Beaufort’s own CJ Cummings, a 14-year-old freshman at Beaufort High School, has been preparing for the USAW Senior National Weightlifting Championships.

[caption id="attachment_17579" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Sports-CJ-Front-Squat.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-17579" alt="CJ Cummings, 14, is seen during a recent training session at CrossFit Beaufort performing a 170 kg (375 pound) front squat. CJ is preparing for the USAW Senior National Weightlifting Championships in Salt Lake City, Utah." src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Sports-CJ-Front-Squat-300x198.jpg" width="300" height="198" /></a> CJ Cummings, 14, is seen during a recent training session at CrossFit Beaufort performing a 170 kg (375 pound) front squat. CJ is preparing for the USAW Senior National Weightlifting Championships in Salt Lake City, Utah.[/caption]

From July 17-20, CJ will travel to Salt Lake City, Utah, for this most prestigious weightlifting competition. The age of the 408 competitors ranges from early 20’s to 30’s. CJ is the youngest athlete of the entire championships. He is listed as third in his weight category.

A month ago, CJ’s team competed at the youth nationals and won the boy’s national team title for the seventh year.

“At this point in time, CJ is the most dominant athlete — possibly in any sport — to ever come out of this area,” said Michael Cohen, former Olympian and also two-time Olympic Coach.

If anyone is interested in supporting CJ’s efforts, send donations to Ameris Bank, Care of Team Beaufort Weightlifting, P.O. Box 6240, Beaufort, SC, 29903. Team Beaufort is a non-profit organization. A “go fund me” account has also been set up for CJ online at www.gofundme.com/ayk5a8.

<strong>ABOUT CJ CUMMINGS:</strong>

<b>• Since 2011, CJ has broken more than 50 Youth American Records.</b>

<b>• He is 14 years old, 5 foot 2, 136 lbs.</b>

<b>• He was born in Beaufort and attends Beaufort High School.</b>

<b>• His coach is Ray Jones, and his parents are Clarence and Savasah.</b>

<b>• CJ is the Number 1 ranked youth lifter in the USA for all boys 17 and under, from 2013 until the present.</b>

<b>• He is also a two-time Youth Pan American Gold Medalist and Pan American Record Holder. </b>