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Recreation: Bonita's Gerardo pressing for new record
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- Local tennis: Chickee Classic at Cambier Park starts next week
- Recreation: Bagel Run provides quality warm-up
- Fishing: Take a day at the beach
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This weekend, bench press comes out of the gym and into the spotlight, and Bonita Springs resident Jeff Gerardo will likely be one of the biggest stars.
Gerardo, who owns the Fit Forever gym in Bonita Springs, is a favorite to win the 220-pound weight class at the Bench Press Nationals this weekend in Charlotte, N.C. The event features the best powerlifters in the country, in order to determine who’s No. 1 and who qualifies for next year’s World Bench Press in Luxembourg.
Gerardo will get three lifts Sunday to try and break the current 220-pound record of 579 pounds.
“I’m hoping to lift over (600 pounds),” Gerardo said earlier this week. “I hope I didn’t just jinx myself.”
Gerardo competed at 198 pounds last year and is the current record-holder at 529 pounds. Joining him at the competition is Fort Myers resident Jim Dundon and strength coach Mike Licciardi.
“I feel good,” Gerardo said. “We’ve been working really hard, and everything is going as planned.”
In September, Gerardo, Dundon and Licciardi are planning a possible trip to Costa Rica to compete for Team USA powerlifting.
“They’re in the process of trying to get power-lifting in the next Olympics,” Gerardo said. “For now, a big goal for us is to get to next year’s World Games in Taiwan.”
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Looking for a way to work out in the heat? Collier County’s oldest race, the John Clay 5K, is set for 7 a.m. Saturday.
The race, hosted by Gulf Coast Runners, starts at Lowdermilk Park. It’s been held since the late ’70s for all those Southwest Florida runners brave enough to race in the August heat — which will be less trying at the early-morning start.
Same day race registration for the John Clay 5K starts at 6:30 a.m., or you can pre-register at gcrunner.org.
The cost is $10 for preregistration or students, and $15 the day of the race for non-students. For more information, contact George Dondanville at 434-9786.
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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has scheduled two public workshops to receive comments regarding proposed changes to freshwater turtle harvest rules.
The workshops are in response to concerns over increasing demand for Florida turtles amid tighter harvest restrictions in other states. Proposed rules would restrict individuals to a five-turtle-per-day bag limit, except for species that already have more restrictive limits.
The FWC encourages interested persons to participate in the workshops, which will take place 1:30 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Okeechobee County Civic Center and 9 a.m. Sept. 12 at the FWC’s South Region office in Lakeland.
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If you aren’t quite ready for a 5K run, how about signing up for the first-annual Greater Naples Corporate 5K Run/Walk, set for 6:45 p.m. Sept. 11. The 5K, sponsored by Moe’s Southwest Grill, the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce, Naples Daily News and Computer Solutions on Demand, will start at Moe’s on the corner of U.S. 41 and Immokalee Road.
All benefits go to Collier County shelters for abused women and children.
Gulf Coast Runners and Naples on the Run are organizing the event. Companies can enter an unlimited number of three-person teams, and all levels of runners and walkers are encouraged to participate.
The race costs $20 per person and can be paid by companies or individuals. Payment and roster forms should be mailed to Gulf Coast Runners; P.O. Box 8636; Naples, FL, 34101.
For company roster forms, individual release forms and any other information, contact George or Perry of Naples on the Run at 239-434-9786.
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Summer is winding down, but there’s still time for the 10th annual Summer Slam, the final qualifying event in the Caloosa angling tournament series.
Held Sept. 12-14 at the Pink Shell Beach Resort & Spa in Fort Myers Beach, the Summer Slam is the last chance for anglers to qualify for the Caloosa Grand Championship in November.
To qualify, anglers just need to score fish in the Summer Slam. Tournament fish include snook, redfish, snapper and a daily mystery fish. The top three teams will receive trophies, and the top five finishers will receive cash prizes ranging from $1,000 to $7,000.
For more information or to enter, go to www.caloosacatchandrelease.com.
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Hosted by the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, the second annual RedSnook Catch and Release Charity Tournament will be held Oct. 3-5.
Teams, individuals and junior anglers under 16 can participate.
Roland Martin, legendary angler and television host of the “Fishing with Roland Martin Show,” will again host the three-day tournament, a benefit to raise funds for the Conservancy of Southwest Florida water quality programs.
The kick-off party and auction, which is open to the public, is Friday, Oct. 3, at the Naples Harbour Yacht Club. Anglers will launch from Naples, Goodland and Chokoloskee on Oct. 4 and 5, followed by an awards ceremony.
To register for the RedSnook Catch and Release, contact Meghan Clancy at 239-403-4200. Registrations will be accepted until Sept. 22.
For more information about the tournament, go to www.theredsnook.com or www.conservancy.org
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