Saturday, October 17, 2026
York Barbell, 3300 Board Road, York, PA 17406
Where the World’s Strongest Bench Pressers Go to War
Photos Courtesy of Scott DePanfilis
COMPETITION FORMAT
Unlimited Bench Press
Qualified Lifters Only
QUALIFIED LIFTERS
Women
Kelly Womack
Rochelle Dubbs
Rae-Ann Miller
Emma Ylitalo-James
Małgorzata Kopiec
Kate Sweatman
Sabine Allner
Mónika Bazsó
Madelyn Dunn
Skyla Kellison (Womack)
Men
Jimmy Kolb
Tony Carlino
Bob Merkh
Adam Hawkins
Xander Womack
Matthew Hodge
Derrick Bender
Anthony Faggiani
Rich Putnam
Kalle Ylitalo-James
Trinton Golden
Rodney Woodward Jr
Kyle Shreve
Richárd Buda
Gansukh Batmagnai
Jay Anderson
Lajos Biró
Derek Wade
Phillip Herndon
Ryan Hamscher (Registered)
WEIGH-INS
Date: Friday, October 16, 2026
Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Location: York Barbell
MEET DAY
Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
Rules Briefing: 4:00 PM
Lifting Begins: 5:00 PM
TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATIONS
Bench Wars Weekend takes place at York Barbell, one of the most historic locations in strength sports. This is the birthplace of American barbell culture — and we’re bringing the energy there.
York will be buzzing that weekend, and we expect a strong turnout of lifters, crews, and spectators.
While we are not offering room blocks, we recommend booking your accommodations early.
There are several hotels within a short drive of York Barbell.
For nearby lodging options, visit:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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GENERAL
What is Bench Wars Weekend?
Two back-to-back bench-only meets held during Mr. Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend. Friday is APO Bench Wars (open to all), Saturday is WPO Bench Wars (pro level with qualifying standards).
When and where is WPO Bench Wars?
Saturday, October 17, 2026
York Barbell, 3300 Board Road, York, PA 17406
How do I register?
Registration is limited to those who are qualified. If you have not received the link and code, then please contact AJ Roberts
REGISTRATION & FEES
What are the entry fees?
The entry fee for WPO Bench Wars 2026 is $200
Can I get a refund if I can’t compete?
Due to event planning and production costs, all registrations are final and non-refundable.
Can I switch divisions or weight classes after registering?
WPO Bench Wars is competed as an Open division, where the heaviest successful lift wins overall.
Athletes who wish to have their lifts recorded within a specific weight class for record purposes must notify meet staff prior to weigh-ins. Class changes will not be permitted after weigh-ins.
WPO PRO QUALIFICATIONS
How do I qualify for WPO Bench Wars?
To qualify, you must meet one of the following criteria:
• Men must have a Top 20 bench press in 2025.
• Women must have a Top 10 bench press in 2025.
If a qualified lifter declines or is unable to compete, invitations will roll down to the next ranked lifter.
Additional Qualification Paths:
• Any lifter who wins Best Lifter (Bench Only) at APO Nationals in 2025 with a bench press of 950 lbs or more will receive an invitation.
• Any lifter who benches 1,000 lbs or more in 2025 will receive an invitation.
The WPO reserves the right to extend special invitations based on exceptional performances.
MEET DAY DETAILS
When and where are weigh-ins?
Weigh-ins will take place at York Barbell on the following dates:
• Friday, October 16 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
• Saturday, October 17 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
All athletes must weigh in during one of these designated times.
When is the rules briefing and lifting start?
WPO Bench wars rules briefing will start at 4pm and lifting at 5pm on October 17th.
What rules govern the competition?
All lifts will be judged under current WPO rules.
The full rulebook is available at worldpowerliftingorganization.com.
CONTACT
aj@jroberts.com
Phone
(858) 754 8825