New Zealand's Pacific Games weightlifting team have claimed a further nine medals on the final day of competition in Port Moresby.
The additional silverware was won across three weight classes and comprised five silver and four bronze medals, taking New Zealand's total Pacific Games medal haul to 13.
Leading the charge in the Men's 105 kilogram class, Rory Taylor, 25, of Whangarei lifted exceptionally well in his first international competition claiming two silvers and a bronze medal.
"I was pretty happy with my lifts and felt strong on the platform," he said.
The highlight for Taylor came in the clean and jerk with a silver medal-winning lift of 178 kilograms.
Taylor was thrilled to not only claim the medal, but also set a new personal best. "It doesn't happen very often, so it's great setting a new PB in my first international competition," he said.
Pacific Games flag bearer and Glasgow Commonwealth Games lifter Tracey Lambrechs, 29, of Auckland fought hard in the Women's +75 kilogram division claiming a full set of three silver medals. She acknowledged the high standard of weightlifting across the Pacific nations and was happy to finish with second place in the snatch, clean and jerk, and total lift categories.
In the Men's +105 kilogram division, New Zealand's super-heavy crowd pleasers Andrius Barakauskas, 23, of Christchurch and David Liti, 18, of Auckland held of stiff competition as they stamped their mark on the lifting platform.
Barakauskas started this final session of the programme with a strong snatch, setting a new personal best of 145 kilograms.
Not wanting to be left off the podium however, Liti then raised the bar in the clean and jerk recoding his own personal best. Liti's final lift was a phenomenal 181 kilograms which he signed off by blowing his signature lifters-chalk kiss to the crowd.
"To be honest I was surprised with my performance," said Liti.
With the entire New Zealand weightlifting team in attendance, Liti had to maintain his composure heading into his third and final lift, knowing full well the bronze medal depended on it. "I just tried to block out the excitement from the crowd because I didn't want to be distracted, " he said.
While the weightlifters competition has now concluded, next up on the programme for New Zealand is the Taekwondo competition. The seven-strong Taekwondo team are set to start competing on July 16.
Although not in contention for Pacific Games medals, the Men's under 23 Football team have continued on from their strong start in Port Moresby with an Oceania qualifying spot on the line. In order to book their place in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games they are required to win outright and they look to take one step closer to this dream in their semifinal against Vanuatu this afternoon.
The Pacific Games commenced in Port Moresby on July 3 and will conclude on July 18. Daily coverage and highlights packages are currently screening on Maori Television.
New Zealand 2015 Pacific Games Medalists
Tracey Lambrechs - 3 silver
Rory Taylor - 2 silver and 1 bronze
Ruth Anderson-Horrell - 3 bronze
David Liti - 2 bronze
Charlotte Moss - 1 bronze
Andrius Barakauskas - 1 bronze
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