John Coffee, owner of Coffee's Gym in Marietta, continues to produce champions in women's weightlifting.

Most recently, the gym won top honors at USA Weightlifting's 2010 Senior National Championships held June 11-13 in Peoria, Ill, while Kelly Rexroad, who belongs to Coffee's Gym and graduated from Kennesaw State, placed fourth in her Senior Pan Am Championship debut in Guatemala City, Guatemala May 26-30.

With over 150 athletes representing more than 35 clubs and gyms across the nation, Coffee's Gym topped Metropolitan Elite club and East Coast Gold club, which placed second and third, respectively, to win the national championship for the 17th time since 1983.

"We've had some good success this year," said the 63-year-old Coffee, who led Coffee's Gym to 14 straight national titles following the victory in '83. "It's getting harder and harder though to compete, but we still manage to get in there a couple of times. Since women's weightlifting became an Olympic sport, more women have gotten involved.

"It's a sport that doesn't cost a lot of money to get good at, and it doesn't take a lot of equipment. You just need a good gym, and we've got one."

Amanda Hubbard, a former Kennesaw State track and field athlete, led five athletes who placed at the championships from Coffee's Gym. Hubbard totaled 193 kilograms to win the gold medal in the 58 kilograms (127-128 pounds) weight class. She totaled 88 on her second lift for the highest mark in the snatch and posted the best mark at 105 on her first attempt at the clean-and-jerk.

"That first place really helped out," Coffee said. "Amanda's very good at what she does. She's been doing this for a while now. I'm not coaching her anymore, but she still lifts for my team. She played a big role in this win."

Also contributing to Coffee's Gym team total was Elizabeth Wade, who placed eighth at 58 kilograms with 136, and Coleen Watson who was fifth with 169 at the 75-plus weight class. Rachel Bommicino and Jerri Pugh placed fourth and seventh with lifts of 138 and 125 kilograms, respectively, at the 53 kilogram weight class.

Bommicino nearly medaled in the event as she finished two kilograms shy of second and was one away from third. She picked up 50 kilograms in the snatch to tie for the fourth-highest lift, and tied for the third-best mark in the clean-and-jerk after maxing out at 78. Courtney Batchelor was second with 140, and Breanne Carlson third with 139.

"Everybody did the way I expected they would," Coffee said. "The key to winning the championship is to have enough lifters in the different weight classes and all of them score. You don't want anybody to bomb out. I made sure that everyone took their three chances at each event because you don't want to think you have it won until it's all over."

The national championship is one of the first key events for athletes leading up to the 2012 Olympic Games in London. It is also the principal qualifier for the 2010 Senior World Championships, which will be held September 18-30, in Antalya, Turkey.

Already with several international competitions to her credit, Rexroad made her first appearance at the Pan Am Championships a memorable one. She made all three of her snatch attempts in the 48 kg weight class, tying her personal record of 72, and lifted 87 in the clean-and-jerk.

Rexroad's total of 159 kilograms tied her with Guillermina Candelar of the Dominican Republic for third place, but Rexroad weighed in .7 kg heavier than Candelar, and had to settle for fourth.

"I had a better performance at the World Championships than I did at Pan-Am," said Rexroad, who is also the manager of Coffee's Gym. "I was happy with my results, but I would have liked to have done better. I can't be too critical of myself."

Hubbard, who made her second Pan Am appearance, placed seventh in the 58 kg weight class.