A podium with five steps — the first-place step was the highest, with the remaining places descending on either side — stood in front of a projector screen displaying "USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals."
IU sophomore Shelby Miles was standing on the top podium step.
This victory was not only the first of her collegiate career, but makes Miles the first woman in IU history to claim the title of National Powerlifting Champion.
That's not the only history Miles made at the meet, though.
In Kyle Field at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, Miles began her day with the squat lift.
Miles' first attempt was somewhere around 330 pounds — something she knew she would be able to lift.
"The week before, you'll maybe do 10 or 15 pounds less than you'll want to do at the meet," Miles said. "So, when you get to the meet, your first attempt will be something you know you can get."
She was still confident in her second attempt, but it was heavier at around 350 pounds. Her last attempt was something she had never tried before.
She stepped up to the bar, gripped it tight and swiveled her neck back and forth. She stomped her feet a few times while holding the bar to plant them as solidly as possible before beginning her squat. She picked up the bar and took quick, sharp breaths before squatting. She went down and back up in about four seconds, successfully squatting 370 pounds.
"It was not for sure that I was going to get it, but it was within the range that I had done with my training," Miles said. "I knew I was capable of it even though I had never done it before."
Next up, Miles went to the bench press.
In her first attempt, she broke the Collegiate American Record after lifting 220 pounds. It was short-lived, however, as a woman from Oklahoma State, Hannah Bryan, pressed 226 in her first attempt. Bryan broke her own record in the second attempt with 231, but Miles took it back in her second attempt with 233. The baton was handed off once again as Bryan pressed 242 in her final attempt. With the record and the highest score in her division on the line, Miles laid back on the bench.
Miles held up the 243-pound bar for about three seconds before beginning the press. She brought it down and lifted it slowly. Her left arm was showing more power as the bar began to tilt downwards to the right as she pressed it up. It looked as if it would be a failed attempt, until there was a surge of strength as Miles' right arm evened the bar out. She successfully pressed 243 pounds and now holds the Collegiate American Record in that category.
Miles' coach, Jeremy Hartman, said he was very pleased with the tenacity Miles showed throughout the bench press.
"It was a max lift for Shelby," Hartman said. "Shelby wasn't going to let that record go. So we went back out on that platform one more time and took that record again, and made sure we left the day with it."
Hartman, a four-time powerlifting champion himself in college at Bowling Green State University, was the strength and conditioning coach at Franklin Community High School in Franklin, Indiana. That's where he met Miles, who played volleyball and had constant weight room workouts with the team.
Miles ended up enjoying the weight room more than most and decided to stop playing volleyball her sophomore year. Instead, she would go lift after school, and that's when Hartman recognized her and invited her to come to a powerlifting competition.
Ever since, the two have trained together even with Miles being away at IU, where lifting is a club sport.
"It's as simple as she trusts me with her training," Hartman said. "We've gone through enough. When she has time to come home, she trains with me, and I'll write out all her training. We talk two or three times a week about everything."
Miles said Hartman has taught her pretty much everything she knows. She knew on April 22 that she needed to just pass her deadlift to secure the championship.
After her first two lifts, it was almost a guarantee Miles would be taking home the title, which is won based on the total amount of pounds added up from squat, bench press and deadlift. But, with one attempt left, Miles went for another record.
Miles deadlifts in the sumo stance in which her feet are wide. She bent down and felt out the bar before lifting it by rubbing her hands on where she wants to lift. She lifted the bar and kept her back tight, her face red but set in an intense stare. She held it up for six seconds before being able to release it, deadlifting 450 pounds — another Collegiate American Record. She put her hands over her face in emotion and celebration.
"I didn't really let it sink in that much until after my last lift," Miles said. "Then, after my last lift, I was able to take it all in and enjoy it. At that point, I was just elated. I still kind of can't believe it."
Miles’ total score added up to 1,064 pounds, giving her another Collegiate American Record.
She has now etched her name into the historic year IU women's athletics is having. Whether it be Lilly King, Katherine Receveur or Tyra Buss — just to name a few — Miles can be added to the list of all-stars.
Miles, who took a tumbling class with King and Buss last year, said she is super excited to be a part of that group.
"I'm excited to see where women's athletics are at IU right now, and where they have the potential of going," Miles said. "I hope more women can feel encouraged to join these sports and understand that it's absolutely possible for really anybody to jump in and go for it as long as they have the dedication and work ethic to do it."
Miles has a quick turnaround, as she leaves on Sunday for Finland to compete in the Bench Press World Championships. As much as winning the National Powerlifting Championship means to both Miles and Hartman, both said there is still more to accomplish.
"She's still just scratching the surface," Hartman said. "Our ultimate goal is to make the U.S. World Team again and to win the World Title."
