COEUR d'ALENE - From the beginning, crawling around his floor until high school, Don Linerud always had someone to chase.

That's no longer the case.

Linerud, a 1997 graduate of Post Falls High, traveled to the WABDL (World Association of Bench and Deadlifting) Rocky Mountain regional meet at Salt Lake City in June, competing in the men's open division in the 181-pound classification and setting a class and world record with a bench press of 584 pounds.

"My goal was actually 575 pounds," said Linerud, who lives in Post Falls. "But I was feeling good so I went for it and ended up at 584. It wasn't that anyone was chasing me, it was more of I felt I could do it."

The record is the benchmark in both the men's open and elite divisions in the WABDL.

"The first thing I thought was 'wow,'" said Linerud, who is 5-foot-8 and weighs 184 pounds. "It was a little bit overwhelming. I talked with the federation president (Gus Rethwisch) who acted with Arnold Schwarzenegger."

Linerud, 31, took up weightlifting as a way to stay in shape after high school. The three-sport athlete for the Trojans (football, wrestling, track) spends up to eight hours a week in the gym, either at Peak Fitness in Post Falls or Baldwin Fitness in Missoula, Mont., where he trains his Baldwin Fitness teammates. Before a competition, he will shorten his sessions to three times a week.

Other team members include Dustin Hanson (132 pounds), Cormac Moore (148), Terry Baldwin (220), Jamie Clawson (160), Charlie Farmer (220) and Dave Lenius (181) of Coeur d'Alene.

Farmer (585), Baldwin (532) and Hanson (432) each hold records in their respective weight classes.

"Dave is on his way to a masters record of his own," Linerud said. "They are pretty much the reason why I got the record. Charlie doesn't just motivate you - he pushes you to where you believe you can do anything."

Linerud is currently ranked second in the WABDL, with the top-ranking just 11 pounds away at 595.

"I made it here because of my Montana teammates," Linerud said. "I've been going there about two years, met Charlie (Farmer) and he's pretty much the reason I am where I am today."

Aaron, his older brother by seven years, also helped push him toward success in sports.

"He was the one that taught me to lift," Linerud said. "He was the main person that got me going. My dad (Dave) always pushed us to be better."

When it comes to competition between the two siblings, Don added that it never became an issue.

"My brother and I are different people when it comes to competition," Linerud said. "I was more of the track and sprints kid. He did the throws and most the field events, so we never really competed with each other. He got me into training with him, but when we were younger - he'd make me crawl until I caught up to him."

As part of his job in the shipping and receiving department at Jacklin Seed Co. in Post Falls, he loads trucks with 50-pound bags of seed every day.

Linerud also credits his wife, Stacey, for keeping him motivated during training and competitions.

"She's been at every competition," Linerud said. "She's been the one putting on the bench shirt if I need her to, there for moral support. She's a real big part of my success and getting this record."

Stacey also credits his work ethic as another reason for his success.

"You've always got to believe and never give up," Stacey Linerud said. "All you really need to do is to schedule the time into your schedule to be successful."

When Linerud competes, he uses a single-ply bench shirt.

"They are designed to prevent shoulder injuries," Linerud said. "If you compete in our division, you've got to wear them. Even the spotter has to wear them to cut down on injuries."

Linerud added that each participant in the federation is drug tested before each competition.

"They'll test you before every event," Linerud said. "Other federations, they've made it to the point where you can't tell. When you know someone is on them - and you're going over their numbers, you really wonder what's going on."

Another part of the competition that Linerud enjoys is the fact that his diet hasn't changed either.

"I can still eat and do what I want," Linerud said. "That's probably the biggest difference between powerlifting and bodybuilding."

Linerud's next competition won't come for a few more months as he attempts to break another record - this time at the 198-pound classification at the WABDL World Championships at Las Vegas in November.

"It's a six-day event, but I'll only have to lift one of those days," Linerud said. "I'm hoping to up my elite world record and trying to prove to myself I can hit 600 pounds. It's really the only thing I've got left to prove."