Morghan King was also in World Championships form when she returned to action in the women's 53 kilograms, her first performance since the Rio Olympics, where she finished sixth.

Despite making only two of her six lifts, King totalled 184kg, better than her Rio 48kg performance by 1kg and a good indicator that she is back in business.

The World Championships will be hosted by the Americans in Anaheim, California, from November 27 to December 5.

A hushed audience watched Ford clean his final attempt at 210kg in the men's 105kg division, but he could not complete the lift and had to settle for a winning total of 370kg, which would have earned him fourth place in last week's Pan American Championships at the same venue.

Ford, 27, from Sacramento, who made the 2013 World Championships team and has twice been on the Pan American podium, would have also finished fourth in this year’s Pan Ams in the snatch, with 166kg, and clean and jerk, with 204kg.

The two Americans who competed in last week’s Championships at 105kg, Wesley Kitts and D’Angelo Osorio, finished respectively second and sixth with totals of 375kg and 360kg.

For now Ford is on the reserve list for Anaheim.

The best newcomer of the meeting was Tiffiny Wohlers, whose 25-hour journey from Wasilla, Alaska, proved worthwhile when she won the women's 75kg with 88-116-204.

Former cheerleader Wohlers, 25, made her competitive debut only four months ago.

"That is phenomal progress, a great performance," said Phil Andrews, USA Weightlifting's chief executive.

In the men's 94kg Jason Bonnick made an impressive six-for-six total of 351kg at the age of 36.

Nearly 800 athletes took part in the third part of the four-event series. 

In Grand Rapids, Michigan, in September the total could pass 1,000.