (C & J)

Female Lifters
F81kg - Ava Alexander (LBC - Lift Barbell Club - Guelph) - 48kg (snatch); 62kg (C & J)
F87+ - Paige Sinclair (LBC - Lift Barbell Club - Guelph) - 50kg (snatch); 68kg (C & J)
F87+ - Isla Perkin (LBC - Lift Barbell Club - Guelph) - 36kg (snatch); 55kg (C & J)