NATCHEZ — Natchez High School powerlifters Bryson Armstead and Adam King both placed fourth in their respective classes in the Mississippi 5A Powerlifting finals held April 13 at the Memorial Coliseum in Jackson.

Armstead, a senior and competing in his second State finals in a row and junior Adam King competing in his first.

Armstead, at a weight of 309 pounds on that day, competed in the superheavyweight class, for anyone over 305 pounds.

Armstead set a personal record in his bench press at the meet, at 285 pounds

His deadlift was 630 pounds and his final of the three mandatory lifts was 505 pounds in the squat.

“The competitor has to only make one lift at the weight assignment to continue on in the event,” Coach Nickie Davis said. “On the bench you go down and up just once. In the dead lift the weight is brought up until your back is straight, and the squat is, you squat down and get back up.”

The total weight lifted determines your placing, Davis said.

Armstead’s total was 1,420 pounds, which was good enough for fourth place in his class.

“I’m losing Bryson,” Davis said, “awesome kid who brought leadership to the team.”

Adam King set a personal record at an earlier meet of 515 pounds in the dead lift, Davis said and bettered it at state finals when he lifted 550 pounds.

A bench press of 305 pounds and a squat of 515 pounds gave King a total of 1,370 pounds for the finals.

King competed in the 242 to 275-pound. class, when he weighed in at 246 pounds the day of the meet. His total earned him also a fourth place finish in his state finals.

“With a drive like Adam has, his future is bright in the sport of powerlifting,” Davis said.