Westborough Officer Tops Strongman Competition [VIDEO]

Westborough Police Officer Jeffrey Keaveney placed first in his division of the Central Maine Strongman competition on Saturday, April 14.  Of the 39 competitors, seven others shared the heavyweight division with Keaveney.

“[I’m] very excited for this win because I’ve been battling some injuries and have been working really hard to keep myself together for the show,” he told Westborough Patch. “The competition in my class was probably the toughest I’ve gone up against, so it was an awesome feeling to come out on top.”

Keaveney, 36, started competing in bodybuilding in 2010. He said he has always been athletic. From 1996 to 2001, he played professional baseball. He was drafted by the Red Sox and later played for the Twins organization. He then became a trainer before joining the in 2003.

He said he has recently been battling tightness in his deep hip muscles (external rotators) and this has caused some problems with his hamstrings, quads and knee.

The events for the Maine contest included:

• Max Log Press. Heavyweight competitors started at 240 pounds and the competition increased by 20 pound increments. Keaveney said he made 260 pounds and just missed the 280 mark.
• Muscle Car Deadlift. Keaveney got two reps in with the 700 pound weight.
• Loadable Yoke. The weight starts at 250 pounds. Competitors walk 50 feet and then 200 pounds are added to the yoke. Again, competitors walk 50 feet and another 200 pounds is added before the final 50 foot walk. Keaveney won this event with a time of 39 seconds.
• Max Distance Farmers Walk. With 260 pounds in each hand, competitors walk a course that has a turn every 50 feet. Keaveney placed first in this event with a distance of 200 feet.
• Stone Load. Stones range in weights from 235 to 330 pounds. Each is lifted from the floor to a height ranging between 48 and 60 inches. Keaveney won this event in a time of 23 seconds. See the attached video.

For winning first place,  Keaveney was awarded strongman tacky (a material that helps in lifting the stones — Keaveney said it is similar to pine tar) and $75. He donated the cash prize to the Augusta, Maine Little League. 

With this win, Keaveney qualifies for the 2012 Strongman Nationals which take place in Tunica, Mississippi in November — though he already qualified with a win in December.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date on the latest Westborough news, or simply hit the "like" button at the top of this page. If you'd like to receive the Westborough Patch newsletter with our top stories, click here.