Kori Penick ’13 will compete in the Strongman Corporation North American National Championships November 10 and 11 in Las Vegas. The Amherst, Va., resident, who majored in psychology and was a thrower on the varsity track team, has been competing in strongman competitions since 2015.
Penick was invited to nationals after placing first in the Level 1 Women’s Open Heavyweight Division at the Viking Highlander competition in West Virginia in August.
Strongman events include the log press, yoke walk or farmers carry, frame deadlift, The Husefeldt Stone, and the ominous-sounding, 210-pound “stone of steel.” For some events, Penick will repeatedly hoist more than 500 pounds.
Asked about her favorite event, Penick, who holds the women’s shotput record at LC with a throw of 43 feet, 3 inches, said “anything dealing with my lower body, primarily, since I’m more lower-body dominant. So, I would have to say anything dealing with deadlifts are my favorite.”
Penick, an office administrator for a Charlottesville IT company, competes as an amateur, but if she places in the top three at nationals, she’ll be eligible for professional status. “My goals in strongman are to eventually earn my pro card and be the best that I can personally be in the sport,” she said.
“I’m not sure how long I’ll continue to do strongman, but I plan on being around and making some noise in the sport for a while, or at least as long as my body is able to do so. My long, life goals are to be successful in what I’m currently doing — or whatever I decide to pursue — enjoy life to the fullest, give back as much as possible, and be able to travel the globe.”
